Royal Ascot 2022: Broome wins the Hardwicke Stakes

Broome (6-1) gave Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien an incredible 900th career Group or Graded winner thanks to a superb front-running ride by Ryan Moore to land the Hardwicke Stakes on the final day of Royal Ascot 2022 on Saturday afternoon.

The six-year-old son of Australia had nothing like the form of Charlie Appleby’s 8-11 favourite Hurricane Lane – who won the Irish Derby, the Grand Prix De Paris and the Cazoo St Leger last season. But Broome had already had a run this season and under Moore he made sure any lack of fitness was exposed. And it proved decisive as Hurricane Lane wasn’t at his peak on ground firmer than ideal and he could never get to the Broome before eventually finishing third.

Broome – who had been close-up fifth to Alenquer in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month – was taken wide initially by Moore before crossing over to take the lead from Solid Stone. And from the front he made sure it was a searching gallop for those in behind. After the turn for home, Moore kicked on again and although Mostahdaf (11-2) and Hurricane Lane tried to throw down a challenge, Broome wouldn’t be caught and galloped on to a superb three-and-a-quarter-length success over the former. Hurricane Lane was a further length-and-a-quarter back in third.

O’Brien was delighted to land his landmark Group success with his fifth winner of the week and 81st Royal Ascot success overall, just one behind Sir Michael Stoute’s record. Broome’s victory all but sealed O’Brien’s 11th leading trainer title at the Royal meeting. And the Irish trainer said: “I didn’t realise that (900 top-level winners) and we are so privileged to be in the position we are and we are so grateful to everyone at Ballydoyle.

“In this life and world we take one day at a time and try to appreciate every day. We’re so grateful to do what we do every day. It’s incredible really.”

O’Brien paid tribute to a fine ride by Moore and hinted that Broome may return to Ascot for the Group One King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes next month. He said: “It was a brilliant ride. Ryan has done an incredible job on Broome. He is a six-year-old colt now and one very strange thing is that he seems to be coming to the peak of his career after all these years. He is by Australia and is very brave. We think we will see the best of him this year. Ryan gave Broome an amazing ride.

“He (Broome) suffered a fractured shin when he was kicked unsaddling after the Japan Cup. He had time off and needed his run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. He has a very high cruising speed, and doesn’t surrender.”

It was Hurricane Lane’s first run since finishing third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last October and that will again be his main target. And although connections will be disappointed with defeat, they will be pleased to get their dual Classic hero back on track. He too is likely to return to Ascot at the end of next month for the King George VI.

Noble Truth (9-2) ran out a fine winner of the Group Three Jersey Stakes having led almost from start to finish under Liverpool FC fan William Buick.

The Charlie Appleby-trained gelded son of Kingman had won twice over seven furlongs as a juvenile and returned to action with another smooth success in the Listed Betfair King Charles II Stakes.

Stepping back up to Group company, the three-year-old showed his class to land a length success over Find (40-1) with Dubai Poet (20-1) a further neck back in third.

Buick and Noble Truth jumped out handy before moving to the front down on the inside rail. He dictated the pace throughout, although he looked to be a sitting duck as the challengers tried to get close to him including Saaed Bin Suroor’s Monadaah and the John and Thady Gosden-trained Samburu. But Noble Truth kept on finding more and in the end ran out a cosy winner at the post.

Buick was having his fourth winner of the week following earlier successes of Coroebus, Saffron Beach and Secret State. And the Norweigian-born rider said: “You saw today compared to Noble Truth’s last run, when he was still a colt, that he was much more professional. He has so much energy and today he was able to channel it in the right direction. He’s got lots of speed, but today I was able to ride him a little bit while in the past I have been a passenger on him.”

Appleby, who was having his third winner of the week, added: “A lot of credit must go to the lad that has ridden him at home as he’s not an easy horse to ride. We gelded him, and it’s only in the last 10 days that he’s arrived. Looking for a horse that will fit the Golden Eagle at Randwick brings me to him. I think he has the qualities for that race.”

“When he got headed, I thought it would be interesting and I didn’t expect him to find the way he did. A great ride by William and the horse is going the right way forward again.”

Holloway Boy landed a 40-1 shock on his debut in the Listed Chesham Stakes in fine style.

The Karl Burke-trained Ulysses colt, under Danny Tudhope, was out the back early on in the seven-furlong contest. But he came through with a superb run to came through to collar another outsider, Pearling Path (80-1) and score by a length. Lakota Sioux (33-1) was a further length-and-a-half adrift in third.

Aidan O’Brien’s Alfred Munnings, who was sent off the 11-8 favourite, had been also the ante-post market leader for next year’s Cazoo Derby following an eye-catching debut in a seven-furlong maiden at Leopardstown last month. But his big reputation was dented and although he threathened to be involved in the finish at one point, he faded to be sixth, under Ryan Moore.

Liverpool FC fan Burke, who was having his second winner of the week after filly Dramatised’s success in the Queen Mary Stakes on Wednesday, said: “That was one hell of a performance. Time will tell, but to do that first time he has to be a bit special. He’s been backward and we were going to Musselburgh but he tweaked a muscle. So we entered him for this thinking it would be a nice day out. It was a first runner for the owners, let alone a first at Royal Ascot, and he couldn’t blow a candle out.”

Co-owner Nick White was almost lost for words, But he said: “Danny has given Holloway Boy a fantastic ride and what a performance from Karl. We said we’d give it a chance and we would run here for his first race. I’m in shock. I’ve been coming here 45 years. To have a horse here and have a winner, I’m in shock. I don’t even have a top hat and tails as we only knew we were going to run on Thursday so it was too late to get everything.”

Jockey Tudhope was having his fourth winner of a spectacular week for the rider. And he added: “It is a bit of a surprise, to be honest. Holloway Boy is a fine big specimen of a horse. Karl just said to go out there and enjoy it. I gave him a nice day out and a nice education.

“We liked Holloway Boy but we didn’t think he would go out and do that. I would say he is very good. It was only his first run, but he gave me a great feel. He is a fine big horse and I’m pretty sure he will improve on that. It’s unbelievable, to be honest. I am speechless. It’s great for Karl – he’s had two winners this week.”

Of runner-up Pearling Path, his Irish trainer John O’Donoghue, said: : “I’ve watched the replay once and that’s all I’ll watch it!

“I think a stronger pace and we’d have won. He’s just got there too soon, he’s idled on him (David Egan) and got caught. We’ll probably geld him – we’re just frustrated with him, because he doesn’t show it (coltish behaviour) at home at all, and he’s real sort of macho coming into the ring. I think he could be a serious horse with the gelding operation.

“This is my first Royal Ascot runner and my second runner in England – this is my first season training. I spent seven years in England, and then moved home (to Ireland) when the set-up was ready at the end of last year.”

. Glorious Goodwood Haydock Park