Dashing Willoughby Recovers in Time to Win Queen's Vase

It had been a nervous few days in the lead-up to the June 19 Queen's Vase (G2) for trainer Andrew Balding as Dashing Willoughby was "very lame" June 15, with his date with destiny just 96 hours away.

However, overnight work from the Kingsclere team ensured he was right as rain come the morning of June 16 and he rewarded their efforts by landing a significant gamble in the 1 3/4-mile test under Oisin Murphy, much to the delight of punters.

Sent off at 6-1 after being available at 14-1 in the morning, Dashing Willoughby tracked the pace set by Nayef Road and showed great grit and determination to fend off tenacious duo Barbados and Nayef Road, who battled on for second and third, respectively.

An overjoyed Balding, who was gaining compensation after being pipped in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) with Beat The Bank June 18, said: "We had a little hiccup on Saturday morning as Dashing Willoughby was very lame. He had a blood blister in his foot and the farrier and head lad worked through the night to get it right. Happily, he was right 12 hours later and we're just delighted that he's come good."

All of Dashing Willoughby's four previous starts on turf had come on rain-softened ground and the downpours that drenched the Berkshire track—much to the dismay of racegoers—was fantastic news for connections.

"We were pretty hopeful coming into the race and the rain certainly was in his favor," Balding added. "He's got a bit of talent."

Murphy, the former Kingsclere apprentice who many believe is on his way to a first champion jockey title, showcased his skill in the saddle by keeping Dashing Willoughby straight as he tried to veer off a true line inside the final furlong.

Having ridden his first—but surely not last—winner of the week, a jubilant Murphy was grinning from ear to ear as he entered the winner's enclosure.

"He's a son of Nathaniel and he loved that ground," he said. "I'm thrilled and I'm delighted to ride a Royal Ascot winner for my first boss."

With stamina assured and ability in bundles, Dashing Willoughby could have a tilt at a classic and he was quoted between 10-1 and 16-1 for the William Hill St. Leger (G1) after his dominant display.

When questioned whether Doncaster would be his autumn target, Balding said: "Possibly, that looks the logical objective. It will be a lot tougher than this but we think he deserves to head in that direction anyway."

A Pedigree Full of Pertinence

Dashing Willoughby has a pedigree that combines some of the big breeding stories of the flat season.

First, the Balding-trained bay is by Newsells Park Stud flagbearer Nathaniel, who supplied the June 16 Prix de Diane Longines (G1) heroine Channel.

Nathaniel, a beautifully bred son of Galileo, saved many of his best efforts for Ascot, giving future Emirates Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Fiorente a five-length beating in the King Edward VII Stakes (G2) at the royal meeting of 2011 and claiming the notable scalps of Workforce and St Nicholas Abbey to land the Betfair King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) back at the track a month later. He also went down by only a nose to Danedream in the defense of his King George title one year on.

Dashing Willoughby is Nathaniel's 15th black-type winner since his first 2-year-olds hit the track in 2016, the roll of honor headed by group 1 laureates Channel, Enable, and God Given.

The emergence of a high-class male representative will no doubt please the sire's custodians as those three elite winners and three out of four of his other previous group winners—Highgarden, Pilaster, and Precious Ramotswe—have all been fillies.

Dashing Willoughby's female family is also buzzing with relevance. He was bred by in-form operation Meon Valley Stud, whose distinctive black and white silks were carried by close relation Anapurna to win the Investec Oaks (G1) last month.

He is the second foal out of Miss Dashwood, a four-time handicap winner between 8 1/2 and 12 furlongs. The dam is by Dylan Thomas—also broodmare sire of this year's star 3-year-old colt Persian King—out of Tweenhills Farm & Stud Warwickshire Oaks winner Dash To The Front, making her a half sister to dual group 1 victress Speedy Boarding (GB).

Dash To The Front is in turn a Diktat half sister to listed winner and Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks (G1) runner-up Dash To The Top, the dam of Anapurna. The siblings are out of Millennium Dash, a daughter of Nashwan and the brilliant Milligram, and Milligram was a daughter of one of Meon Valley Stud's foundation mares, One Thousand Guineas (G1) heroine One in a Million.

Miss Dashwood has no 2-year-old produce but has a Lope de Vega yearling filly and a Mukhadram colt foal.

Meon Valley Stud sold Dashing Willoughby to Balding for 70,000 guineas (US$97,586) at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and the colt now carries the colors of Mick and Janice Mariscotti.