Bow Echo digs deep to foil Gstaad in St James’s Palace thriller

The last unbeaten 2000 Guineas winner to follow up in the St James’s Palace Stakes was a certain Frankel. And just like him, Bow Echo was made to do it the hard way in a captivating renewal at Royal Ascot.

Sir Henry Cecil’s Frankel went on to enjoy a 14-race career without blemish, and while it is asking a lot for Bow Echo to repeat anything like that, he took his own winning streak to five in the most determined fashion.

Having demoralised his Classic rivals by six lengths, Tom Queally probably felt his partner was invincible and made a huge move on Frankel rounding the home bend in the 2011 running.

In the end that nearly cost him as Aidan O’Brien’s Zoffany closed to within three-quarters of a length of the great horse in what would prove to be the shortest distance he would ever triumph by.

Ballydoyle again provided the biggest scare to the race favourite, and again they just came off second best in a pulsating finish.

Gstaad had almost three lengths to make up on 5-6 market leader Bow Echo from Newmarket, but he very nearly did it thanks to canny tactics which allowed Ryan Moore to nip up the inside of stablemate Puerto Rico.

Bow Echo did go a length clear, but Gstaad closed with every stride of the final furlong to get within a short head at the line.

It was billed as the biggest day in the careers of young jockey Billy Loughnane and trainer George Boughey and after an early scare they came through it unscathed.

Boughey said: “I was feeling pretty good a furlong out, but then Ryan started coming back. I did sort of think that Aidan had always said that his horse would get further so huge credit to the runner-up as he was gallant today.

“I think that was the first time he’s got into a proper battle. Obviously I’ve only watched it once, but it was quite a scrap early doors, he was almost keen at one point, William’s horse (Buick, on Talk Of New York) came past and I think we’ll see a better horse now that he’s been in a scrap like that.

“He’s done everything we’ve hoped; it’s fine margins in this game and luckily he was on the right side of it.”

He added: “It’s a dream to be training horses like this, to be trusted with them and to do it with Billy makes it even more special; he’s like a younger brother, he’s like a friend, we chat the whole time and to be able to have that affinity with a jockey is amazing.

“I’ve been lucky to have a lot of good riders ride for me, but he’s an exceptional talent, both on the horse, off the horse. He’s meticulous in his planning and I think it’s showing on the track.

“To be able to provide him with an unbeaten Guineas winner to come and win at Royal Ascot is as good as it gets.

“Plan A was to hopefully win the Guineas and come here and to go to Goodwood for the Sussex. He’s taking his racing very well, he was ready to go a couple of weeks ago. He’ll have had a race today, he’ll know that, but it’s very much all systems go for Goodwood.”

Loughnane said: “The first furlong was crucial, and I got squeezed out early.

“There were five of us in a line and I slightly lost my position and he got lit up. It meant I had to move probably sooner than ideal, but his guts got him through. He’s very determined to win, this horse, with a great turn of foot and fantastic ability.

“He travelled very powerfully and has a great turn of foot. Gstaad and Ryan probably had a more economical route than we did, so we wasted a lot of ground, but he’s a very talented horse and was tough towards the business end.

“Obviously there’s pressure riding a horse like him, but it’s pressure you want and I’m very privileged to be in a position to partner him, and I can’t wait for the next couple of races to come up. It’s a pinch yourself moment, and I can’t thank George and the owners enough for having faith in me.”

“This horse is such a superstar. I’m so lucky to be part of a horse like this at the age of 20.

“We just showed how much of a true warrior this horse is.”