Crown Of Ivy Becomes the First Winner for Darley's Freshman Naval Crown at Doncaster

The Tom Dascombe-trained debutant Crown Of Ivy (Naval Crown) belied his inexperience and surged clear of five rivals at the end of a six-furlong novices' heat at Doncaster on Saturday evening and, in so doing, became the first winner for his Kildangan Stud-based freshman sire.

Racing on the front end throughout, the heavily-supported 9-4 favourite was shaken up when threatened with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and found additional gears in the closing stages to easily overpower the  more experienced Rocket Boots (Too Darn Hot) by an impressive 2 1/2 lengths.

Crown Of Ivy, full-brother to a yearling colt, is the second foal and scorer out of an unraced half-sister to Listed Listowel Stakes victrix Champagne Or Water (Captain Rio), herself the dam GI Summer Stakes runner-up Appraise (Kodiac).

The winner's second dam Former Drama (Dynaformer) is a half-sister to the multiple Group 2-winning G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, G1 Lockinge Stakes and G1 Stradbroke Handicap placegetter Endless Drama (Lope De Vega).

 

🇬🇧EBF Novice Stakes @DoncasterRaces
Doncaster – Classe 4 – 2 ans – 1208m – 9 Pts – 9 837 £

🏆Crown Of Ivy (m2) 🏇William Cox
📖(Naval Crown (Gb) @DarleyEurope – Thaleia (Ire) par Tagula (Ire))

🕶️Tom Dascombe @TomDascombe
🎩Russell Jones & Partner pic.twitter.com/YzDEe1fIY1

— French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) May 2, 2026