Wathnan Racing’s unbeaten GREGORY Queens Vase at Royal Ascot and looks wins top prospect
Mdmar – Royal Ascot
Wathnan Racing’s Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn x Gretchen) looked a star in the making with a decisive success in the Gr.2 Queens Vase at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, June 21st.
Under the care of John and Thady Godsen, the superbly-bred three-year-old remained unbeaten after a trio of successes and having already stepped up to 1m6f (3000m) he looks a top tier stayer in the making.
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Partnered by Frankie Dettori, on what is his farewell tour at Royal Ascot, Gregory was rousted along by the Italian veteran on leaving the stalls and quickly took up a prominent position. Taking up the running on the turn for home, Gregory fended off a strong final challenge from the eventual runner up, the Qatar Racing Limited owned and Andrew Balding trained Saint George (GB) (Roaring Lion), who was ridden by Oisin Murphy. Despite Gregory’s inexperience, he stayed on stoutly to land the 14-runner contest by one and a half lengths. It was a good one-two by Qatari owners. The Godolphin owned and Simon & Ed trained Chesspiece (GB) (Nathaniel) was a far third as he finished almost four lengths further behind under James Doyle.
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Speaking after the race, the winning rider Frankie Dettori said “I was hoping he would get away early on and he did thankfully. He is a big sleeping giant in the yard and now he is a Royal Ascot winner. He could develop into a St. Leger horse for the end of the season and I am sure John and Thady will be working towards that.”
Now the ante-post favourite for Doncaster’s showpiece, Gregory looks to be an excellent recent purchase by Wathnan Racing, having previously carried the colours of his breeder Normandie Stud Ltd. A half brother to Listed winner Lionel (Lope De Vega), Gregory is out of the Gr.2 winner Gretchen (Galileo), who were both also trained by the Gosden’s. Gretchen is a sister to top level performers Duncan (Dalakhani), Deirdre (Dubawi) and Samuel (Sakhee).
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The “Mdmar” website for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
