Royal Ascot reports: Holloway Boy makes winning start in Chesham

Holloway Boy took apart his 13 rivals in what looked a strong renewal, the 40-1 chance cruising in behind early pace-setters Alzahir and Aidan O’Brien-trained Alfred Munnings, yet he had a bit to find when Pearling Path (80-1) eased to the front approaching a furlong out.

Tudhope had every move covered on the Nick White and Elaine Burke-owned colt, however, and he went on to score by a length, with Lakota Sioux (33-1) a further length and a half back in third, blowing more than a few placepots in the process.

Alfred Munnings was uneasy in the market beforehand and having had every chance, he dropped away rather tamely.

“That was one hell of a performance. Time will tell, but to do that first time he has to be a bit special,” said Burke.

“He’s been backward and we were going to Musselburgh but he tweaked a muscle. So we entered him for this thinking it would be a nice day out.

“It was a first runner for the owners, let alone a first at Royal Ascot, and he couldn’t blow a candle out.”

White was almost lost for words as he said: “Danny has given Holloway Boy a fantastic ride and what a performance from Karl.

“We said we’d give it a chance and we would run here for his first race. I’m in shock. I’ve been coming here 45 years. To have a horse here and have a winner, I’m in shock.

“I don’t even have a top hat and tails as we only knew we were going to run on Thursday so it was too late to get everything.”

Of Pearling Path, trainer John O’Donoghue, who is based at the Curragh, said: : “I’ve watched the replay once and that’s all I’ll watch it!

“I think a stronger pace and we’d have won. He’s just got there too soon, he’s idled on him (David Egan) and got caught. We’ll probably geld him – we’re just frustrated with him, because he doesn’t show it (coltish behaviour) at home at all, and he’s real sort of macho coming into the ring. I think he could be a serious horse with the gelding operation.

“This is my first Royal Ascot runner and my second runner in England – this is my first season training. I spent seven years in England, and then moved home (to Ireland) when the set-up was ready at the end of last year.”

Noble Truth makes all for Jersey Stakes triumph

Noble Truth broke smartly and overcame his keen-going nature to tough it from the front Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Having won this race last year with Creative Force, Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby earned back-to-back renewals, thanks to an enterprising William Buick ride aboard the 4-1 favourite, who has improved this season thanks to being gelded.

Find, who blew the start, ran a huge race in defeat at 40-1, staying on nicely under David Egan to be a length second, with Dubai Poet a neck behind in third having just tired in the final half furlong after seemingly cruising.

Appleby said: “A lot of credit must go to the lad that has ridden him at home as he’s not an easy horse to ride.

“We gelded him, and it’s only in the last 10 days that he’s arrived.

“Looking for a horse that will fit the Golden Eagle at Randwick brings me to him. I think he has the qualities for that race.”

He added: “When he got headed, I thought it would be interesting and I didn’t expect him to find the way he did. A great ride by William and the horse is going the right way forward again.”

Buick said: “You saw today compared to Noble Truth’s last run, when he was still a colt, that he was much more professional.

“He has so much energy and today he was able to channel it in the right direction. He’s got lots of speed, but today I was able to ride him a little bit while in the past I have been a passenger on him.”

Broome sweeps O’Brien to landmark winner

Broome swept trainer Aidan O’Brien to a remarkable 900th Group/Graded winner under both codes with an awesome display of front-running in the hands of Ryan Moore to take the Hardwicke Stakes.

Though last season’s Irish Derby and St Leger winner Hurricane Lane was sent off the 8-11 favourite for the mile-and-a-half Group Two feature at Royal Ascot, he appeared to be carrying a little condition for his first run of the season on ground quicker than ideal and Moore’s aggressive tactics from a wide draw worked to perfection, as he took the sting out of Charlie Appleby’s runner.

The 6-1 chance, who landed the Group One Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July last year, kept grinding and as Hurricane Lane wilted, Mostahdaf and Jim Crowley gave chase, but found the winner three and a quarter lengths superior.

“I didn’t realise that (900 top-level winners) and we are so privileged to be in the position we are and we are so grateful to everyone at Ballydoyle,” said O’Brien, who also moved to 81 career winners at the Royal meeting – one behind Sir Michael Stoute.

“In this life and world we take one day at a time and try to appreciate every day. We’re so grateful to do what we do every day. It’s incredible really.”

Paying tribute to Moore, he said: “It was a brilliant ride. Ryan has done an incredible job on Broome. He is a six-year-old colt now and one very strange thing is that he seems to be coming to the peak of his career after all these years. He is by Australia and is very brave.

“We think we will see the best of him this year. Ryan gave Broome an amazing ride.”

O’Brien indicated the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes will be the target for Broome, and added: “He suffered a fractured shin when he was kicked unsaddling after the Japan Cup.

“He had time off and needed his run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

“He has a very high cruising speed, and doesn’t surrender.”

Thady Gosden, who trains Mostahdaf with his father John, hailed Moore’s ride.

He said: “Mostahdaf has obviously run a very good race there. Ryan gave Broome an exceptional ride from the front – probably the best ride I’ve seen of the week, for sure.

“We followed Hurricane Lane round the bend; the winner got loose, but he’s run very well. It seems to be the right trip for him now, and we’ll see where we go from here.”

Appleby was satisfied with Hurricane Lane’s initial effort and feels he will make plenty of progress for the outing.

He said: “We haven’t hidden anything about what our thought processes are – we’re working back from October, very much so. This is a horse we feel is our Arc horse and today, going out there with the ground being as quick as it was, I said to William (Buick) ‘don’t forget, if it’s not happening for him, look after him round there’.

“But William said he travelled into it well, his action just shortened a bit, he said he just went through his girths and just got tired.

“The ground was quick enough for him – he does move better when there’s ease in the ground – we all know that. But more importantly, he took two match-fit horses on as well. They’ve gone a good gallop – Ryan’s gone out there and set a good stall, and I’m pleased.

“It’s always encouraging – it’s the same from two to three or three to four, their first run, you’re just glad they’ve still got their enthusiasm.”

Rohaan roars to Wokingham repeat

Top-weight Rohaan became the fifth horse to record back-to-back Wokingham Handicap successes as Ryan Moore threaded the eye of the needle to take the six-furlong Royal Ascot cavalry charge.

The David Evans-trained four-year-old has to be produced late and Moore bided his time aboard the 18-1 chance, knifing through a gap near the stands side between Popmaster and Mr Wagyu to score by three-quarters of a length under a hands-and-heels ride.

The victory secured the 38-year-old his ninth Royal Ascot top jockey award following his seventh victory of the week, with Popmaster (16-1) a gallant second. Jumby (12-1) stayed on well for third, with recent Epsom winner Mr Wagyu (28-1) just getting tired in the closing stages, having looked a threat with a furlong to race.

Evans said: “Ryan knew what to do and instilled confidence into the horse.

“I felt from two out the result was never in doubt. It was a fantastic performance.

“He’s a cut above them on his day. He’s had his problems, but he was ready.”

Moore said: “On this horse I knew from two and a half out that he was coming right back to form and that he was going to win.

“He felt like the horse of old and all credit to David for getting him there.”

Chris Kiely, who co-owns Rohaan with footballer James Tomkins, saluted the effort of Evans and “the best moment of my life”.

He said: “Dave the magician got him right and kept him ready. He said two weeks ago that Rohaan is absolutely flying. I don’t know he has got him back. I thought we may have been too hard on him. This is the best moment of my life.

“I’ve had two kids and got married, but this is the best moment of my life. This thing was done three months ago.”