HARDWICKE STAKES

(GROUP 2)

IT becomes heart-warmingly obvious that Queen Elizabeth is at her happiest at the races. This may not suit the more hard-boiled, disapproving columnists, but it captivates her more fun-loving admirers, who all but raised the roof when the monarch’s Dartmouth won the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes.

Olivier Peslier, who did not have the happiest of rides on Nemoralia in the Coronation Stakes the day before, got everything right here and brought Dartmouth through to lead just over a furlong from home.

From then on it was a question of whether O’Brien’s Highland Reel, a tricky ride who carried his head high when asked to challenge, would put his head in front on the line.

He belatedly did his best close home, Seamie Heffernan having dropped his whip, but failed by inches as the winner pushed him towards the far rail. In a few more yards he would have given his trainer a record-breaking eighth winner. Everyone thought the result would stand and everyone was dead right, Heffernan making absolutely sure of that with his honest assessment at the inquiry.

With this victory, Sir Michael Stoute drew level with the late Sir Henry Cecil’s record of 75 winners at the royal meeting. For the Queen it was a 23rd success, some 63 years after Choir Boy, her first, won the Royal Hunt Cup in Coronation year, 1953.

Royal racing adviser John Warren related that, with Peslier still sitting quite still and confident as they turned for home, the Queen had tapped him on the arm and said: “It’s all going rather well”. Those who snapped up the 10/1 were feeling on good terms with themselves, as well.

“I don’t think people realise how much she knows about the game. She’s very knowledgeable,” Stoute smiled.

The trainer has options in the King George, with Cannock Chase quite generously priced at 16/1. Dartmouth would have to be supplemented - hardly a problem - and there must be a temptation to run after this fine effort.