Champion jockey Oisin Murphy chalked up a second win for the week on 18/1 chance Perotto in the Britannia Handicap.
Always a fiercely competitive handicap for three-year-olds, this year’s edition of the straight mile contest was no exception. Murphy guided the Marcus Tregoning-trained Perotto through the stands’ side pack from near last, before quickening clear of his 28 rivals.
Bigger odds filled the frame, with Liffey River (20/1) finishing strongly for second place, beaten a half-length, Quintillus (28/1) taking third and Dubai Honour (28/1) fourth.
This was a first victory for Tregoning at Royal Ascot since 2003, and a fourth in total.
The trainer said: “This is terrific – it’s lovely to have another Royal Ascot winner. Perotto is a classy horse, and you never know how things are going to work out, but he enjoyed that rattling fast ground.
“He’s not overly big, but he’s got a heart of a lion in him – he’s an amazing horse, one of the most fun horses I have ever trained. He is owned by a lovely syndicate Halcyon Thoroughbreds. They are such enthusiasts and they take the knocks as well as the wins, so they deserve to do well.
“Winning that race at Goodwood he was 4lb out of the handicap, but he’s such a good one and he’s got this magic turn of foot as you saw, and handles the ground better than any other horse.
“He has been a very sound horse. He is by New Bay, and we loved him as a yearling, although we didn’t pay much for him, I think he was under £30,000 or something. He comes from the family of Mohaather, who was a star for me last year, and also Accidental Agent. It is a great result.”
Reflecting on the challenges of being a trainer, Tregoning added: “I think that’s the trouble with lots of people training horses, isn’t it – you’ve got to keep momentum going. You really got to have a good horse, every other year at least. And we struggled a bit, as you know the early part of this season being terrible and hopefully we can get going.
“We’ve got some nice two-year-olds, not that many of them, and hopefully we can end the season with a bang, but this whole thing [a Royal Ascot winner] really helps.”
Murphy, who was recording his seventh winner at Royal Ascot, said: “I thought I was Jamie Spencer! I turned Perotto’s head in the stalls and missed the break a couple of lengths; he was asleep, so I tapped over to the rail because I could see William [Buick] and I wasn’t sure what sort of profile his horse had with so many runners, but I knew he would make the right decisions in the run, and I followed him through.
“The horse was going as far as he’s ever gone, and he hit the line – he’s a tough horse. This is often a market race for Hong Kong and the likes, and this guy being by New Bay, I think he could be very popular. He’s a smashing horse.
“I don’t team up with Marcus very much but he’s a top-class trainer with a small string and an absolute gentleman. This horse was very well prepared today and gave me a super ride.”