It is every trainer and owner’s dream to have runners (and winners) at Royal Ascot – a meeting like no other with five consecutive days of world-class racing, wonderful hospitality, elegant fashion, a chance to meet up with friends – everyone looks forward to it.
It was very exciting to have Royal Ascot runners in Alice’s first full year as a trainer.
Two unbeaten two-year-olds in Remarkable Force and Lady Bullet and three-year-old Josies Kid, a son of Ardad who won a decent handicap at York at the back end of his two-year-old campaign and has done really well from two to three.
Remarkable Force was a winner first time out in a 5-furlong Maiden at Salisbury on 12 May. He showed great tenacity to hold on by a neck from Al Dasim with the highly regarded Andrew Balding-trained Chateau back in third. He followed up with a win just over a week later in a 5-furlong Conditions Stakes at Musselburgh.
Stepping up to 6 furlongs for the first time in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes on Day One of the Royal meeting, he was held up midfield and pushed along by Silvestre de Sousa over 2 furlongs out. He switched to the outside of the field but weakened over a furlong out, not quite seeing the trip out.
Lady Bullet, a Craven Breeze-Up purchase by first-season sire James Garfield, from a mare who produced Listed winners, broke her Maiden comfortably on first asking in a 5-furong Maiden at Doncaster on 30 April.
She followed up her perfect start with a 1 ½ length Novice Stakes win over 6 furlongs at Ripon on 26 May.
Lining up in the 6-furlong Group 3 Albany Stakes on Friday, she raced prominently in the centre of the pack and went into second with every chance over 2-furongs out. She edged and lost second spot over a furlong out and found no extra inside the final 110 yards, to finish a creditable 6th of 16 runner.
Josies Kid won and placed in Nursery Handicaps at the back end of his two-year-old campaign and was 3rd in a 5-furlong Handicap at Goodwood on 30 April.
Lining up in the 27-runner Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes over 5 furlongs, he raced prominently in the centre of the field until 2 furlongs from home, when he was ridden and soon weakened to finish down the field.
It was great to experience Royal Ascot with our first runners. We are delighted to finish just out of the placings with Lady Bullet and all horses came home safe and sound, which is the main thing. The owners thoroughly enjoyed it.
