2.15pm £14,000 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial Conditions Race 5f
There was an upset in the opening Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial Conditions Race when Ventura Rebel (Richard Fahey/Paul Hanagan, 20/1) got up in the closing stages to deny 4/11 favourite Lady Pauline (Wesley Ward USA/Johnny Velazquez).
Lady Pauline went straight into the lead and raced keenly as she took the five-strong field along in the five-furlong contest. The American-trained filly still held the advantage entering the final furlong, but faced challenges from both Godolphin’s Full Verse (Charlie Appleby/William Buick, 7/2) and then Yorkshire-based Ventura Rebel.
Ventura Rebel, a son of Pastoral Pursuits who handed Fahey his 100th winner at Thirsk when successful on debut on April 13, came with a great run from off the pace to take the lead around 50 yards out and went on to score by a length from Lady Pauline with Full Verse another half-length away in third.
The winning time was 1m 0.49s.
Winning jockey Paul Hanagan said: “Ventura Rebel is such a dude – he has got such a good mind.
“He was probably a little outpaced early on, but he came good and I was able sit on him to give him the chance to come home, and he really came home.
“He gave me a proper feel there and took a bit of pulling up, which is always a nice sign. I really like him, especially his temperament, and hopefully he has a big future, all being well.
“Richard’s horses are in great form and everyone is happy.”
Tom Palin, representing winning owners Middleham Park Racing, added: “There was no fluke about that win from Ventura Rebel. It rode like a good, honest race and it probably was just that. We won well on debut and he put them to the sword again today.
“Since his debut, he has really sharpened up a lot. He did a really nice piece of work 10 days ago and Richard said to target this race after that piece of work. I have never heard Richard talk about one of our horses like that and be as bullish as he was.
“20/1 suggests it was a shock, but there was no fluke about that and Ventura Rebel is a proper horse.
“Ventura Rebel is not a slow horse by any stretch of the imagination. But Paul indicated after that it took him quite a while to pull up after the race and so all roads probably lead to the Coventry (G2, 6f, Tuesday, June 18) at Royal Ascot now.
“We are unbeaten and we look forward to going to Royal Ascot.”
Ventura Rebel is led in
Johnny Velazquez said of the runner-up Lady Pauline: “I thought Lady Pauline ran well, but she just got tired in the closing stages.
“She has only been here a few days, so the trip probably took a bit out of her.”