DIAMOND JUBILEE

STAKES (GROUP 1)

NEWMARKET trainer James Fanshawe has a fine record with sprinters at Ascot and enhanced it still further when The Tin Man won Saturday’s Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Running on with great courage for Tom Queally, the 9/2 chance hit the front 150 yards out but drifted left, bumping Tasleet, and was only a neck to the good at the line. The 2/1 favourite Limato, making a line of three, was also done no favours and finished only three-quarters of a length behind. The stewards had a look and left the placings unaltered.

The Tin Man, named after the legendary Fred Archer (who built Fanshawe’s stables) rather than the Wizard of Oz character, is by the very speedy Equiano.

CONSISTENT

Very consistent and the winner of seven of his 13 starts, he was penalised when finishing out of the frame behind Tasleet in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes at the Dante meeting but was not given a hard time that day and this faster ground was much more to his liking.

Growl reared and unseated his rider at the start – the second time in a week that this had happened to a Richard Fahey-trained runner after Paddy Power at Musselburgh – and it was Kachy who showed the best early pace, taking the field along until inside the final furlong.

Queally had to find daylight towards the far rails and finally got through to take up the running, although The Tin Man’s slightly erratic course meant the race was far from over. Limato was held when slightly inconvenienced but should come on for the outing, while Librisa Breeze loves Ascot and did well in fourth on ground possibly a shade lively for him.

“The Tin Man shows us very little at home but he’s the best older sprinter and has proved it twice now,” Fanshawe said. “The horse loves Ascot because it suits his style and he can come from off the pace. The July Cup is an obvious target.”

Limato won that race last year and will almost certainly line up again. As Henry Candy pointed out, he did well last week after a long absence and added that Ryan Moore suggested going for the July Cup rather than the Lennox over seven furlongs at Glorious Goodwood.

Candy remarked that this had come as something of a surprise because Moore will be riding Caravaggio in the big Newmarket showdown.

The bookmakers have the brilliant Ballydoyle horse as short as 6/4 for the Darley-sponsored sprint, with Limato and The Tin Man disputing second favouritism. The much improved Tasleet can be backed at 10/1.

Fanshawe is a loyal man and Queally has been on board The Tin Man since the early days. The jockey quietly gets on with his career, although he is seldom in the headlines and his faultless partnership with Frankel might almost be part of another era.

“I was very taken with Caravaggio on Friday but my fella quickened as good as he’s ever quickened today – he’s the best sprinter I’ve ridden,’’ he said.

“I’m still the same jockey I was before. I just keep working hard and doing my best.”