Noseda notches Albany 1-2

La Chunga gave Jeremy Noseda a day to remember when leading home an impressive one-two for the Newmarket handler in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot at York today.

The much-touted filly was sent off the 2-1 favourite to making a winning start to her career at Sandown Park last month but could finish only third, a result which left her trainer “astonished”.

La Chunga (10-1) had clearly benefited from that run, though, and she came good here in great style, beating her stable companion Vague (50-1) by an impressive three and a half lengths.

Jamie Spencer was always oozing confidence before producing her to hit the front well over a furlong out, and she scooted clear in the manner of a high-class filly.

The victory earned La Chunga quotes of 20-1 from VC Bet and 16-1 from totesport and Paddy Power for the UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas.

“It was a big result,” said Noseda. “I didn’t realise until I looked at the official result that I’d finished second, I was so excited about the winner.

“She is a quality filly. I couldn’t believe she got beaten at Sandown first time but we had to stay faithful and come here like we always intended to before her first run.

“Today she has gone and shown me what she has shown me at home.

“She’s got everything, she’s got a good cruising speed, a turn of foot, a great attitude and she’s a very talented filly.

“When she went to Sandown I felt she was five lengths better than Salut D’Amour and Salut D’Amour won the National that day and this filly got beaten in a maiden.

“I was astonished, but we had a lot of faith in her.”

La Chunga will be campaigned over six furlongs for the remainder of the season.

Noseda continued: “She’s got a lot of pace but I’ve no doubt she’ll get seven.

“The big races for the fillies are races like the Lowther and Cheveley Park, so this year I don’t think there is any reason to go further than six.”

When asked if she could develop into a 1000 Guineas contender, Noseda said: “We’ll win the Cheveley Park first please God and then we’ll decide about the Guineas.”

Spencer added: “I think she’s very special. This season I haven’t sat on a two-year-old as precocious at this stage. I was impressed with her ability to travel and the way she quickened.”

And of Vague, Noseda added: “The runner-up ran a huge race and she’d be a filly who’d be much better over seven or a mile.”

A major plunge on Dermot Weld’s Simple Exchange in the Wolferton Handicap fizzled out as the 4-1 shot faded out of contention at the two-furlong marker as Imperial Stride and Mullins Bay began to draw clear.

It was the Richard Hills-ridden Imperial Stride who proved the stronger, with the 25-1 shot drawing a length and three-quarters clear of his Irish rival at the line, much to the relief of the bookmakers.

Simple Exchange had been backed all through the day, having been available at 9-1 early on, but Weld admitted his charge had failed to stay the distance.

It was a third winner at the meeting for Sir Michael Stoute, who was surprised with the manner of Imperial Stride’s success but not with the result.

He said: “I was surprised he won so easily, but this horse has pieces of very good form. He’s had a few niggles and it’s been hard to get him as we really wanted, but he’s had a good preparation for this race.”

Bruce Raymond, for owner Saeed Suhail, added: “We’ve always had a lot of confidence in this horse.

“He’s had small problems and he’s a little bit soft. He’s been needing this mile and a quarter, fast ground and stretching on.”

Stoute was also responsible for Promotion, the 7-2 favourite who finished fifth. He added: “Mick (Kinane) said he just got shuffled back a little bit further than he wanted to be.”

Hills made it a 389-1 double - and three for the meeting - when he brought Munsef with a well-timed run to land the King George V Stakes for in-form trainer John Dunlop.

Dunlop had recorded a five-timer yesterday, two of them at York, and Munsef (14-1) gave the Arundel handler another boost with a two-and-a-half-length call over Sunday Symphony.

Consular and Sunday Symphony were battling it out on the stands side but Munsef came down the centre of the track to hit the front at the furlong pole before putting his stamp on the race.

“I hope the handicapper is not too hard on him,” said Dunlop.

“He struggled over nine furlongs last time at Ripon and with Zafonics, you never quite know whether they will stay.

“It is pretty fast ground and we had reservations about that, but he stayed the mile and a half no problem and is a nice progressive horse.

“It has been a very good few days.”

There was a winner for Yorkshire when the Mark Johnston-trained Melrose Avenue outstayed his rivals in the Queen’s Vase.

Helvetio looked all over the winner when cruising into the lead three furlongs from home, but he found very little when pressed by Melrose Avenue, who saw out the two miles well.

The 4-1 chance was ridden clear by Kevin Darley to beat the rallying Mr Vegas by a length, with Helvetio another three back in third.

Melrose Avenue was a first winner at this year’s Royal meeting for both Johnston and Darley, and the Middleham handler was a relieved man.

He said: “We were desperate to get one on the scoresheet. We’ve had a couple of seconds before now, so it’s great to get that first winner.

“There were four horses that came in a line and I had two of them, so I thought we would be in with a shout all the way.”

Almighty, the 7-2 favourite, trailed in ninth of the 10 runners.