Simon & Ed Crisford have a Royal Ascot winner on the board after Adrestia (10/1) fired home under Oisin Murphy in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes, a second win of the meeting for owner KHK Racing.
The daughter of Havana Grey made a step forward from her third at Windsor 11 days ago, producing a sustained run down the centre of the track to beat Hammer The Hammer (9/2) and Redorange (12/1) by a length. Zayer (16/1) finished fourth.
This is a first Royal Ascot success for the Crisfords as a partnership, with Simon having saddled two winners in his own right, including 2019 Norfolk Stakes victor A’Ali.
Simon Crisford said: “What a great filly. We fancied her big time. She came into the race off a really good mark. She ran so well at Windsor last time and was the only one of ours we felt could win this week.
“I knew she had 8lb or 9lb in hand. We all knew that. I told everyone last night – I said to my son-in-law, Harry Charlton, ‘you want to get on, she’s 16/1’, and by the time he tried to get on, she was down to 7/1, so he missed the market. She’s good a filly and it is great for KHK Racing.”
Ed Crisford said: “Adrestia is a well-handicapped filly. She had a run at Windsor the other day against older horses and ran really well on her first run back. We came in here full of confidence.
“I was a bit worried about the draw. I thought it was shifting to the far side throughout the day, but Oisin rode a beautiful race. He tucked her in behind, which is what she wants, produced her and she finished well.
“We haven’t had a winner at Royal Ascot for a few years, so it’s nice to get one back on the board. To be here at Royal Ascot and to have a winner, it means so much to everyone. This is the Olympics of our sport and I am so pleased for everyone involved.”
Murphy said: “Adrestia had a very good run last time at Windsor against older horses. I made the running in that race, when it was hard to come from off the speed, whereas today she was comfortable. She was drawn behind the pace and travelled early. I maybe got there a bit soon.
“I am really pleased for Sheikh Khalid [bin Hamad Al Khalifa]; he is a very nice man. He spends plenty of money and dreams about this kind of situation. Adrestia is probably a black-type filly. She was aimed at that sort of level last year, and there will be lots of opportunities for her again.
“The Crisfords make a good effort – Simon is obviously a very knowledgeable man and Ed is coming through. They are a good team.”
Former trainer Chris Wall, who advises KHK Racing, said: “Simon has been very confident about her all week. She was slow to come to hand in the spring and we weren’t able to race her until last week. We went to Windsor, badly drawn, but she still ran well and warmed up nicely for this race.
“Oisin gave her a lovely ride and she won very nicely. Sheikh Khalid loves coming to Royal Ascot but sadly, with the situation in the Middle East, it has prevented him from coming over. This is the be all and end all really. If you have winners here, it doesn’t matter if we don’t do too much the rest of the season. We have had four runners, two wins, and Staya ran very well in the Queen Mary. We have had a good week and can’t complain.”
Tom Eaves said of the runner-up: “I am delighted with Hammer The Hammer. The ground was always a concern coming into today. Not taking anything away from the winner, but I think we would be better getting our toe in a little bit.”