Michael Stoute within touching distance of Henry Cecil’s record
Cecil recorded an astonishing 75 winners at the showpiece meeting during his fantastic training career, but it would appear just a matter of time before his great friend and rival Stoute surpasses that total after moving to the 74-winner mark on the penultimate day of this year’s fixture.
Across The Stars (7-1) was turning out just under a fortnight after disappointing in the Epsom Derby, but showed his true colours with a determined victory over front-running favourite Beacon Rock.
Stoute paid tribute to Cecil in his post-race interview.
He said: “I’m not consciously (chasing Cecil’s record).
“He was a great character and a very gifted racehorse trainer. Thank god he had Frankel in those closing stages when he was putting up such a fight.”
Of Across The Stars, he added: “He can be a little impetuous, but he’s growing up. He’s a big horse with a lot of developing to do, physically and mentally.
“He’s run to a pretty good standard today. I would doubt he’ll stay the St Leger trip - I would say that is highly unlikely.
“We’ll stop and think (about plans). There’s no hurry.”
Quiet Reflection was a popular winner of the Commonwealth Cup for the northern-based combination of Karl Burke and Dougie Costello.
The 7-4 favourite secured her fifth victory in succession to leave both trainer and jockey fighting back tears of joy.
“I’m pretty emotional, but it’s fantastic and I’m absolutely delighted,” said Burke,
“We’re in the July Cup, I’d be a bit frightened of that if it came up fast ground with the undulations at Newmarket.
“Maybe the clever thing to do now is give her a little break and aim her at the Sprint Cup at Haydock in September followed by Champions Day back here.”
There was glory for France in the Coronation Stakes, with 6-1 shot Qemah providing trainer Jean-Claude Rouget with his second successive victory in the Group One feature.
Rouget said: “Today is done and I hope to get some more wins here as, for me, Ascot has the best racing in the world.”
Aidan O’Brien’s second string Brave Anna (16-1) struck gold in the Albany Stakes, but there was a sting in the tail for jockey Seamie Heffernan after he received a nine-day whip suspension.
Ballydoyle maestro O’Brien made it a big-priced double as Sword Fighter and Colm O’Donoghue won the Queen’s Vase at a whopping 33-1.
Connections of the Ralph Beckett-trained Kinema (8-1) had to endure a nervous wait before he was eventually confirmed the winner of the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes after a stewards’ inquiry.
