Arc Angel claims Jubilee
Les Arcs held off Balthazaar’s Gift to cause a major upset in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Tim Pitt’s gelding, 11th in the King’s Stand Stakes on Tuesday, landed the Group One spoils at 33-1 in the hands of John Egan.
Balthazaar’s Gift came from another parish to finish second, a neck in arrears, while King’s Stand hero Takeover Stand lost nothing in defeat in third - two lengths further back.
Australian raider Takeover Target appeared set fair for a famous sprint double after travelling fluently once edging over to the stands side from stall 13.
But the winner, owned by football agent Willie McKay, found a delightful split on the rail which enabled Egan to kick on a furlong from home.
Balthazaar’s Gift was anchored to the rear of the field for most of the race but responded magnificently to Jamie Spencer’s urgings and only went down by the narrowest of margins.
Takeover Target failed to replicate the heroics of compatriot Choisir three years ago by winning the King’s Stand and the Golden Jubilee but still emerged with plenty of credit – despite running out of puff when it mattered.
Egan, bagging his second Royal winner of the week, said: “I heard on the commentary there was one (Balthazaar’s Gift) coming up and I panicked slightly that he was going to come and do me.
“He’s a fantastic horse and was useful over a mile and a quarter.
“We used to think he was a bit quirky because he never got there but five, six and even seven furlongs seem to suit him a lot better.
“Tim’s got a great team and I’m sure he’ll go from strength to strength,” he told BBC Sport.
McKay could barely conceal his delight at the outcome and said: “It was a fantastic ride and Tim is an exceptionally good trainer.”
Pitt added: “This guy (Les Arcs) put us on the map with a good winter. John gave him a great ride but it was the longest furlong in my life.
“This guy has got a lot of natural speed but when he kept going up and up the handicap there’s only so many places he can be entered up.
“He’s in the July Cup and that’s where we’ll probably go next.”
Spencer said: “Ashdown Express rolled down on me and for a few strides I had to wait for it to happen, otherwise he might have won.”
Trainer Kevin Ryan added: “That was a great run. I think that is the way to ride him.
“Jamie took his time but you need a bit of luck in running when you ride a horse like that and he got stopped at a vital stage.
“But that’s sprinting. He’s a top-class horse. He proved that last year.
“Amadeus Wolf (fifth) ran a blinder. When you go from two to three with them you are still learning a bit.
“Both horses are top class and w will look at the July Cup for them both.”
Joe Janiak, the part-time taxi driver from Canberra, said of Takeover Target, said: “I’m absolutely rapped with that.
“He tried his hardest and six is definitely his best trip – I couldn’t have expected much more than that.
“We can’t be disappointed but probably Tuesday took it’s toll in the last furlong.
“I’m so pleased I came over – I would have regretted it for the rest of my life if I hadn’t.”
His rider Jay Ford added: “He bounced back and I got nicely across to the stands side.
“We just felt the pinch coming home. He’s definitely best over six furlongs but he just didn’t show up as well as he can today.
“Probably the four-day back-up was a bit too much for him.
“He gave it his all and ran quite creditably.”
