Rock strikes again

Stiff six furlongs suits Wall winner

Last updated: 1st October 2011   Subscribe to RSS Feed

royal rock

Royal Rock: 2009 winner struck again in Ascot contest

Related links

Also see

Profiles

Royal Rock won the Group Three John Guest Bengough Stakes at Ascot for the second time in three years.

The six furlongs contest was run at a frenetic pace and a furlong out six or seven runners still held every chance.

However Ted Durcan, completing a big double at the meeting, produced the 16-1 chance with a perfectly timed challenge to hit the front 100 yards from the finish and score by three-quarters of a length from Rose Boneheur (20-1).

It was the same distance back to Desert Poppy (9-1) back in third.

"He's a smashing older horse who has had a few issues along the way, but he hasn't had too much racing and he's been looked after," said Durcan.

"He won really well at Yarmouth last month and I'd say mentally that was a sweetener for him.

"He was absolutely spot-on today, he likes a bit of ease in the ground and he obviously likes the stiff six furlongs here."