ASCOT’S International Heritage Handicap looked a fiercely competitive renewal beforehand and so it proved with just two and a quarter lengths separating the first five home with both the stands’ side and centre groups represented in the finish.
Danyah (108) backed up his second place in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot with an all-the-way win in the hands of William Buick.
Emerging from stall four, Buick kept it simple on the Owen Burrows-trained gelding racing prominently in the centre of the track.
The pair were strongly challenged passing the two-furlong marker by Raising Sand (96) (36.32 seconds) before a closing three-furlong sectional of 35.68 seconds saw the four-year-old pull four and a half lengths clear of his challenger.
Aldaary (104) reduced the losing margin with the winner from the Buckingham Palace in finishing best of those who raced in the centre, posting a better closing sectional (35.34 seconds) to pass Raising Sands even though he never looked likely to get involved.
The stands’ side were better represented at the finish with Star Of Orion (108), who backed up a good Newmarket win, failing by just a short head to lift the overall prize.
Laura Pearson took the decision to come stands’ side from her middle stall so the effort can be upgraded from an overall time perspective and a closing sectional of 35.08 seconds shows that Ralph Beckett’s gelding boasts the finishing effort to win a race of this nature.
Dance Fever (107) has now put together back-to-back good runs since disappointing in the Buckingham Palace Stakes so can be supported in similar events as the issues that kept him off the track for some time seem to be well behind him.
The closer from the stands’ side was Cliffs Of Capri (100) who had signalled that a good run was close when finishing off well in the Bunbury Cup. Jamie Osbourne’s gelding was last of his group passing the furlong marker but finished strongly (35.34 seconds) to take fourth.
Ascot and seven furlongs suit the son of Canford Cliffs well as he now boasts from figures of 4243151 over the course and distance.
Princess Margaret Stakes
Earlier on the Ascot card, Zain Claudette (96) took the step up in class in her stride when landing the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes nosing out Desert Dreamer (97) who brought Group 2 form to the race from the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting.
The victory looked unlikely with two furlongs to run as race favourite System (90) (previously 95) shifted left and forced jockey Ray Dawson to switch course as he was beginning to ask his filly to mount her challenge.
A closing sectional of 34.44 seconds – 0.57 seconds faster than fellow two-year-old New Science in the previous race – saw the daughter of No Nay Never gain the verdict in a photo finish.
Desert Dreamer was finishing runner-up for the third successive run but lost nothing in defeat having had to make her challenge out in the open towards the far rail, drifting out slightly as a result. Once straightened out by Oisin Murphy, the daughter of Oasis Dream came home slightly faster than the winner in 34.34 seconds.
Delmona (96) (34.63 seconds) gives the form a solid look back in third having finished third in the Super Sprint at Newbury. Tom Dascombe’s filly is very speedy and may benefit from a return to the minimum trip or an easier six furlongs.