By Tom Frary
Mark Johnston is keen to liken Royal Ascot to an equine lottery and so it was fitting that Raffle Prize (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}) collected in a renewal of the G2 Queen Mary S. blighted by yet another downpour on Wednesday.
So impressive around Chester's tight turns when off the mark over six furlongs May 25, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's homebred had the early speed to lay up with Wesley Ward's 'TDN Rising Star' duo of Kimari (Munnings) and Anna's Fast (Fast Anna) on this unrelenting straight course and was always able to keep the former within reach. As it boiled down to a match between the American and North England girls, it was always going to be Raffle Prize's extra stamina that decided the contest and the 18-1 shot slowly gained the edge inside the last half furlong. At the line, Frankie Dettori had earned a head verdict over the ultra-game Kimari, as 'TDN Rising Star' and 6-1 favourite Final Song (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) fared best of the Godolphin quartet a length away in third.
With all the action here coming from stalls 18 and upwards, she was ideally placed in 25 and those racing middle-to-low were always out of their ground. As Raffle Prize edged out Kimari and Final Song emerged with a late threat on the stand's side, the Hilary Needler Trophy winner Liberty Beach (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) came out of the race with much credit having led home the pack racing in the centre and finished just 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner.
“People ask me 'what's your best chance at Royal Ascot' and I say 'how can you know?' as they are all effectively maiden winners coming in here and all you can do is run your best horses and see,” Johnston commented. “She deserved be here, but we couldn't say how good she was in relation to the others. What you can say is that Frankie is just the greatest jockey. We couldn't have been in a better position in the race.”
Raffle Prize began her career with a second to the potentially smart Varian runner Daahyeh (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) over six at Newmarket May 18 before her Chester exhibition. Taken on for the lead at that tricky venue, which Aidan O'Brien is keen to use for the accelerated education of his Derby and Oaks prospects, she brushed off that pressure before powering clear of the subsequent Hamilton winner The New Marwan (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by five lengths. The colt that took her on at the front had useful form beforehand and ended up 24 1/4 lengths adrift, so that was clear testament that the Johnston runner was cut from rare cloth.
Dettori revealed his plan of action afterwards. “I knew it would take a good one to beat Wesley's, but I knew mine had run over six, so I took him on early and made it a true test of stamina and she had to give in sooner or later,” he said. “I saw her stride shortening and I knew I had his horse. I had stamina on my side and I used that card.”
Ward said of Kimari, “Frankie did me in. I was very concerned about the rain, but obviously she likes the soft so that is a good thing moving forward. You don't know which ones like the soft, but it shows she liked it as did Lady Aurelia. If I hadn't had the success I've had in the past, I would be elated, but I'm so happy and proud she has run well.”
Saeed bin Suroor said of Final Song, “The filly has done well. The jockey said six or seven furlongs could be better for her. We will find another group race for here in England or France. She likes this ground, as she won on soft. I think she needs cut in the ground. I think the trip was a bit short for her, but she ran a big race.”
Pedigree Notes:
Raffle Prize's dam is the G3 Oak Tree S. winner Summer Fete (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who also took the Listed Radley S. at that seven-furlong trip and was third in the G2 Celebration Mile, so there is more than hope that the winner will get further than six furlongs. Second dam Tamarillo (GB) (Daylami {Ire}) is a half-sister to the listed-placed pair Take It To The Max (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and Wake Up Call (GB) (Noverre), with the latter being the dam of Godolphin's Zaman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}). He captured the Listed Meydan Classic and was second in the G2 Vintage S., while the family also includes the GII San Clemente H. winner Up In Time (GB) (Noverre), the Listed Atalanta S. scorer and G1 Sun Chariot S. third Musicanna (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and her G2 Godolphin Mile-winning son One Man Band (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). Also connected to the high-class sprinter Overdose (GB) (Starborough {GB}), Summer Fete's yearling filly is by Exceed and Excel (Aus). Raffle Prize is the fitting first black-type winner for his sire, who defeated Due Diligence (War Front) in the 2014 G1 Diamond Jubilee S. before adding the G1 Darley July Cup in his next start.
Wednesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEEN MARY S.-G2, £110,000, Royal Ascot, 6-19, 2yo, f, 5fT, 1:01.58, g/s.
1–RAFFLE PRIZE (IRE), 126, f, 2, by Slade Power (Ire)
1st Dam: Summer Fete (Ire) (GSW-Eng, $125,102), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Tamarillo (GB), by Daylami (Ire)
3rd Dam: Up And About (GB), by Barathea (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Mark Johnston; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £62,381. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $95,336. *First SW for sire (by Dutch Art {GB}). Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Kimari, 126, f, 2, Munnings">Munnings–Cozze Up Lady, by Cozzene. ($152,000 Ylg '18 FTKJUL). 'TDN Rising Star' O-Ten Broeck Farm Inc; B-China Horse Club International Ltd (KY); T-Wesley Ward. £23,650.
3–Final Song (Ire), 126, f, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Rahiyah, by Rahy. 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor. £11,836.
Margins: HD, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 18.00, 6.50, 6.00.
Also Ran: Liberty Beach (GB), Al Raya (GB), Mighty Spirit (Ire), Flaming Princess (Ire), Flippa the Strippa (Ire), Tango (Ire), Lambeth Walk (GB), Theory of Time (Ire), Multiply By Eight (Fr), Shadn (Ire), Divine Spirit (GB), Too Shy Shy (Ire), Anna's Fast, Ventura Flame (Ire), Isabeau (Ire), Partridge (Ire), Love Bracelet, American Lady (Ire), Applecross (Ire), Brand New Day (Ire), Daughter In Law (Ire). Scratched: Emten (Ire), Good Vibes (GB), Kemble (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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