With giant strides late, the emerging staying 3YO star of Europe, RUSSIAN EMPEROR stormed down the centre of Royal Ascot overnight to claim the Gr 3 Hampton Court Stakes.
Boasting a physique that looks like a fine form of art complete with a white snip at the end of his nose, the Aidan O’Brian colt, perfectly ridden by Ryan Moore swept past his rivals which included one of the Queen’s horses to score by half a length and put himself right dab in the middle of Gr 1 English Derby discussions.
Why he means so much to us is that this son of Galileo, is also the son of 4 x Gr 1 winning Aussie mare ATLANTIC JEWEL (Fastnet Rock).
And he looks the goods.
His pedigree boasts a similar Danehill cross to the likes of unbeaten English champion Frankel, global superstar Highland Reel and yesterday’s Gr 1 winner Circus Maximus.
The win consolidates Atlantic Jewel as one of the most impressive and expensive mares in the world.
She is in foal to American Triple Crown winner Justify and now that she has produced a stakes winner who looks a likely Gr 1 winner, this foal she is carrying could be worth anything.
Especially if he’s a colt.
The win gave Galileo his 316th stakes winner.
The Queen’s horse ran 2nd and this was Ryan Moore’s 60th Royal Ascot winner.
