Fareer Rules In Britannia

Fareer (right) wins the Britannia.

Ed Dunlop's Fareer came out on top in a nail-biting finish to the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot.

There were plenty in with chances passing the one-furlong marker in the traditional cavalry charge, with four horses virtually in a line as the post loomed large.

Secret Society looked to have hit the front at one stage, but it was the Richard Hills-ridden Fareer (20-1) who showed the best finishing kick to narrowly come out on top by a head.

Secret Society filled the runner-up spot, with Mirrored and Espiritu filling the minor places.

Dunlop said: "The ground was too soft at Haydock last time and we probably shouldn't have run him.

"It was a stupid thing to do, but it was a big race.

"He won well at Chester on ground he liked and this was the plan all year.

"I told Richard to do what he liked as the only thing we planned to do was hold him up.

"He did it well."

Hills said: "We knew it was going to be a fast race, it usually is, and I asked Sheikh Hamdan if I could just take my time and get a bit of luck.

"I said this horse has got a good finish.

"We've had this race in mind for quite a while and he did well.

"You have to ride your race with the horses in front of you - you can't be worrying about what's going on on the other side.

"You can only ride one race, I was drawn there, it was too far to go to the right so I stayed there."

Michael Bell, trainer of the runner-up, Secret Society, said: "It was a good run by an improving horse, but he's had a hard race.

"Hopefully there might be a handicap for him at the July meeting (Newmarket)."

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Mirrored's owner, Khalid Abdullah, added: "He ran a super race and while it's boring to say it, he did win his race on the far side.

"I would have thought we may look at Goodwood now for him now."