Bow Echo Edges Royal Ascot Victory to Stay Unbeaten
Bow Echo remains unbeaten after narrowly defeating Gstaad in a thrilling finish to the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The 5-6 favourite, who also beat Gstaad in the 2,000 Guineas last month, was ridden by 20-year-old jockey Billy Loughnane, who secured the win by a short head.
Despite a rough start to the one-mile race, the three-year-old colt regrouped and Loughnane positioned him safely on the outside to avoid trouble.
Ryan Moore guided Gstaad along the inner rail and gained an advantage when stablemate Puerto Rico, trained by Aidan O'Brien, drifted off the rail.
Gstaad closed strongly over the final 100 yards, but Bow Echo held on to claim victory in a photo finish.
"It's fine margins in this game and luckily he was on the right side of it today," said trainer George Boughey.
"I was feeling pretty good a furlong out, but then Ryan started coming back. I did sort of think that Aidan had always said that his horse would get further so huge credit to the runner-up as he was gallant today."
Boughey confirmed preparations are underway for Bow Echo's next race in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood next month.
"It's all systems go for Goodwood," Boughey added.
Jockey Billy Loughnane remarked: "This horse is such a superstar. It's a great day and a Group One winner at Royal Ascot, it really doesn't get much better. We just showed how much of a true warrior this horse is."
Mission Central Secures King Charles III Stakes for O'Brien and Moore
Mission Central completed the set of Group One victories at Ascot for trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Ryan Moore by winning the King Charles III Stakes.
In the closing stages of the race, Overpass and 2024 winner Asfoora were leading contenders representing Australia.
However, the 14-1 outsider Mission Central, a three-year-old gelding from Ballydoyle, surged late along the stands-side rail to narrowly defeat Rayevka of France by a head.
Overpass finished third, marking O'Brien's 98th winner at this meeting.
"That five [furlongs] is very quick and they went hard today, which suited him," O'Brien said. "He's got an awful lot of speed.
"He's a horse that could suit The Everest at the end of the year.
"I do think he will get further in time. We know he gets six [furlongs] and I think he might stay further than that too."
Moore added: "Aidan can do anything. His record is incredible and everything he runs here this week will have a chance."
Ten Bob Tony Causes Upset in Queen Anne Stakes
Ten Bob Tony delivered a surprise victory in the Queen Anne Stakes as a 50-1 outsider in the meeting's opening race.
Ed Walker's five-year-old, running just his third race over a mile and first since May 2024, finished strongly under jockey Kieran Shoemark.
Opera Ballo led entering the final furlong before More Thunder challenged, but Ten Bob Tony came from the back of the field to win by half a length.
Notable Speech, the 9-4 favourite and recent Lockinge Stakes winner, was never a serious threat.
Previously regarded as a seven-furlong specialist, Ten Bob Tony had won over that distance at Epsom on Derby day. The horse is named in tribute to owner Simon Sadler's father.
"I've lost my voice already, it's day one!" said Walker. "I can't say that was expected.
"Simon Sadler is such a sporting guy. He loves the David and Goliath story. He's so up for having a go and when the horse was as well as he was after Epsom, we knew we had to.
"We agreed we'd sit last and pass as many as we could in the final furlong," Walker added. "This horse is just a legend.
"Like it can do here at Ascot, it just fell apart in the last furlong. Kieran didn't commit him too early and saved him for a finish."
Next Steps for Bow Echo
Bow Echo is scheduled to compete in his sixth career race at the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood next month, continuing his unbeaten streak.
