Hardwicke Stakes
 QuinnBet
Group 2, Ascot 15:05
£225,000 added,
4yo plus,
1m 3f 211y, Class 1  
Saturday 23rd June 2018

1 Crystal Ocean 4/7F
2 Red Verdon 33/1
3 Cliffs of Moher 10/1
5 ran NR: Rare Rhythm Distances: 2½l, 1¼l, 1l
Time: 2m 28.08s (fast by 0.42s)

Crystal Ocean lands the Hardwicke Stakes

Crystal Ocean
© Racehorse Photos
Crystal Ocean
 
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute celebrated his 11th triumph in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes after Crystal Ocean, owned by Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, landed the odds.
 
The 4/7 shot travelled in the slipstream of last year's winner Idaho for much of the mile and a half contest.
 
Crystal Ocean 's rider Ryan Moore made his move with over two furlongs out, powering to the front in telling fashion.
 
Red Verdon tried to throw down a challenge but Stoute's charge had all the angles covered and stormed to victory by two and a half lengths.
 
It was Stoute's sixth winner in the last nine renewals of the race and also his fourth of the week at the Meeting.
 
After the race Royal Ascot's most successful trainer walked into the parade ring with a thumbs-up gesture and a big smile.
 
He said: "It was straightforward. He's so uncomplicated and such a relaxed horse.
 
"Mrs Robeson, Sir Evelyn's sister, did all the matings. This is the fruits of her labour."
 
The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) over course and distance on July 28 is the obvious next step for Crystal Ocean.
 
Stoute said: "I think we will get brave. That's likely but we will think about it."
 
Asked which of his 11 Hardwicke Stakes is the best, Stoute demurred. "They never galloped with each other," he replied with a broad grin on his face.    

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Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)
£225,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 3f 211y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good to Firm

Pos Dr D Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st (4) Crystal Ocean 4/7f R L Moore
9-1		 Sir Michael Stoute 4
2nd (3) 2½ Red Verdon (USA) 33/1 James Doyle
9-1		 E A L Dunlop 5
3rd (6) 1¼ Cliffs Of Moher (IRE) 10/1 J A Heffernan
9-1		 A P O'Brien 4
4th (1) 1 Barsanti (IRE) 11/2 Andrea Atzeni
9-1		 R Varian 6
5th (2) 11 Idaho (IRE) 4/1 D O'Brien
9-1		 A P O'Brien 5
NR (5) Rare Rhythm Non Runner
9-1		 C Appleby 6

QuinnBet

HARDWICKE STAKES WINNERS

YR/DATE GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2017 2 IDAHO Aidan O’Brien IRE Seamie Heffernan Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier 4-9-01 9/2
2016 2 DARTMOUTH Sir Michael Stoute Olivier Peslier H M The Queen 4-9-01 10/1
2015 2 SNOW SKY Sir Michael Stoute Pat Smullen Khalid Abdullah 4-9-01 12/1
2014 2 TELESCOPE Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Highclere Thoroughbred Racing 4-9-01 7/4F
2013 2 THOMAS CHIPPENDALE Lady Cecil Johnny Murtagh Sir Robert Ogden 4-9-00 8/1
2012 2 SEA MOON Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Khalid Abdullah 4-9-00 3/1F
2011 2 AWAIT THE DAWN Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier 4-9-00 4/6F
2010 2 HARBINGER Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Highclere Thoroughbred Racing 4-9-00 8/11F
2009 2 BRONZE CANNON John Gosden Jimmy Fortune Anthony Oppenheimer 4-9-03 8/1
2008 MACARTHUR Aidan O’Brien IRE Johnny Murtagh Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor 4-9-00 11/8F
2007 2 MARAAHEL Sir Michael Stoute Richard Hills Hamdan Al Maktoum 6-9-00 100/30
06/24/06 2 MARAAHEL Sir Michael Stoute Richard Hills Hamdan Al Maktoum 5-9-00 9/2
*05/18/06 2 BANDARI Mark Johnston Willie Supple Hamdan Al Maktoum 6-8-09 10/1
04/19/06 2 DOYEN Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 4-8-09 6/5F
03/21/06 2 INDIAN CREEK David Elsworth Richard Quinn Seymour Cohn 5-8-09 14/1
02/22/06 2 ZINDABAD Mark Johnston Kevin Darley Abdulla Buhaleeba 6-8-12 4/1
01/22/06 2 SANDMASON Henry Cecil Willie Ryan Plantation Stud 4-8-09 12/1
00/23/06 2 FRUITS OF LOVE Mark Johnston Olivier Peslier Mick Doyle 4-8-12 9/2
99/18/06 2 FRUITS OF LOVE Mark Johnston Olivier Peslier Mick Doyle 4-8-12 12/1
98/19/06 2 POSIDONAS Paul Cole Pat Eddery Athos Christodoulou 6-8-09 15/2
97/20/06 2 PREDAPPIO Saeed bin Suroor Gary Stevens Godolphin 4-8-12 6/1
96/21/06 2 OSCAR SCHINDLER Kevin Prendergast IRE Michael Kinane Oliver Lehane 4-8-09 7/4F
95/23/06 2 BEAUCHAMP HERO John Dunlop John Reid Erik Penser 5-8-09 11/2
94/17/06 2 BOBZAO Terry Mills John Reid Terry Mills 5-8-09 11/1
93/18/06 2 JEUNE Geoff Wragg Ray Cochrane Exors of late Sir Robin McAlpine 4-8-09 7/2
92/19/06 2 ROCK HOPPER Michael Stoute Pat Eddery Maktoum Al Maktoum 5-8-12 8/15F
91/21/06 2 ROCK HOPPER Michael Stoute Pat Eddery Maktoum Al Maktoum 4-8-12 5/6F
90/22/06 2 ASSATIS Guy Harwood Ray Cochrane S Harada 5-9-00 50/1
89/23/06 2 ASSATIS Guy Harwood Pat Eddery Khalid Abdullah 4-8-09 4/11F
88/17/06 2 ALMAARAD John Dunlop Willie Carson Hamdan Al Maktoum 5-8-12 6/1
87/19/06 2 ORBAN Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Prince A A Faisal 4-8-09 11/4
86/20/06 2 DIHISTAN Michael Stoute Pat Eddery H H Aga Khan 4-8-09 11/2
85/21/06 2 JUPITER ISLAND Clive Brittain Lester Piggott The Marquess of Tavistock 6-8-09 85/40
84/22/06 2 KHAIRPOUR Fulke Johnson Houghton Steve Cauthen G J Chittick 5-8-12 13/2
83/17/06 2 STANERRA Frank Dunne IRE Brian Rouse Frank Dunne 5-8-09 4/1
82/18/06 2 CRITIQUE Henry Cecil Lester Piggott Garo Vanlan 4-8-09 7/2
81/19/06 2 PELERIN Harry Wragg Brian Taylor Sir Phillip Oppenheimer 4-8-12 7/1
80/20/062 SCORPIO Francois Boutin FR Philippe Paquet Gerry Oldham 4-9-00 2/1F
79/22/06 2 OBRAZTSOVY Ryan Price Brian Taylor Robert Sangster 4-8-09 9/4F
78/23/06 2 MONTCONTOUR Maurice Zilber FR Yves Saint-Martin Mrs H H Hausmann 4-8-12 25/1
77/17/06 2 MENEVAL Vincent O’Brien IRE Lester Piggott Mrs George F Getty II 4-9-00 2/1F
*run at York