Bow Echo may not have had everything go his way this time, but his class shone through as he secured a Royal Ascot victory in the St James's Palace Stakes (1603m).
The win marked a third Group 1 success for jockey Billy Loughnane, as Bow Echo ($1.83/5-6) followed up on their Group 1 2000 Guineas (1600m) triumph at Newmarket on May 3. Despite a hard-fought performance, the colt prevailed by a head margin over the Aidan O'Brien-trained Gstaad ($3/2-1).
Loughnane Admits Tactical Challenges
“It was a tactical race but, to be honest, I wouldn’t put it down as my finest rides,” Loughnane said. “The horse definitely got me out of trouble today. It was messy and I didn’t want to go to the fence and make it hard. I wanted to have a smooth run but I had a horrible passage.”
“He showed his class.”
Trainer Boughey Sees Bright Future
Newmarket-based trainer George Boughey indicated that the different situation could be the making of the three-year-old colt.
“This is the first time he has been in a battle,” Boughey said. “It was quite a scrap early doors. He was almost keen at one point. I think we’ll see a better horse now that he has been in a scrap like that.”
“He’s done everything we hoped and it is by margins in this game. Lucky he was on the right side of it.”
Next Target at Glorious Goodwood
A date at Glorious Goodwood awaits Bow Echo with a start in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes (1609m) next up on July 29.
“The horse is taking his racing very well and he was ready a couple of weeks ago,” Boughey added, and he was glowing in his praise of his rising star hoop.
“At Billy’s own admission he might have committed sooner than he’d hoped but this is very much as far as this horse wants to go and being able to ride him a little bit colder in a more straightforward, evenly run race, hopefully we can see him continue to progress.”
“It is a dream to be trusted with and training horses like this and to be doing it with Billy makes it even more special.”
“He’s like a younger brother. I’ve had a lot of good young riders ride for me but he is an exceptional talent.”
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