Ryan Moore produced a power-packed ride aboard 4/1 shot Merchant Navy, trained by Aidan O’Brien, to land a thrilling renewal of the Gr1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
Ryan Moore gets Merchant Navy up in the shadow of the post
The four-year-old son of Fastnet Rock (a Southern Hemisphere three-year-old) settled behind his stable companions Spirit Of Valor and Intelligence Cross in the early stages of the six-furlong contest and held on gamely in the closing stages to deny the fast-finishing French raider, Stephane Wattel’s City Light (12/1), by a short-head in a pulsating finish.
Australian import Merchant Navy won his first start for O’Brien in a Gr2 contest at the Curragh in May and Moore paid tribute to team Ballydoyle for their handling of the colt since his arrival from Down Under.
Moore, registering a 6.86/1 double on the day following Crystal Ocean’s authoritative Gr2 Hardwicke Stakes success, was also recording his fifth winner at Royal Ascot 2018 and his 53rd victory at the Royal Meeting overall. Moore was also recording his second victory in the Gr1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes following the Henry Candy-trained Twilight Son’s 2016 win.
The Clive Cox-trained Harry Angel, the well-supported 5/2 favourite, lost several lengths at the start when rearing up in the stalls and his left hind was resting on a running board when the stalls opened.
Regarding the incident, Moore, remarked: “I was very aware of what had happened [regarding Harry Angel] as I was sitting in third and I was having to go earlier than I would have liked to have gone.The race didn’t really go to script for anyone, but I’m delighted and it was an amazing job from everyone to get him here.”
