Letter From Ascot: Up the Stretch Awards

Originally these “Tips of the Top Hat” after the five-day Royal Meeting at Ascot were entitled Down The Stretch Awards, but since the Ascot home stretch is uphill, I have renamed these presentations as the Up The Stretch Awards, also known as the “Stretchies.”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A HORSE: She won't get the headlines she deserves, but 3-year-old Alpha Centauri (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) blitzed 12 competitors in the G1 Coronation S., which has been on the Royal Ascot menu since 1840. She lowered the track record by more than a second, and gave me the impression of a grey blur that might just beat the boys, if given fast ground and a very good rider. She will win many more major events.

HEAD SCRATCHER AWARDS: Why do so many horses have to be blindfolded? Awards to all of the gate handlers who have to put up with unruly steeds who are not properly trained to go into the big iron monster. Seemed like one or two needed that hood on in every bloody heat!

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A JOCKEY: Even though Ryan Moore had the most winners in this five-day super meet, I thought that the ride Frankie Dettori gave Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) made all the difference–especially considering this was over two miles and four furlongs! It has been 26 years since he won his first of five Gold Cups, and this ride was his best. Frankie saved all the ground he could, while hugging the rail and not tipping his hand until the bell clanged as the field came into the home straight (is that bell to warn jocks that the finish is just up the hill?). This was The G1 Gold Cup. Not The Ascot Gold Cup. It was the G1 Gold Cup. In a dramatic three-horse photo finish after 20 furlongs, give the smallest trophy of the meet (the actual Gold Cup) to Dettori, he deserved it.

LINE OF THE WEEK: There were two terrible crashes at Ascot this week. On late Thursday, an old-time high carriage carrying a dozen racegoers (all with blankets around their legs, even though it was more than 75 degrees!) pulled by a team of horses bolted on high street, careening into a local shop. It was a miracle no human or horse was injured. There was also a crash in a nearby parking lot. We heard it twice. When a wag in the press box heard about those crashes, he muttered, “I hope it was Ryan Moore, that was the only way I can get back at him for the money I lost on him this week!” And he said it again. It wasn't Moore. He won the Ritz trophy, at least that's what old timers call the champion rider award.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A TRAINER: Again, not the most conditioner with the most wins, but a salute to Sir Michael Stout. He damned near beat Aidan O'Brien in number of wins with a small fraction of O'Brien's entries. He is the person with the most wins of anyone (79) in the history of the Royal Meeting. He is a treasure at age 73, and keeps on training excellent bloodstock.

WHY BOTHER AWARD: I saw at least three races where the inquiry sign should have been posted. I think Saturday's G1 Diamond Jubilee S. certainly deserved another look by the stewards, and I believe Bound For Nowhere (The Factor) should have been moved up into second or first place. This, of course, would have provoked a riot, if you can imagine this happening with the top hat and tail crowd.

BEST DESSERT OF THE WEEK: In the press box, clotted cream and strawberry jam on airy rolls. Why can't we get clotted cream in the USA?

DAD OF THE WEEK: Last year it was the late Scat Daddy. With Father's Day still in our minds, the offspring of Sea The Stars had a tremendous week in Berkshire. Besides Stradivarius winning the G1 Gold Cup, Crystal Ocean was the easiest winner of the week. Congratulations Pop!

BEST RACECALLER: Nice to hear Mark Johnson calling races in Great Britain. Mark was at Churchill Downs for several years, and now his crisp commentary is heard here at various tracks and on ITV.

JOHN HENRY AWARD (for old timers): God bless Queen Elizabeth II, at age 92, at the races every day, greeting people, always asking for advice on breeding and joking with jockeys on the presentation stand. She was also in the walking ring for every one of the runners this week who raced in her famous colors.

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR AWARD: To Frankie Dettori at age 47 who is a fan favorite and great ambassador for this very big sport in a very small country. Fortunately, he has no plans to retire.

Congratulations to the 2018 “Stretchie” winners.