PRINCE OF WALES’S

STAKES (GROUP 1)

THE glorious uncertainty of the turf has seldom been underlined as clearly as it was on Wednesday, when Poet’s Word became Sir Michael Stoute’s record-breaking 76th Royal Ascot winner, edging him ahead of the late Sir Henry Cecil.

Not only did the 11/2 shot oblige in style but his principal victim was Cracksman (2/5f), thought by many to be the bet of the week and more than likely to give John Gosden and Frankie Dettori their fourth winner inside the first 10 races at the meeting.

For whatever reason, Cracksman has lost his way a little and his narrow, unimpressive victory in the Coronation Cup at Epsom was explained rather unconvincingly. On Wednesday, he never looked to be travelling fluently when racing in fourth behind Eminent, Royal Julius and the irresolute Hawkbill, with Dettori asking him to improve past them around the home turn. He managed this all right but the whip was up and Poet’s Word, who responded generously to James Doyle’s urgings, soon wore him down before going on to score by just over two lengths. It was eight lengths back to the remainder who were headed by Hawkbill.

Stoute is a master trainer and Poet’s Word arrived in perfect condition after winning in workmanlike style at Sandown. He was conceding Cracksman 4lbs when beaten seven lengths by him in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Newmarket last autumn and level weights here hardly suggested such a major turnaround.

That should not diminish the winner’s achievement and Stoute was roundly applauded on all sides, his first Royal Ascot success having come with Etienne Gerard in the Jersey Stakes in 1977.

Later on he said that victory meant as much or more to him than any since.

“Last year we had plenty of runners and five beaten favourites so it’s a relief to get there at last,” he said. “Henry did most of his training when it was a four-day meeting, so I’ve had an advantage. No one respected him more as a trainer than I did. As for today, maybe Cracksman is not at his very best now but we’ve beaten the others comprehensively. Poet’s Word is a consistent, sound, brave horse and the staff have put in a lot of work with him.”

Doyle is enjoying an excellent season and was happy to be part of the celebrations.

“Sir Michael is a master trainer, isn’t he?” he said. “It’s nice to ride him a big winner and particularly a landmark winner like this. I rode a fair bit for him when I was with Juddmonte and learned a fair bit from him.”

Typically, Gosden made no excuses regarding Cracksman. He said: “The other horse had him covered from two out. To my mind he is just playing around a little bit. He’s a clever horse and was welcoming all the fillies that were walking back to the stables after the Duke Of Cambridge. I think we need to concentrate his mind and have a look at the King George.”

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

IT can only be Sir Michael Stoute becoming the winning-most Royal Ascot trainer. Right from the days when he came from the West Indies to be Pat Rohan’s assistant, Stoute has looked and sounded a class act. He has worked for the best and employed the best – imagine legging up, and advising, Walter Swinburn, Lester Piggott, Kieren Fallon and Ryan Moore (to name but four) before the world’s most important races.

Expert Eye’s scintillating success should not have surprised anyone. Such things are routine to a man on nodding terms with genius.

Gardens second favourite for Leger

AFTER his performance in the Queen’s Vase, bookmakers moved to make Aidan O’Brien’s Kew Gardens second favourite for the St Leger later this season.

Initial quotes of 10/1 proved popular with punters and the son of Galileo is best priced at 7/1 behind Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee.

O’Brien also has the Irish Derby in mind for Kew Gardens and Ryan Moore was also impressed with the colt, saying: “He appreciates level tracks, I think Doncaster would suit him well.

Spencer banned

JAMIE Spencer picked up a two-day ban following his ride on Society Power in the Jersey Stakes. Spencer used his whip above the permitted level inside the final furlong and a half on the William Haggas-trained colt who was ultimately well held at the line by the winner, Expert Eye.

Irish-trained runners round up

AIDAN O’Brien took second and fourth in the Queen Mary, with Gossamer Wings only a short-head away from the winner Signora Cabello and So Perfect just a half length back in fourth, while Jessica Harrington’s Servalan ran a very respectable race in sixth.

In the Queen’s Vase, Joseph O’Brien’s Drapers Guild was far from disgraced finishing sixth, but Hydrangea was perhaps the most disappointing runner of the day when only beating one home in the Duke Of Cambridge – the stewards ordered the filly to be routine tested.

Cliffs Of Moher was a well-beaten fourth in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes before Saltonstall disappointed in the Royal Hunt Cup, finishing 18th of the 32 runners. In the concluding Jersey Stakes, Harrington’s Brother Bear struggled, finishing 14th of 22.