Moet and Chandon International Stakes
Heritage Handicap, Ascot 15:00
£150,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus,
7f, Class 2   
Saturday 26th July 2025

SureWIn

1 Two Tribes 25/1
2 Classic 10/1
3 Sword 18/1
4 Golden Mind 28/1
21 ran NR: Oliver Show Distances: nk, 1l, 1¼l
Time: 1m 26.70s (slow by 0.90s)

A race that promised drama delivered it in spades as Two Tribes found his moment in the spotlight, swooping late—turning promise into payout with a neck verdict that capped a Hollywood script.

Sent off at 25-1, Richard Spencer’s four-year-old had been threatening to strike over seven furlongs all summer. With David Egan in the saddle, he finally broke through in style, pouncing late to deny Richard Hannon’s Classic, who looked to be travelling like the winner two furlongs out.

Egan, riding with ice in his veins, waited for the gaps to appear, and once they did, Two Tribes responded with a surge that caught the eye—and caught Classic just before the line. A race that turned into a two-horse war in the final furlong ended with Two Tribes edging ahead, sparking celebrations in the Spencer camp with a cool £77,310 to the winner.

“He’s been banging the door down,” Spencer reflected. “I tried him over six at York because I thought he had the gears, and Ryan Moore said afterwards: ‘Step him back up to seven.’ Since then, things just haven’t dropped for him—wrong draws, wrong rhythms. But today, everything clicked.”

That improved draw made all the difference. For once, Two Tribes had cover, tempo, and room to operate. And when he hit the front? “He didn’t do a stroke,” said Spencer. “He’s a bit of a showman—when the fuel light comes on, you’ve got to really get after him. Credit to David; he judged it just right.”

Talk of a quick return in the Stewards’ Cup was quickly dismissed. “He’s entered, yes—but we won’t go. He’s not a six-furlong horse now. We’ll keep him to seven. There are races for him, and we’ve even looked at options abroad over the winter. He thrives on racing and doesn’t take much training.”

York’s Ebor meeting now beckons. “He came out of that well, we’d look at York,” Spencer added. “No firm plans—just see how he is and let the horse do the talking.”

On a day of stars and staying power, Two Tribes played the long game—and finally got his reward.

Moet and Chandon International Stakes
(Heritage Handicap)
£150,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 7f, Class 2
21 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (10)    Two Tribes 4 8-11 Richard Spencer David Egan 25/1
2 (11) nk Classic 5 8-11 3ex Richard Hannon Sean Levey 10/1
3 (22) 1 Sword 4 8-6 David O'Meara Mark Winn 18/1
4 (12) 1¼ Golden Mind 4 9-7 Richard Fahey Warren Fentiman 28/1
5 (6) ½ Kodi Lion 4 8-13 Michael Appleby Frederick Larson 11/1
6 (17) ¾ Northern Express 7 9-7 Michael Dods Paul Mulrennan 9/1
7 (19) ¾ Zoum Zoum 4 9-12 Ralph Beckett Hector Crouch 12/1
8 (15) hd Billyjoh 5 9-1 Michael Appleby Tom Marquand 12/1
9 (14) shd Yorkshire 5 9-4 Edward Bethell Callum Rodriguez 11/1
10 (21) ¾ Lord Bertie 5 8-11 David O'Meara Jamie Spencer 28/1
11 (20) 1¼ Akkadian Thunder 5 9-6 David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope 11/4F
12 (9) nk Qazaq 4 8-13 Roger Varian Silvestre De Sousa 16/1
13 (16) nk Fresh 8 9-2 James Fanshawe Daniel Muscutt 25/1
14 (1) 3 Pals Battalion 4 8-9 David O'Meara David Probert 66/1
15 (2) 2¼ Array 4 9-9 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 25/1
16 (8) 1 Cerulean Bay 4 9-2 David O'Meara James Doyle 25/1
17 (13) hd Al Ameen 6 8-6 James Fanshawe Marco Ghiani 80/1
18 (3) 1¾ Aalto 5 8-12 Ian Williams William Buick 11/2
19 (4) ¾ City House 4 9-10 George Scott Darragh Keenan 80/1
20 (18) 13 Noble Truth 6 9-1 John C McConnell Neil Callan 50/1
21 (7) 26 Galeron 5 9-6 Charles Hills Mickael Barzalona 28/1
NR 8 (5) Oliver Show 5 9-5 George Boughey NON RUNNER