3 minute read
Trainer Charlie Hills did not have the best day at the office yesterday, when he ran two strongly-fancied horses in G1 races at Royal Ascot and both were beaten.
Battaash was second in the G1 King's Stand Stakes, but Phoenix Of Spain was unplaced in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes. Any disappointment Hills felt after that display was not helped when Phoenix Of Spain was found to be stiff and sore when led out of his box this morning.
Taking the philosophical view that 'There's always another day,' Hills returned to the Royal Meeting and Afaak provided him with a far happier result when landing today's 28-runner, £175,000 Royal Hunt Cup. It was Hills' fourth career win at Royal Ascot.
Afaak (20/1), who was runner-up in the race last year, and has been gelded since, is owned and was bred by Sheikh Hamdan, and ridden by Jim Crowley. The winner beat Clon Coulis (16/1) by a nose, and there was two lengths back to Raising Sand (8/1). A further head behind in fourth was Stylehunter (22/1).
Given that Afaak was making his season's debut his win was a fine achievement for his trainer, who said: "He hasn't come in his coat yet and still looks a woolly bear. We were concerned about that, and then I suggested to Sheikh Hamdan that we could take him out because the ground had changed, but I'm glad we didn't!
"We gelded him during the winter - sometimes that is the best thing for a colt. We can now start looking for some races out of handicap company. We wanted to run him a couple of weeks ago, but he just didn't look quite right so we backed off.
"Yesterday was tough, but it's horse racing and there's always tomorrow. I'm glad this winner is for Sheikh Hamdan, who is such a great supporter of the yard. Battaash [who is owned by the Sheikh] ran a really good race and the first two clocked some really good times - he got too far back in the race, but that's how it goes sometimes.
"Phoenix Of Spain has eaten up, but he's sore and it will take a couple of easy weeks to come right. We'll give him a couple of days off and then take another look at him - he seemed to get pulled around in the softer ground and it's probably a muscular problem. We have plenty of time on our hands and there's no rush."