Royal Ascot: Choisir blazes the Ascot turf

Up to 5000 Australians crammed into the packed Royal Ascot grandstands ahead of the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, all hoping to gain a glimpse of Black Caviar, the wonder mare who had attained legendary status ‘down under’ by virtue of 21 scintillating successes.

As we know, Black Caviar produced a performance well short of her best, barely scrambling home as her rider, Luke Nolen, prematurely eased her inside the final furlong, drawing horrified gasps from the capacity crowd. That incident, however, only served to add to the spectacle, creating a dramatic finish that will linger long in the mind of all 77,863 people in attendance.

It is worth considering, though, that Black Caviar may never have set foot on British soil, robbing racegoers of a truly historic moment, were it not for the exploits of another Australian-trained sprinter nine years earlier: Choisir.

Choisir’s remarkable feat of winning the King’s Stand and Golden Jubilee Stakes in 2003 – becoming the first Australian-trained horse to win in Britain – has paved the way for an influx of Australian contenders willing to take their chance against the best Europe can muster. Royal Ascot has become a truly global event, drawing raiders from all over the continent; but this was not always the case.

A Group 1-winning sprinter in his homeland, the Paul Perry-trained Choisir was sent off as a relatively-unconsidered 25/1 shot in the King’s Stand Stakes, but his connections certainly had faith in his ability. Shannon Perry, assistant to his father Paul, was on record as saying: ‘He’s a monster of a horse – like a brahma bull – and Johnny Murtagh will feel the power. I expect him to be hard to catch’.

Rather than mere fighting talk, those words turned out to be prophetic as Choisir, a real eye-catching physical specimen, burst out of the stalls, travelled strongly and was never seriously challenged as he destroyed his rivals with a show of sheer force.

The Hong Kong-raider Firebolt initially tried keeping tabs on Choisir but the imposing Australian, wearing a distinctive white bridle and black eyeshields, comfortably saw him off, quickening three lengths clear of his toiling rivals approaching the final furlong. Understandably tiring slightly under his penalty (the King’s Stand Stakes was only a Group 2 contest in 2003) Choisir was ridden out to the line, always holding the late challenge of Acclamation with the 6/1 favourite Oasis Dream further back in third.

The strong, robust Australian galloper really was a fine sight in action as he flowed over the quick Ascot surface; his power-packed performance was not only visually impressive but the best in the race since Dayjur had triumphed in 1990.

That was not to be the end of his British odyssey, however, as four days later Choisir returned to Ascot, faced not only with an extra furlong to conquer but a potentially-formidable rival in the shape of the well-touted Airwave.

The Henry Candy-trained Airwave had been progressive as a juvenile, beating subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Russian Rhythm on her final start of the campaign, but it was her reappearance effort, a scintillating success in the Temple Stakes, that had really caught the imagination of the public. She topped the market for the Golden Jubilee as a warm 11/8 favourite with Choisir and last year’s winner Malhub in next at 13/2.

Choisir once again displayed notable speed from the gate, leading the smaller of two groups down the centre of the course in the early stages. As the fields merged approaching the halfway stage, Choisir was vying for the lead, but by the time they had reached the two-furlong marker Johnny Murtagh’s powerful ally had really found his stride, opening up a break on the field as he edged to his left and grabbed the stand rail.

Airwave started to emerge from the pack, throwing down the sternest challenge to Choisir, but while the Australian had the benefit of the rail, Henry Candy’s filly edged out to her right, never looking as if she was quite capable of overhauling her more-experienced rival.

It was a victory of great significance as although winning two races at the Royal Meeting may not have been a unique feat, it was one that had been rarely achieved in recent times; not since Stanerra won the Prince of Wales’s and the Hardwicke in 1983 had a horse completed the double.

Choisir’s victory had ramifications which extended beyond his own personal legacy, though. It opened up the floodgates for a wave of International competitors who have richly enhanced the meeting, particularly in the sprint division, making Royal Ascot a real international event of great importance.

Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast and, of Course Black Caviar, have all seared up the Ascot turf, producing some highly memorable moments, but we may never have witnessed those meeting-enhancing performances were it not for the trail-blazing antics of Choisir.