Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1)

HAVING looked something of an unlucky loser in both 2019 and 2020, Dream Of Dreams made it third time lucky in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Sir Michael Stoute has a deserved reputation of getting improvement out of his older horses, and after looking a frustrating character for much of his career, the seven-year-old has flourished in the past 12 months. The 3/1 favourite again finished strongly to get the better of pace-setting duo Glen Shiel (Archie Watson/Hollie Doyle) and Art Power (Tim Easterby/Silvestre de Sousa), with the winning margins a length and three-quarters of a length.

Stalking role

Dream of Dreams broke well – so well, in fact, that he led briefly – but he was soon restrained into his usual stalking role, and while his strong run has come marginally too late in previous seasons, he was in front just inside the final furlong. While the placed horses kept going well, the son of Dream Ahead always looked in command once he was asked to take control by Moore.

The victory represented an 82nd Royal Ascot success for the meeting’s most successful trainer Sir Michael Stoute who was relieved to see his star make amends for recent failures in the race:: “I am delighted - the horse deserves it,” said Stoute, “The past two years, he has been beaten a head finishing fastest of all, so I am really thrilled for him.

Chilling

“He doesn’t go to post like a sprinter, does he? I thought he was going to pull up halfway down. He is more relaxed, and a little better. He’s fully developed and strong now. But it’s his mind - he’s really, really chilling.

“He loves a little cut in the ground, but I don’t think he’s run on ground quite as soft as this, so I was a little concerned. Ryan had it all planned, and told me what he was doing, so I said, ‘kick on’. I thought I wasn’t going to have a Royal Ascot winner this year. It’s always been tough, but it’s got tougher.”

“I am delighted with Glen Shiel,” said Archie Watson: “He tries so hard. Hollie said that Ryan came to her late and whilst Glen Shiel kept on battling, she just wished they had come to him earlier as he just keeps on finding. He has backed up his Group 1 win with another solid run in a Group 1 and we’ll just keep on rolling through these races during the summer.

“It’s very simple with these sprinters. We’ll go to the July Cup next and then he’ll probably have a crack at the Prix Maurice De Gheest – I think the six and a half furlongs will really suit him there. Then you have the Sprint Cup and then back here in October for the Champions Sprint. I might throw something else in along the way. But that will be the gist of it.”

Tim Easterby was also proud of Art Power’s run, admitting that the pair who beat him are stronger stayers, and he is looking at cutting back to five furlongs for the King George Stakes at Goodwood, where he would likely face Battaash, who has cornered that particular prize in recent seasons.