| Course: ASCOT | Race date:30/04/08 | Race time:3:55 | Runners:6 |
| Race distance:2m | Going:Soft | Winners time:3m 42.22s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shipmaster | Richard Hughes | A King | 5 | 9-1 | 5 | 0 | 101 | 4/1 | 3.4 | 2.83 | 1.79 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Peppertree Lane | Jimmy Fortune | M Johnston | 3 | 9-4 | 5 | 0 | 106 | 7/2 | 3.75 | 2.47 | 2.07 | 1.01 | 2 | shd |
| Distinction | Ryan Moore | Sir Michael Stoute | 2 | 9-1 | 9 | 0 | 110 | 5/2F | 2.4 | 2.11 | 1.71 | 1.41 | 3 | 5 |
| Soapy Danger | Joe Fanning | M Johnston | 6 | 9-1 | 5 | 0 | 109 | 3/1 | 2.46 | 2.13 | 1.33 | 1.89 | 4 | ¾ |
| Baddam | Ian Mongan | Ian Williams | 4 | 9-1 | 6 | 0 | 95 | 20/1 | 17.5 | 9.59 | 4 | 5.1 | 5 | 10 |
| Frank Sonata | T P O´Shea | M G Quinlan | 7 | 9-1 | 7 | 0 | 105 | 8/1 | 7.01 | 4.62 | 3.9 | 2.52 | 6 | 6 |
Shipmaster always prominent, ridden 3f out, battled gamely inside final furlong under strong pressure, led near finish
Peppertree Lane took keen hold early, settled in 5th after 3f, progress 5f out, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon hard pressed, kept on, headed near finish
Distinction held up 6th but in touch, progress into 4th 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on, went 3rd inside final furlong
Soapy Danger led, ridden 3f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, lost 3rd inside final furlong
Baddam tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened 2f out
Frank Sonata tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened just over 2f out
On the face of it, the form is still up to Group 3 standard if Peppertree Lane has run his race and there is no reason to question that as he had optimum conditions and went down gamely under his Group 3 penalty, which ultimately made the difference.
SHIPMASTER again showed great battling qualities to step up on his narrow Listed defeat on his first run back on the Flat since the 2006 Queen's Vase, where he had been beaten 4l when sixth to Soapy Danger. He continues to look progressive and, told that he picks up just a 3lb penalty for the Chester Cup (9st 6lb), trainer Alan King will leave him in at the five-day stage and see how he comes out of the race. VCbet cut him to 10-1 from 16-1 and Hills went 12-1 behind 4-1 favourite Highland Legacy, whose trainer Michael Bell has a line on this winner having beaten him at Nottingham. The Chester Cup will be a completely different experience but there is plenty to recommend him as he likes to race handily and has a touch of class.
Distinction's connections were far from dispirited in defeat with the ground against him, especially in the Swinley Bottom section where it was testing. He needed a stronger test as well and another tilt at the Gold Cup remains the aim at the age of nine.
Soapy Danger may have won on soft on his recent comeback but that was back at 12f and, while he won the Queen's Vase over old course and distance that was on firm ground and, while it can be argued that he has "bounced" here after that first run of the season, it may be that the ground found him out. He has not reached the heights he was promising to do before injury two years ago but he can still pick up a similar race back on better ground this summer.
Baddam remains a shadow of the Queen Alexandra and Ascot Stakes winner of 2006 while Frank Sonata was most disappointing as he had conditions to suit but dropped away tamely.[BJ]
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