Valiant Force delivered one of the greatest shocks in Royal Ascot history as the 150/1 winner of The Norfolk Stakes. In a race littered with debutant winners and two highly regarded American raiders, little attention was paid to the Kia Joorabchian-owned horse who finished second and second-last in its first two starts.
But after seizing the lead inside the final two furlongs, he fought off late pressure from 66/1 outsider Malc and favourite Elite Status for a glorious Group 2 victory. Trainer Adrian Murray crossed the Irish Sea with just three entries and after Bucanero Fuerte finished third in the Coventry Stakes on Monday, he suspected his voyage could not get any better.
“I can’t believe it. I fell into racing by accident – a friend of mine got me involved,” beamed Murray. “It's magic. We were third here on Monday and I wondered if that would ever happen again.
“We knew he was a nice horse and I couldn’t believe the price - he was only beaten less than a length by His Majesty first time out. It didn't make sense - I knew he was much better than that. It’s the stuff of dreams. It’s great for the small man.”
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There has only ever been one previous 150/1 winner in the history of the world-famous meeting. Nando Parrado stormed to victory in the Coventry Stakes for Clive Cox in 2020, surpassing the record shared by 100-1 shots Fox Chapel in 1990 and Flashmans Papers in 2008.
Valiant Force now lays claim to the honour as Ascot's greatest upset but it came as no surprise to jockey Rossa Ryan. Victory was a redemptive one for Ryan, who after finishing as runner up on Persian Force 12 months ago, stepped down as number one jockey for football agent Joorabchian’s burgeoning operation Amo Racing.
“To be fair to the lads, they were confident he would run a big race,” said Ryan, who also tasted success aboard Jimi Hendrix on Wednesday. “He jumped well and did everything right - he was just in a rhythm and when I took a lead off Kevin [Stott on Thunder Blue] outside the two, I was always in a rhythm.
“I could have probably won further if something had come at me. He's got the job done and to be still associated with Amo Racing is a big part for me. If you take away his last run at the Curragh when he was [left] on his own, [before that] he's run a stormer first time out in a Listed race and that's the most important form.”
