ASCOT // Eddie Ahern was the final jockey to win a race at the 2009 Royal Ascot when the oldest horse in the field, 12-year-old Caracciola, was the popular victor in the long-distance Queen Alexandra Stakes over two miles. The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding has won races on all types of grounds and distances as well as over hurdles and beat Tasheba, who at four years old is less than half his age into second.
Godolphin's Campanologist, favourite for the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes, was beaten by an agonising half-a-length by John Gosden's Bronze Cannon under Jimmy Fortune. Dansant, trained by Gerard Butler and ridden by Ahern, crossed in third. Godolphin claimed another second in the Wokingham Stakes with Asset who was beaten by just three-quarters of a length by High Standing, trained by William Haggas and ridden by Ryan Moore while Andrew Kinsella's Rock of Rochelle was third with jockey Pat Smullen.
Earlier, Richard Hannon scored in the Chesham Stakes with Big Audio ridden by Richard Hughes. Emperor Claudius was second for Aidan O'Brien and Party Doctor got third for handler Tom Dascombe. "I thought Aidan's horse was going to nail us," said Hannon, who was won three races this week. "He came up the stands side but luckily the line came in time." Trainer Mark Johnston scored a one-two in the The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes with Drill Sergeant under Joe Fanning crossing first followed by stablemate Record Breaker with Royston Ffrench. Martyr, with the Hughes-Hannon pair again was third in a race where Hatton Flight got loose after the start and made three riderless circuits of the Ascot track.
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