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29.
Choisir the toast of
Royal Ascot
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22/6/2003 |
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Unstoppable Choisir is expected to launch a triple assault on Europe's best
sprinters after another stunning win at Royal Ascot on Saturday.
The Newcastle colt bullied a quality Group One field over 1200 metres in the
STG250,000 ($A627,510) Golden Jubilee Stakes to storm home in a course record
and set up a raid on the July Cup.
He became the first Australian-trained horse to win in England when he took out
the Group Two 1000m King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday and this win made him the
first horse in 20 years to win two races at the five-day Ascot meeting.
He is also the only horse in history to take out the five furlong (1000m) and
six furlong (1200m) sprint double at the meeting and became the toast of Ascot.
Trainer Paul Perry had originally planned only to run in the two Ascot races but
he and his co-owners were now seriously considering keeping Choisir in England.
"I thought he might have a job to pull it off from that alley but he is a
serious sprinter now and we will have to think about staying on for the July Cup
at Newmarket," Perry said.
"Now we just have to talk about it. The plan is to see how he settles down
and see how he goes.
"I think he's capable of anything. I think he likes it here."
So does jockey Johnny Murtagh who was keen to continue his 100 per cent record
aboard the strapping three-year-old.
"Johnny jumped off and told me to leave Choisir in Britain because he is
sure nothing in Europe will beat him," Perry said.
And the 70,000 awestruck and sun drenched crowd at the Queen's course in
Berkshire gave the 13-2 second favourite a rousing reception, begging for more
from what could be the fastest horse on the planet.
Even the Queen herself admitted there was nothing quicker than Choisir when she
presented Perry with a handsome gold cup and lamented her own stable's poor
return this week.
"I asked her how she's gone over the carnival, she said she had one
third," Perry said.
"She said 'but we couldn't beat any of your horses, because ours don't go
that quick.' She was very talkative."
Murtagh took Choisir out early from barrier 20 and went to the lead inside the
first furlong down the straight, as he did on Tuesday.
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