Laddies Poker Two the ace card in Wokingham Stakes
Johnny Murtagh is clearly a man who believes in making up for lost time.
Having drawn a blank for each of the first three days of the royal meeting, the Irishman completed his second successive double when Laddies Poker Two won the Wokingham Stakes for trainer Jeremy Noseda.
The mare, like Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Starspangledbanner, was sired by Choisir defied a 610-day absence and came home two-and-a-half length clear of Striking Spirit, Palace Moon third and Knot In Wood fourth. However, the planning for this victory went back even further than that.
“This plan was hatched in December, 2008, Noseda explained. “She got a bad injury in the spring of 2009, which meant that she had the year off. So the plan got delayed another year - it has been a long time. Firstly, for the plan, I must thank Mike Dillon, who first put the idea in my mind.”
“We are a year late and it’s a huge thank you to my staff at home. The filly has been extremely tough to train and Mick, who rides her out every day, has done a great job and Sharaz, who is the head man in charge, has done a great job to keep her in one piece. It has been a long plan over a long period of time and, to get her here on the day, it has been a huge team effort.
“It’s always a delight to have a winner at Royal Ascot and it’s a pleasure to bring a filly like that back after that sort of lay off to win a race like this.
“It’s also a big thank you to John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith for their patience. It takes owners a lot of patience not to see them on the racetrack and I am delighted that their patience has been rewarded today.
“I didn’t have a penny on her. There were a lot of people telling me to back her but I didn’t back Forgotten Voice in the Royal Hunt Cup last year - all I want them to do is win and, if their owners are happy, if they back them and are happy, then that is all that matters.
“It’s a cliché, but this was the plan. I think that she can go on and it is within her compass to win a Stakes race and we will go from there. I always felt I could get her here and do it. The doubts slipped into my mind today so it gives me huge satisfaction. It’s always a special kick to win at Royal Ascot.
“I thought about running her three weeks ago and consulted Michael Tabor who asked if I could get her ready for today without a run. I said I think so.”
Murtagh who was riding his 36th Royal Ascot winner, said: “For once, I did everything that the trainer told me - he said to drop her in, get her relaxed, she has one good kick and she might go a little bit right. The race went very smoothly for me and she travelled really well.
“I was going to go between two horses and Adrian’s (Nicholls) just drifted in so I said okay and she really came back on the bridle. She hit the front a furlong out and she has won well. As Jeremy says, it was a lot of hard work and, while the jockey gets all of the praise, the job was easy for me today.
“Remember the motto - the river doesn’t need pushing.”
In the other handicap on the card Cill Rialaig - who like Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage began her career in a bumper - held off the fast-finishing Imposing to land the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap for trainer Hughie Morrison.
“I thought she ran a bit fresh when she was second on Derby Day but she went up 1lb and got in at the bottom of the handicap,” Morrison said. “I’ve always thought she was better than she has shown and that she’s at least Listed class. She’s proved what I’ve always thought, that she’s a proper horse.
“She got black-type when winning a bumper at Cheltenham last year and I’m sure we’ll look to get some more on the Flat now,
“Her owner-breeder Tim Billington was never in a hurry with her and has given her time to develop and it has paid dividends. He shares her with a small syndicate so this is a huge result for them.”
Winning rider Steve Drowne added: “I got a lovely trip round but she helps you. She switched off and then picked up when I asked her to. Kieren [Fallon on Australia Day] couldn’t lead me for any longer and I hit the front sooner than I’d have liked.
“She was pulling up a bit when she hit the front but she has matured and put her head down and battled on.”
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