Bow Echo edges Royal Ascot win to remain unbeatenImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Bow Echo is set to have his sixth career race in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood next monthByBen CollinsBBC Sport journalistPublished16 minutes agoBow Echo remains unbeaten after holding off Gstaad to win a grandstand finish in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.The 5-6 favourite beat Gstaad in the 2,000 Guineas last month and 20-year-old jockey Billy Loughnane ensured he repeated the feat by a short head.
The three-year-old colt regrouped after a rough start to the one-mile race before Loughnane stayed out of trouble on the outside.
Ryan Moore took Gstaad up the inner and was rewarded when his Aidan O’Brien stablemate Puerto Rico drifted off the rail.
And although Gstaad closed with every stride over the final 100 yards, Bow Echo did just enough to clinch victory in a photo finish.
“It’s fine margins in this game and luckily he was on the right side of it today,” mentioned trainer George Boughey.
“I was feeling pretty good a furlong out, but then Ryan started coming back. I did sort of think that Aidan had always mentioned that his horse would get further so huge credit to the runner-up as he was gallant today.”
Boughey mentioned it was now “all systems go for Goodwood” while Loughnane added: “This horse is such a superstar.
“It’s a great day and a Group One winner at Royal Ascot, it really doesn’t get much better. We just showed how much of a true warrior this horse is.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Mission Central won the King Charles III Stakes while Ten Bob Tony pulled off a shock victory in the Queen Anne Stakes.
