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26.
Choisir Does It Again!
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22/6/2003 |
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Australian sprinter Choisir has blown away the best sprinting talent in England
to complete a remarkable Royal Ascot double in the Group One Golden Jubilee
Stakes.
Backing up from his historic win in last Tuesday’s G2 King’s Stand Stakes
over five furlongs, Choisir showed the same brilliant speed to lead the huge
field of 22 from start to finish over the six furlongs straight course in record
time.
English commentators hailed Choisir as a “champion” after he held off the
determined final furlong drive of the 11/8 favourite Airwave under the riding of
Irish jockey John Murtagh to win by one length.
Choisir was dismissed by UK bookmakers and punters last Tuesday when he started
at 25/1 in the King’s Stand Stakes but was shown much greater respect this
time, going to the post a firm second favourite at 13/2 after 8/1 was bet.
Sporting Life reported bets landed on the Australian sprinter with Ascot
bookmakers included £40000 to £4800; £20000-£2800; £10000 to £1200 twice
and £10000 to £1400 three times.
Choisir is now all but assured of being rated the champion UK sprinter for 2003,
a standing he could build on as trainer Paul Perry has entered the colt for next
month’s G1 July Cup at Newmarket and has not ruled out a start in that event
before he returns to Australia.
Choisir had the disadvantage of starting from a high barrier draw well away from
the favoured outside rail, forcing Murtagh to track down the centre of the
straight course for the first half of the race.
However Choisir had such superior speed to his rivals that Murtagh was able to
allow the colt to drift across the face of the field and race on the rail over
the last furlong.
Murtagh told the BBC after the race that he was confident of winning two
furlongs from the finish.
"He's just so speedy. He took me there all the way and when I got to a
furlong and a half out I didn't think anyone could beat me,” Murtagh said.
“He just picked up, kept going, and I thought Airwave was coming but she
wouldn't have got him today."
An ecstatic Paul Perry declared his week at Royal Ascot has been “the thrill
of a lifetime” and was in no rush to decide about a start in the July Cup.
"Johnny said 'leave him here and he'll win everything' so we'll have to
talk about it now," Perry said.
Choisir has collected almost $A500,000 prizemoney from his two wins at Royal
Ascot, but that pales in comparison to his soaring stud value as the son of
Danehill Dancer will now command a price of at least $5 million when the time
comes to finalise what is certain to be a dual hemisphere breeding career.
Chosir, by becoming the first–trained Australian horse to win at Royal Ascot,
has shown that our top sprinters, at least, are world class and should not be
afraid to go beyond Asia to prove themselves.
The magnitude of his performances cannot be under-estimated as the
Australian-bred three-year-old has been at an age and weight disadvantage
against his northern hemisphere opposition in both races.
He carried the four-year-old’s weight of 9.4 in the Golden Jubilee Stakes and
conceded 10 pounds to the three-year-old filly Airwave, who will again be an
opponent if Perry decides to push on for the July Cup.
Choisir’s Golden Jubilee win will lift his international Timeform rating to
more than 130, having attained a 128 rating after he won the King’s Stand
Stakes.
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