Aussies rule at Ascot

It was not quite barbecue weather at Ascot but a bit of rain failed to prevent an Australian domination at the Berkshire track.

Two Antipodean riding expatriates, Kerrin McEvoy and Hugh Bowman, collected the three main events of the day and while the former has earned his distinguished reputation over the last three seasons, the latter has been here less than two weeks.

Bowman had already managed five winners from his extended stay but landed by far the most valuable so far in the appropriately-named feature, the totesport.com Victoria Cup, aboard the Alan Jarvis-trained Wise Dennis.

There had been plenty of conjecture about the stalls advantage on the straight course but the 14-1 shot was drawn right in the middle and that is where he stayed.

Bowman asked him for an effort over a furlong out and Wise Dennis burst clear to win by four lengths from Skhilling Spirit.

“What can I say, it’s a privilege to ride here,” said Bowman. “The horse has got gears and I just had to get him settled, put him right and he did it for me.”

It was only Bowman’s second outside ride, as he is based with Mick Channon while he awaits the arrival of his Royal Ascot mount Bentley Biscuit, a stunning winner at Doomben a few hours earlier.

Jarvis knew all about him, adding: “When I was out in Oz with Jardines Lookout I got to know some of the jockeys and I think I gave Kerrin McEvoy some of his first rides here too.

“Wise Dennis ran in quite a decent race at Southwell but he won with his head in his chest and when it started to rain here, I really fancied him.

“The Hunt Cup would now be an option, but that won’t be easy and he could run with a 3lb penalty in a Listed race next week at York that he won two years ago.”

For good measure, Bowman later took the McGee Group Maiden Stakes on Channon’s Dubai Destination colt Yem Kinn (11-2), who made a pleasing juvenile debut by just holding off the race-fit favourite Fitzroy Crossing.

Channon said: “We’ve been very pleased with for a while, although there was a worry about the ground. We’ll definitely look at Royal Ascot if he comes out of this OK.”

McEvoy’s first victory came in the shape of the potentially Pattern class Heaven Sent, who took the John Doyle Fillies’ Heritage Handicap in good style.

The field became well strung out in the closing stages, with Apply Dapply the 7-4 favourite’s only obvious rival, but Heaven Sent kept finding more and won well by two lengths.

Owner Cheveley Park Stud’s managing director Chris Richardson reported: “She keeps progressing and seems just as effective on top of the ground as when there is ease.

“I think she’ll step up to Stakes class – Listed or Group Threes – now. She’s entered in Ireland (Ridgewood Pearl Stakes on May 26) but I’m not sure about that.”

Stoute and McEvoy doubled up with Mountain High, who had been a beaten favourite on his four previous outings and was again sent off the 8-13 ’jolly’ for the Bovis Homes Buckhounds Stakes.

But Stoute had placed him accurately in this Listed event and there was nothing wrong with the way he went about his business, making all the running to win by a convincing four lengths.

McEvoy said: “He didn’t really like the ground but he did it very well.”

Current title leader Jamie Spencer was handed a two-day ban (May 23-24) for not riding out for sixth place on High Heel Sneakers.