Twilight Son Prevails in 'Jubilee' Thriller

Twilight Son was all out to prevail in a tight five-horse finish June 18 in the Diamond Jubilee (Eng-I), the closing day feature at Royal Ascot, while last year's winner, United States-based Undrafted, was unplaced.

Godfrey Wilson and Cheveley Park Stud's Twilight Son provided Ryan Moore a third win on the day, as he bested Hong Kong-based Gold-Fun by a neck. With the trio of wins, Moore clinched the meet's leading rider title with six victories over the five-day stand.

Longtime leader Signs of Blessing finished third, a short head back, and 3-1 favorite Magical Memory came in fourth another head back. Suedois check in a short head farther back, as the first five flashed home within a half-length of each other. The quintet drew two lengths clear of Undrafted, who finished sixth in the field of nine sprinters.  

Wes Welker and Sol Kumin's Undrafted, winner of the Shakertown (gr. IIT) in April at Keeneland, was in contention most of the way, but had no finishing kick through the final furlong under John Velazquez.

Twilight Son finished the straight six furlongs in 1:13.84 on good to soft turt to add a second group I win to his record. The 4-year-old son of Kyllachy took the 2015 Betfred Sprint Cup (Eng-I) at Haydock Park for trainer Henry Candy. 

Candy, who landed his third Royal Ascot win overall but first in 37 years since Pipedreamer won the 1979 Royal Hunt Cup, momentarily believed Magical Memory would get the job done, as he streaked up the stands side with Frankie Dettori, but he was beaming with pride after Twilight Son's determined effort with Moore.

"Our horse really dug deep and the jockey on top dug deep. He's a top man," said Candy.

Twilight Son tracked Signs of Blessing and Holler from third early and went to second entering the final furlong. Eargerly responding to Moore, he spurted to the lead with 50 yards remaining and gallantly held his advantage.

Moore started the day with back-to-back victories, riding  8-11 favorite Churchill (Galileo) in the listed Chelmsford Stakes, the first race on Saturday's card, and returned in the next to take the listed Wolferton Handicap with Sir Isaac Newton (Galileo). Along with his title-clinching half-dozen wins, he had four seconds and seven thirds. Frankie Dettori was second with four wins.

Former Hong Kong champion mile Gold-Fun represented the first Royal Ascot starter for trainer Richard Gibson, who was upbeat after coming tantalizingly close to a win.

"We've come a long way, and from a professional point of view, you're always pleased when your horse runs to his rating. It was tight and all credit to the winner," Gibson  said.

Wilson's wife bred Twilight Son, a winner in six of eight career starts, in Great Britain from the Bin Ajwaad mare Twilight Mistress, herself a three-time sprint winner. Cheveley Park Stud, which stands sire Kyllachy, bought into the bay colt last year. Candy also trained Kyllachy, a son of Pivotal, to win the 2002 Nunthorpe (Eng-I) for Cheveley Park Stud, which raced in him partnership.

Wilson was clearly moved after the Diamond Jubilee.

 

"This is our first Royal Ascot winner-- we have come close before but this is absolutely brilliant and I am very emotional," he said. "This horse was bred by my wife and she won the small breeder of the year prize last year. She will be absolutely over the moon."

A crowd of 71,088 attended Royal Ascot Saturday, bringing total attendance for the meet to 295,007.

 

"We aim to spread the positive message of Royal Ascot ever wider," Ascot chief executive Guy Henderson said. "We much look forward to Royal Ascot being broadcast live on NBC in the U.S. in 2017."

Aidan O'Brien was the meet's leading trainer with a 7-4-4 record. Sir Michael Stoute was second with a 2-2-2 record.