THERE are few who can better Aidan O’Brien at Royal Ascot, but Mastercraftsman was made to work hard to give the Irish trainer his sixth win in the St James’s Palace Stakes in the past decade.
The Ballydoyle maestro claimed another hat-trick of successes in the Group One feature for the second time on the opening day of Royal Ascot with the 5-6 favourite’s determined win.
O’Brien’s stars of the past like Rock Of Gibraltar, Giant’s Causeway and last year Henrythenavigator have all landed the St James’s Palace. And O’Brien likened the way Mastercraftsman battled to victory to his ‘Iron Horse’ Giant’s Causeway. Despite being headed by Brian Meehan’s Delegator (4-1) inside the last furlong, Mastercraftsman showed a tenacious will-to-win to get back up on the rail to prevail by a neck under Johnny Murtagh.
A ring-rusty fifth in the 2,000 Guineas was followed by a five-length romp in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh in heavy conditions. But yesterday he showed his class, guts and ability to handle any conditions.
Murtagh praised the Danehill Dancer colt as another great from the Ballydoyle production line.
The Irish jockey said: “It looked like it would be a real battle with Jimmy (Fortune on Delegator) all the way. He has a great heart and you can see the way he carries his head. He puts it down and really tries hard and I was getting well on top in the last strides.
“He gave 110%, he’s brave and courageous. He is a typical one of Aidan O’Brien’s. They never know when they are beaten. We saw it last year with Duke Of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator, when they get on a roll they are very good. A lot was made of the ground. But he didn’t come down the hill at Newmarket and it was beautiful ground out there.
“Aidan O’Brien will know what to do with him. He always had them ready for the Group One races and this was no different. Whenever he brings him out again he will be ready.
“He is right up there with the best horses I have ridden.”
O’Brien is contemplating stepping Mastercraftsman up to a mile and a quarter, possibly in next month’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, but all options are open. O’Brien said: “He’s just one of those great horses. He’s becoming very like a Giant’s Causeway, the sort of horse that doesn’t mind a mile or a mile and a quarter. He’s an amazing horse with speed, stamina, and all ground comes alike to him.
“It was a great performance from the horse and a marvellous performance from Johnny.”
Earlier in the day Paco Boy finally proved he stays a mile with victory in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes.
The Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old, sent off the 100-30 favourite, beat Cesare (11-1) by a length and a half with Aqlaam (10-1) half a length back in third.
The trainer, who landed a double with jockey Richard Hughes following Canford Cliffs win in the Coventry Stakes later on, said: “I think it’s put a few old jokers to bed. If he didn’t stay a mile, he stayed it better than the others anyway. He wasn’t quite right at Newbury and came home with an infection in a foot, he wasn’t moving quite right. Now we’ve had the time to get him right again and I couldn't be more delighted for the little horse.”
One horse heading for the July Cup is Aussie speedster Scenic Blast, who proved too hot for the home challengers under jockey Steve Arnold.
The 11-4 favourite landed the King’s Stand Stakes by three-quarters of a length from Fleeting Spirit and is now into 7-2 to complete the double in the Golden Jubilee Stakes over a furlong further on Saturday, but is more likely to wait for Newmarket.
