Godolphin duo left reeling as Highland Reel wins in gritty style at Royal Ascot

Jack Hobbs and Usherette miss out in Prince of Wales's Stakes on Wednesday, writes Geoffrey Riddle.

Highland Reel raced to a sixth Group 1 victory at Royal Ascot on Wednesday. Mike Hewitt / Getty Images
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ASCOT, ENGLAND // When you burn brightly you are often left with ashes. On Wednesday Godolphin had a magical day at Royal Ascot with three winners but momentum failed them completely on Day 2 when Jack Hobbs and Usherette struggled to land a blow.

Jack Hobbs finished last under William Buick in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes won in gritty style by Ryan Moore and Highland Reel, while Usherette at least ran with credit when finishing third in defence of her Duke Of Cambridge Stakes crown she ceded to French raider Qemah and Gregory Benoist.

Jack Hobbs had relished the soft conditions at Meydan Racecourse when he won the Dubai Sheema Classic over 2,400 metres in March as Highland Reel had sulked in it, but this time their roles were completely reversed over 2,000m on good to firm.

“Obviously that trip on that ground is not his scene,” trainer John Gosden said of Jack Hobbs. “He didn’t let himself down on it. He came with every chance in the straight.”

Highland Reel was taken on for the lead by Godolphin’s Scottish, and in the straight he briefly was headed by Decorated Knight, the Jebel Hatta winner, and Michael Stoute’s Ulysses.

Highland Reel is teak tough, however, and he held off that pair by a length and a quarter.

“Highland Reel has such a marvellous attitude,” winning jockey Ryan Moore said. “Highland Reel has been everywhere and keeps coming back. I’d say that was a career best from him.”

It was Highland Reel’s sixth Group 1 victory and trainer Aidan O’Brien, who was registering the 300th top-level success of his career, hopes to bring him back to Ascot to defend his title in next month’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

“He is an incredible horse,” the trainer said. “Pace, courage, tactical speed, he has everything. He has always had that pace. He is tactically very quick.”

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