Valiant Force provided 150-1 shock as he led from start to finish in the Group Two Norfolk Stakes on day three of Royal Ascot 2023.
The pre-race betting market was all about a match between warm 7-4 favourite Elite Status, from the Yorkshire stable of Liverpool FC Karl Burke, and Wesley Ward's American raider American Rascal (4-1). But the race was all about Adrian Murray's Valiant Force, who jumped out to lead under Rossa Ryan, in the the purple colours of Amo Racing. It seemed he was setting it up for those in behind with both Elite Status and American Rascal both sitting in just behind Valiant Force on the far side. But as American Rascal faded it was the Malibu Moon colt, who had been second and fifth in his two runs at the Curragh, who powered clear to land a shock success by a length-and-a-quarter from another outsider, the Richard Fahey-trained Malc (66-1). Favourite Elite Status stayed on to be half-a-length back in third with Aidan O'Brien's His Majesty (11-2) three-quarters-of-a-length further adrift in fourth – coming home first on the stands' side group.
Trainer Murray landing a first Royal Ascot winner, said: “I can’t believe it. I fell into racing by accident. A friend of mine got me involved in the Flat. 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 (at The Curragh on May 1) first time out and he was 150/1 today. 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. I’m based in Mullingar and have had some right nice jumpers in the past. I love it, love racing.”
Jockey Ryan, who was landing a third Royal Ascot winner 24 hours after his second aboard 28-1 shot Jimi Hendrix in the Royal Hunt Cup, said: "To be fair to the lads they were confident he would run a big race. 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. He's bred well, he's bred to be a sprinter by Malibu Moon and if you look at him he's something else to look at – he was almost the stand-out in the paddock beside Karl Burke's horse (Elite Status, third).
"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. To get Kia (Joorabchian, head of Amo Racing) his first Royal Ascot winner is redemption for defeat last year."
Middleham trainer Fahey had won the last two renewals of the Norfolk Stakes with Perfect Power and The Ridler, both ridden by Warrington jockey Paul Hanagan. The trainer was delighted with his runner-up. He said “I’m delighted, absolutely over the moon. We thought we had a nice bunch, it’s so tough here, you need everything to go right. I just felt a couple of the others it didn’t go right, but today everything went right and he sticks his head down and has a go.”
Asked whether he feels Malc is a five-furlong sprinter, he added: “To be honest, we feel he is six, but nearly at Ascot you’ve got to get six. Mid-part of the race there, I’m not saying that’s where we lost it, but we just got a little bit out paced and the winner got through strong. But I would have taken that well before the race.”
Jockey Orr added “He’s run a lovely race. His inexperience maybe just told today, he got a bit outpaced mid-race and he stayed on well. I think he’s going to come on when he goes up in trip.”
Trainer Burke said of third home Elite Status: “He’s a lovely horse with a great future in front of him. The Prix Morny was always the target before today, so whether that’s changed – I’m just going to see Sheikh Obaid now – but I would imagine we will step him up into that type of race. He’s a proper Group horse. He is a lovely horse and not the finished article yet.”
Desert Hero (18-1) gave the new King Charles III a historiuc first Royal Ascot winner as he came late, under Tom Marquand, to land King George V Stakes. The Willie Haggas-trained son of Sea The Stars, who had won on his debut at Haydock Park last year, had been behind a number of his rivals at Ascot in last month's London Gold Cup at Newbury having been sent off favourite. But stepped up to 1m4f, he was back for form in Berkshire as he was delivered from way back off the pace to come out on top of a real battle to the line with the Joseph O'Brien-trained Valiant King (7-1), under Oisin Murphy to score by a head. Aidan O'Brien's London Gold Cup winner Bertinelli (6-1) has also come through to lead a furlong from home but faded to be a further length-and-a-quarter adrift with Cloudbreaker (22-1) in fourth.
To a rousing reception Desert Hero provided the perfect Royal winner. The late Queen enjoyed 24 Royal Ascot successes – most notably exactly 10 years ago on this day when the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Estimate won the Ascot Gold Cup under Ryan Moore – but this was a first for the new King and Queen.
Winning jockey Marquand said: "Genuinely that is one of my proudest moments in the saddle so far – obviously it's not as big as Estimate winning the Gold Cup (for the late Queen). I grew up watching horses like that win for Her Majesty The Queen, and to ride His Majesty The King's first Royal Ascot winner is unbelievable. It's dream world. Racing has an amazing way of things coming along – yesterday was a tough day, in racing terms at least. Royal Ascot is the pinnacle and riding a winner here is so special. I wasn't confident of getting there – I tried to spin out [on the final bend] at the bottom of the straight and get behind horses I thought would take me there, but they didn't and I had to go in, but this fellow was extremely game. As the Haggas team show time and time again they just get it right."
Trainer Haggas, landing his 15th Royal Ascot winner but a first of this week, said: "It's fantastic, a great honour for all of us, and I'm thrilled they (the King and Queen) were here to witness it. We discussed it (the race beforehand) and I thought he was going to be more forward, but he obviously thought they were going too fast and they were going too fast. He stayed on really well – it was his first time at a mile and a half. He's done well since Newbury, and whilst this is a surprise you always hope things like this can happen. I'm delighted it has. They (the King and Queen) have been looking forward to Royal Ascot for a long time and they hoped to have as many runners as possible. I think they will be absolutely delighted. It's very important for horse racing, but it's also important that the King and Queen enjoy it, which they clearly appear to do. Long may that continue."
