By Tom Frary
Carrying a Frankie Dettori in irresistible mood, the unpredictable Monarchs Glen was on his best behaviour as he swooped to provide his sire and owner-breeder with an opening day Royal Ascot double here. Last seen finishing in front of only one of his 15 rivals in Meydan's G1 Dubai Turf at the end of March, last year's G3 Darley S. winner was playing second fiddle to fellow Frankel homebred Mirage Dancer (GB) in the betting but their fortunes differed when it mattered here and Dettori's confidence told. Generally progressive last term but in need of gelding after failing to fire when fourth in the G3 Sandown Classic Trial and Listed Cocked Hat S. at Goodwood, the bay built momentum in the autumn when garnering the Listed Foundation S. back at Goodwood and Newmarket's Darley but had nothing to offer next time in Dubai.
Keen early against the fence tracking Mirage Dancer and James McDonald as Chain of Daisies (GB) (Rail Link {GB}) sought to wring out her opponents' stamina, he stayed on the inner straightening for home and that proved crucial as the favourite became held up in traffic at a crucial point. Riding on the crest of a wave, Dettori switched Monarchs Glen around Euginio approaching the furlong pole and he was soon in control to provide his jockey with the third of his three winning rides for John Gosden and 59th victory at the Royal Meeting. “I took a chance and it worked out, but I didn't expect this one to win,” he said. “Three rides and three winners–what an amazing day and it's making up for last year [when he missed the meeting through injury]. This track has been so lucky for me and John Gosden is on fire.”
Gosden, who was registering a 46th Royal winner, said, “He's a little bit wild, this horse. Everyone at home, my fantastic staff, has worked hard with this horse. It didn't work out in Dubai, but we came back and we've done lots of sensible stuff with him and haven't overworked him. He could yet go up in grade as long as he settles enough in his mind. He wants to do everything in a hurry, but we're thrilled with him today.” Of his opening day treble, he added, “I was clear in my mind that if we didn't win the Coventry and the St James's Palace Stakes then it was going to be a very long week, because they were two horses just coming absolutely to perfection. All three are owner-breeder horses, and we are lucky enough to train them. It's been a very fulfilling day.”
Monarchs Glen is pure Juddmonte royalty, being out of the GIII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. winner Mirabilis (Lear Fan) who was also third in the G1 Prix de la Foret. His second dam is the GII Buena Vista H. and G3 Prix du Bois scorer Media Nox (GB) (Lycius), responsible chiefly for the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp heroine Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat) as well as the G2 Prix Eugene Adam winner Burning Sun (Danzig) who also scored at this meeting in the Listed Hampton Court S. in 2002. The third dam Sky Love (Nijinsky II) also produced the G2 Prix de Malleret winner Bonash (GB) (Rainbow Quest), whose son Day Flight (GB) (Sadler's Wells) was successful four times in group company, and this stable's G3 Prestige S. winner Sense of Joy (GB) (Dansili {GB}). This is also the family of the G3 Earl of Sefton S. scorer Phoenix Tower (Chester House) who was runner-up four times at the highest level including in the G1 Eclipse S. and G1 Prince of Wales's S. here. Mirabilis also has the as-yet unraced 3-year-old filly Papaver (GB) (Dansili {GB}), the 2-year-old colt Copal (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a yearling filly by Bated Breath (GB) and a 2018 full-brother to Monarchs Glen.
Tuesday, Royal Ascot, Britain
WOLFERTON S.-Listed, £100,000, Ascot, 6-19, 4yo/up, 9f 212yT, 2:03.71, g/f.
1–MONARCHS GLEN (GB), 134, g, 4, by Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)–Mirabilis (GSW-US, SW & G1SP-Fr, $275,664), by Lear Fan. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £56,710. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 10-5-2-0, $189,177.
2–Euginio (Ire), 129, c, 4, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Starstone (GB), by Diktat (GB). (155,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar. £21,500.
3–Muntahaa (Ire), 129, g, 5, Dansili (GB)–Qertaas (Ire), by Linamix (Fr). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. £10,760.
Margins: 1, 1, HF. Odds: 8.00, 33.00, 33.00.
Also Ran: Autocratic (GB), Mirage Dancer (GB), Leshlaa, Spark Plug (Ire), Sharja Bridge (GB), Laraaib (Ire), Chain of Daisies (GB), Morando (Fr), Big Country (Ire), Fabricate (GB), Kidmenever (Ire), Scarlet Dragon (GB), Yucatan (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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