Fastnet Rock’s Merchant Navy Wins a Dramatic Diamond Jubilee

[Wandering Eyes]

Royal Ascot is never short in supply of drama, but the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. ensured it will be the most talked-about race of the meeting as Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) reverted to his former stalls panic and threw away his chance at the start before the ex-Australian and now Irish-trained Merchant Navy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) denied the French raider City Light (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and US rep Bound For Nowhere (The Factor) in a thrilling finale. With the 5-2 favourite Harry Angel trying to break out of the stalls before missing the start by several lengths only to finish 10th, this renewal was thrown open and it was Bound For Nowhere who set out to make all up the centre with Spirit of Valor (War Front) leading up Merchant Navy in his group. As the Wesley Ward runner began to lug left and into Ballydoyle’s 4-1 second favourite as he ground his way ahead passing the furlong pole, City Light got motoring the other side under Christophe Soumillon. City Light may was in front before and after the line, but Merchant Navy’s was for the photo and the bobbing finish resulted in a short-head verdict for Ryan Moore, with 3/4 of a length back to a gallant Bound For Nowhere in third. “He’s a remarkable horse,” the winning jockey said. “He hasn’t been up here long and is only a young horse, but he’s come and beat a high-class field. I thought I’d win easier, but the American horse leaned into me and he lost his rhythm for a second. If I’d got beaten I’d have been unlucky.” It later transpired that Harry Angel’s near-hind leg was stuck on the running board when the stalls opened, having kicked out with both hind legs in the gate. This was a repeat of his antics in the early days, which the Clive Cox stable had worked so hard to overcome and which had not been a problem for many outings. He is now 0-5 at this track, so the curse continues.

MERCHANT NAVY (AUS), 129, c, 4, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Legally Bay (Aus) (GSW & MG1SP-Aus, $430,193), by Snippets (Aus)
2nd Dam: Decidity (Aus), by Last Tycoon (Ire)
3rd Dam: Class (Aus), by Twig Moss (Fr)
(A$350,000 Ylg ’16 INGEAY). O-Merchant Navy Syndicate; B-C Barham (AUS); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £340,260. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Aus & GSW-Ire, 10-7-0-2, £950,949. *Full to Jolie Bay (Aus), GSW & G1SP-Aus, $242,860.

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