Amazing Maria upsets Duke of Cambridge; Acapulco rolls for Ward in Queen Mary

Amazing Maria upsets Duke of Cambridge; Acapulco rolls for

Ward in Queen Mary

The trainer was asked his secret in rekindling or finding fires in

racehorses.

"We just deal with them when they arrive, and some of them come and some of

them don't, and she was just one that did," he explained. "She's won today and

that was the only plan."

Doyle said the ability to get cover on the filly was pivotal.

"Today I just got her to drop her head, relax and get loads of cover and I

was hoping they would get racing a fair way out," Doyle noted. "They actually

went quite steady and then William Buick on Rizeena (Iffraaj) upped the pace and

we got racing from about halfway. My filly was push button today. It was a great

effort from the whole team and I was just a small part in it."

Rizeena, winner of the 2013 Queen Mary (Eng-G2) and 2014 Coronation Stakes

(Eng-G1) at Ascot, finished second and Cladocera (Oasis Dream) wound up a

non-threatening third.

"The time of the year Ascot is works unbelievably with the Breeders' Cup so

we are able to bring the better horses here, even older horses, different

distances, and hopefully get lucky. I'm so blessed to have the success that I

have had here and to have owners such as Coolmore, and everyone at home that has

helped me get the horses to this point.

"With this particular filly, Keeneland went out of their way to let a

two-year-old filly run on grass, which they are really reluctant to do,

especially having the Breeders' Cup there this year. It really opened my eyes,

and I want to thank them for letting me see what I had, and then could come over

here and get lucky in a race like this."

Ward is looking forward to the future with Acapulco.

"I was very disappointed after her first run and I did something very

unconventional and breezed her right back in seven days time and it was the most

phenomenal breeze I've ever had," he noted. "I think she's got a big future on

turf, she's a beautiful, gorgeous filly and to look at her you'd think she was

four."

Moore was also impressed with the filly's talent.

"She is a big tough filly who has bags of speed and keeps on finding," the

rider said. "Her attitude is fantastic and she will keep on improving. Wesley

said she is like a four-year-old and she rides like one. She has a great

attitude and loads of pace. I wasn't even that quickly away, but she cruised up

and had far too many gears for them."

Trainer Michael Dods couldn't be too disappointed with Easton Angel's (Dark

Angel) runner-up effort.

"We don't like finishing second, but it was a great performance and she ran

her heart out," Dods said. "(Jockey) Paul (Mulrennan) said that if he had been

drawn on this side, instead of in stall one, it would have helped. We were very

isolated, and, to be fair, this was the first proper race she's had. She's been

beaten by a serious racehorse, and Ryan Moore said to Paul, 'You've been beaten

by an aeroplane.'"

William Haggas, who trains third-placer Besharah (Kodiac), also commended the

winner.

"She was beaten by a good one today. My jockey (Pat Cosgrave) said he

couldn't get a run when he wanted one, but I think he was beaten fair and

square. She ran a commendable race."

The colt traveled well under Crowley, finding cover before showing a good

turn of foot to win narrowly.

The jockey thought that the mixture of cover during the race and the quick

ground were vital.

"It is the first time I have sat on the horse," Crowley explained. "He had

some very smart form coming into the race and the drop back to seven furlongs

was his thing as was the quick ground. It is very quick ground. It was the first

time I have ridden but the way he moved, he loved the ground.

"The race couldn't have worked out any better. He got a lovely toe into the

race and he picked up nicely. We got a great run through and I was lucky I had

the right horses around me to tow me into the race which is what you need. I was

probably in front soon enough, but when I angled him out I had to go.

As for the future, Crowley suggested the horse may be best at today's trip,

seven furlongs.

"This is a very good division. He will probably be alright over an easy mile.

Clearly his better trip is seven".

Bossy Guest (Medicean), who was dropping back in trip to seven furlongs after

finishing fourth behind top three-year-old miler Gleneagles (Galileo) in the May

2 English Two Guineas (Eng-G1), was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third.

"I'm pleased with him. I'll definitely take him back up to a mile," trainer

Mick Channon said. "That could be the mistake I've made (dropping him down to

seven furlongs) but, having said that, I went for the right race. I nearly ran

yesterday (in the St James's Palace Stakes [Eng-G1]) but the other horse

(Gleneagles) had beaten us comprehensively, and I thought we'd come here with a

decent chance. He's the only one who was finishing his race."

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