A stirring late charge propelled Quai De Bethune (12/1) to victory in the Golden Gates Stakes, in what was a fifth handicap winner of the meeting for Oisin Murphy.
The son of Persian King did not look comfortable early on but, once switched out in the straight, kicked in the turbos to collar 11/4 favourite Seraph Gabriel on the line. French challenger Best Secret (4/1) was a length further back in third.
A fourth winner of the meeting for Andrew Balding, Quai De Bethune was a promising third in the London Gold Cup at Newbury on his penultimate start.
Balding said: “I am very pleased. We have had this race in mind for Quai De Bethune for a good while now, but you need everything to go right. He was given an outstanding ride and we just got the margins at the end of the race.”
Winning co-owner Gary Gillies said: “Amazing, absolutely amazing. Weirdly last night, someone came in and offered to buy him. We were close, but we said no and now we are here – what a feeling! It does not get any better than this, and to have a winner here is special. If that offer had come in Tuesday, chances are I would have taken it. After yesterday’s disappointment, it was my chance today to get a Royal Ascot winner and I did not want to wait to next year.”
Murphy said: “Quai De Bethune found the ground a little fast maybe. I was not going early. Rossa [Ryan, on the favourite] and I were both struggling, but we were able to save a little bit of ground on the turn. Rossa cleverly managed to keep me in a little bit in the straight, which delayed my challenge, and I wasn’t sure if I had won. The cameraman usually knows because they can watch the replay closely and the camera never came off Seraph Gabriel.
“Quai De Bethune is a Persian King – he is slow to mature and getting to a nice level now. The lads at home have done a great job with him. This is a good race to win with the horse and I am delighted. Thank you to all the owners, trainers and everyone who has supported me [this week].”
Ralph Beckett said of Seraph Gabriel: “Everything went right, we just didn’t win!”