3 minute read
Frankie Dettori brought up a 133.3/1 treble on Royal Ascot Trials Day at his favourite racecourse when successful in the Listed Ascot Shop Paradise Stakes on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Zaaki (9/1).
Dettori's earlier winners came on Calyx (1/3) and Muchly (9/1).
The fascinating contest saw the return of Godolphin's Barney Roy (Charlie Appleby/William Buick, 6/4 Fav), successful in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2017, after 557 days off the track.
The five-year-old came back training after an unsuccessful spell at stud and has been gelded.
It was Barney Roy's stable companion First Contact (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle, 10/1) who made the running, with Barney Roy chasing in third.
Barney Roy came smoothly through and took up the running entering the final quarter-mile.
Zaaki, a four-year-old son of Leroidesanimaux, was held up in last before making good headway to challenge in the straight and led over a furlong out to see off the renewed challenge of Barney Roy by a neck. There was another three lengths back to Robin Of Navan (Harry Dunlop/Oisin Murphy, 25/1) in third.
The winning time was 1m 39.13s.
Sir Michael Stoute reported: "Zaalki won well. He ran some good races last season before he tapered off, but he has bounced back well this year. If you look at his earlier form, it is pretty smart.
"He has done well in the last couple of weeks and it is nice to win this Listed event with him.
"We'll stop and think about future plans, but even if he went to Royal Ascot, he would run before then.
"I was not quite sure that Zaaki had come to his peak yet, as he still looked a little bit backward in his coat, so that was encouraging.
"That was a Listed race today and you would be hoping that he can win a Group race."
The winner is owned by Newmarket-based Ahmad Alotaibi, himself a successful trainer in Saudi Arabia.
Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby said of the runner-up: "Barney Roy ran well. William Buick said he potentially travelled into the race too well. The winner followed us through, but we're pleased with the run and it's great to have him back in track.
"That's his first run for 557 days and we're delighted. We have learnt a bit about the horse as well. William said he would have liked to have been coming into the race from behind as he was there to be stalked. However, the winner has won well.
"Trip-wise, William would be quite happy to keep him to a mile. Whether we run once more before Ascot (G1, 1m str, £600,000, Queen Anne Stakes, June 18) we will see and take it from there."
Race six, the five-furlong Ascot Supports Racing Charities Handicap (5.00pm). went to Burford Brown (Robert Cowell/James Doyle, 9st 2lb, 10/1). The concluding race, the mile Manny Mercer Apprentice Handicap (5.35pm) went to Enigmatic (Alan Bailey/Darragh Keenan (3), 9st 4lb 14/1).
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Communications, Ascot Racecourse, commented at the conclusion of Royal Ascot Trials Day: "In its first year, we have enjoyed a great start to the Royal Ascot Trials Day and also to our 2019 Flat season at Ascot.
"There were a number of special performances on the track, which included the impressive victory from John Gosden's Calyx. Not seen since winning the Coventry Stakes at last year's Royal Meeting, he produced a special performance this afternoon and put himself firmly on the map for the Commonwealth Cup.
"Mark Johnston famously captured the Gold Cup with Double Trigger and Royal Rebel and he looks to have another exciting stayer in the shape of Dee Ex Bee who was a good winner of the Sagaro Stakes and the Gold Cup is his intended target back here in June."
