St James’s Palace report: Bow Echo clings on in Ascot thriller

Bow Echo narrowly confirmed form with Gstaad in a grandstand finish to the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The 5-6 favourite having wowed the crowds in the 2000 Guineas, Billy Loughnane’s mount endured a rough start to the race coming out of the stalls, but was soon back on an even keel for his young jockey.

When it came to the business end Loughnane stayed out of trouble on the outside while Ryan Moore took the brave route up the inner, which paid off when his stablemate Puerto Rico drifted off the rail.

Bow Echo quickened clear, but was running on fumes in the last 100 yards as Newmarket runner-up Gstaad closed with every stride and a photo was needed to decide whether the market leader had won by a short head to stay unbeaten.

A relieved Boughey said: “It’s fine margins in this game and luckily he was on the right side of it today.

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

“I thought Billy gave him a lovely ride, we wanted to be one off the fence. He’s a superstar and luckily he got it done.”

On plans for his stable star, Boughey added: “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: “This horse is such a superstar. I’m so lucky to be part of a horse like this at the age of 20. I can’t thank George and connections enough. It’s a great day and a Group One winner at Royal Ascot, it really doesn’t get much better.

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

Aidan O’Brien is “looking forward” to another rematch between Gstaad and Bow Echo after the Ballydoyle colt was just denied in a gripping battle for the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Runner-up Gstaad, who had been two-and-three-quarter lengths behind in the 2000 Guineas, closed the gap to a rapidly diminishing short head in the Group One thriller. Talk Of New York was a further a length and three-quarters back in third.

And O’Brien confirmed the pair could lock horns for a third time this season in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

“He gets the mile very well and we are looking forward to him. We knew he was coming forward all the time and it just was a little bit rough for him early and Ryan was back a little bit further than he wanted to be,” he said.

“But as you saw going to the line he was closing and closing. We are over the moon with him.”

Asked about the prospect of a third match-up with Bow Echo at Goodwood, O’Brien added: “That’s maybe what we will do, we always thought he was a horse who was going to get further if we ever need to step up, but he does get a mile well obviously.”

Godolphin runner Talk Of New York delighted jockey William Buick who insisted there was no disgrace in finishing behind the front two, on what was a major step up in class for the Charlie Appleby-trained colt.

“It was a super run and I’m delighted with him,” he said. “It felt like I had quite a nice trip round and the front two are two very good horses.”

Appleby added: “I feel we’ve got a nice horse that is going to progress with his career. He still showed signs of inexperience there, in the paddock he just got a bit warm – that didn’t really concern me, it’s a warm day with a hood on, sometimes that can do that to those horses.

“It was a bit rough for the first furlong or two and he just ran as though he got a bit frightened in amongst it, just latched on a bit keen there. We’re not too far off them.”

Ascot's racecourse stewards were left unimpressed by the ride of Christophe Soumillon on Gstaad’s stablemate Puerto Rico, who was prominent through the early stages but ultimately last of the six starters.

Puerto Rico drifted left off the rail around the two-furlong marker, causing some interference to Power Blue, who was fourth, and the officials held an inquiry to consider whether Soumillon had ridden “in a manner to benefit Gstaad”.

After viewing recordings and hearing evidence, including interviewing O’Brien by telephone, the stewards suspended Soumillon for eight days, ruling he had ridden his mount “in such a way that intended to give an advantage to another horse from the same stable, in that he moved his mount away from the rail thereby ensuring a clear run for Gstaad on his inside”.

Ryan Moore also picked up a suspension from the race, being given three days for careless riding on leaving the stalls.