Atzeni breaks Royal Ascot duck on Cursory Glance in Albany Stakes
Friday 20 June 2014 19:08, UK
Andrea Atzeni claimed his first Royal Ascot victory when 14/1 chance Cursory Glance took the Albany Stakes.
The talented jockey has made great waves in the sport in the last couple of seasons and achieved a notable landmark as he brought the Roger Varian-trained winner through with a strong run to collar American filly Sunset Glow and Patience Alexander insider the final furlong.
She quickened clear to win impressively by a couple of lengths and earn a 16/1 quote from bookmakers Sky Bet for next year's 1000 Guineas.
There was strong money all day for David Wachman's Sexy Legs and she was sent off 9/2 joint-favourite with Patience Alexander, but she never looked like taking a hand in the finish.
Atzeni beamed: "It's great. I had some good rides through the week and I was hoping to get a winner.
"She wasn't the quickest out of the stalls but she travelled really good and from two (furlongs) down I got on the quarters of the American horse. She quickened away from me, but my filly has outstayed them. She's a very nice filly and we've always liked her."
Varian described the winner's performance as "good, very good".
"We thought she'd win and win well at Kempton," he said."She was very babyish, naughty at the gates and just ran green, but she's improved since then. She's always worked well.
"Fast ground was what she wanted it today. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I was saying earlier in the week Friday and Saturday were our bigger days. Friday has come along and we've had to start walking the walk, but we've always thought a lot of this filly.
"We think she'll get further. Andrea said he thought he might not get to the American filly (Sunset Glow), but he's outstayed her.
-
![It wasn't easy to find a parking spot at Royal Ascot]()
Image: It wasn't easy to find a parking spot at Royal Ascot on Friday, with a full house at the track. -
![A racegoer surveys the track ahead of another exciting day of racing]()
Image: A racegoer surveys the track ahead of another exciting day of racing -
![Bright colours were again the order of the day at Royal Ascot]()
Image: Bright colours were again the order of the day -
![Amy Willerton says I'm A Celebrity Get Me In Here!]()
Image: Amy Willerton says 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me In Here!' -
![The Chelsea Pensioners were on parade at Ascot]()
Image: The Chelsea Pensioners were on parade at Ascot -
![Television presenter Julia Bradbury was among the attendees on Friday]()
Image: Television presenter Julia Bradbury was among the attendees on Friday -
![The Queen's Hat market is up - and a 290% book to boot!]()
Image: The Queen's Hat market is up - and a 290% book to boot! -
![The Queen arrives and the gamble on a yellow hat is sunk]()
Image: The Queen arrives and the gamble on a yellow hat is sunk -
![The field begin to bear down upon the final furlong in the Albany Stakes]()
Image: The field begin to bear down upon the final furlong in the Albany Stakes... -
![Cursory Glance wins the Albany Stakes under Andrea Atzeni]()
Image: ...and Cursory Glance stretches clear under Andrea Atzeni -
![The Duke of Kent attends his own version of the selfie]()
Image: The Duke of Kent attempts his own version of the selfie - a relfie perhaps? -
![The Queen issues orders to Ryan Moore ahead of Bold Sniper's run in the Wolferton Handicap]()
Image: The Queen issues orders to Ryan Moore ahead of Bold Sniper's run in the Wolferton Handicap -
![The drive for home begins in the Wolfreton Stakes]()
Image: The drive for home begins in the Wolferton... -
![Bold Sniper (left) battles on gamely under Moore]()
Image: Bold Sniper (left) battles on gamely under Moore... -
![but Ed Dunlop's Contributer proves best under George Baker]()
Image: ...but Ed Dunlop's Contributer proves comes out on top under George Baker. -
![Eagle Top provides a shock in the King Edward VII Stakes]()
Image: Eagle Top is a surprise winner of the King Edward VII Stakes -
![Eagle Top ridden by William Buick on their way to victory in the King Edward VII Stakes during Day Four of the 2014 Royal Ascot Meeting at Ascot Racecourse]()
Image: He runs out a very impressive scorer under William Buick -
![Onto the feature race and Rizeena wins the Coronation Stakes under Ryan Moore]()
Image: Onto the feature race and Rizeena wins the Coronation Stakes under Ryan Moore -
![ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Jockey Ryan Moore (C) riding Rizeena wins the Coronation Stakes during day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 20, 2]()
Image: French raider Lesstalk In Paris is her nearest pursuer -
![The jockey is able to celebrate another Group One success]()
Image: The jockey is able to celebrate another Group One success -
![ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: A general view of race goers watching riders during day four of Royal Ascot 2014 at Ascot Racecourse on June 20, 2014 in Ascot,]()
Image: Gold Approach leads early in the Queen's Vase... -
![Hartnell beats Century - but has to survive a stewards' enquiry to keep the Queen's Vase]()
Image: ...but at the finish Hartnell beats Century - and then has to survive a stewards' enquiry -
![Winning trainer of Hartnell, Mark Johnston after his horse's victory in the Queen's Vase during Day Four of the 2014 Royal Ascot Meeting at Ascot Racecours]()
Image: He's a seventh winner in the race for Mark Johnston -
![Louis the Pious ridden by Silvestre De Sousa (right green diamond) on their way to victory in the Buckingham Palace Stakes during Day Four of the 2014 Roy]()
Image: Louis The Pious, tipped by Ben Linfoot at 40-1, wins the closing Buckingham Palace Stakes
"I'm not sure where we'll go from here. We'll just digest this and take it from there."
Part-owner Craig Bennett, in whose colours Cursory Glance runs, added: "We bought her mother in 2006 and she was always better than she showed, but she was a bit of a madam. Jamie Spencer said to me she'd breed us a champion as she saves so much for herself, and here we are! To win at Royal Ascot is a dream."Varian, recording the second Royal Ascot winner of his career, said: "It's terrific. To have winners here means everything and I think she's a very nice filly. I'm very excited for the owners.
"Her homework has been exceptional. She was very green when she won at Kempton and she's come on a lot."
Sunset Glow's trainer Wesley Ward was delighted, despite being unable to add to his tally for the week.
He said: "It was a gallant run. She's probably the most talented of the group I brought here this year.
"She likes fast ground - I walked it this morning and I was sinking in, it probably hadn't had enough time to dry out. I understand why they water for safe ground, but it's a killer.
"She'll stay a mile, and six furlongs at Ascot this early on is like running a mile."
Of Patience Alexander, trainer Dave Evans said: "She just got outstayed. A furlong out she looked the winner but she's a good filly. We could go to the Molecomb [at Goodwood back over five furlongs]."
Interestingly, both Ward and Evans were of the opinion that they might have beaten the winner had the race been staged on Wednesday before watering took place at the track.
"I think if she had run on the first two days when the ground was a bit firmer it would have been better," said Ward. "When I walked the course today I was sinking in - I don't think there was time for the ground to dry out for her.
"She ran a very, very valiant race and I am really proud of her. The speed (front-running) is going to be tough for the first couple of races and then maybe it will quicken up. I understand that (watering) is what they have to do to keep things safe, but it is a killer (for me).
"If she caught quick ground, she can go a mile. As time goes on, she will go a mile. Six furlongs at Ascot is like a mile. It is a tough place to run and a tough place to win at."
