King Charles Triumphs with Desert Hero and Frankie Dettori Secures Ninth Gold Cup at Royal Ascot

Frankie Dettori celebrated his ninth Gold Cup victory at Royal Ascot as Desert Hero carried King Charles to his maiden win in the King George V Stakes. In another remarkable feat, Dettori emerged victorious astride Courage Mon Ami, a 15-2 shot, in his final Royal Ascot appearance.

Tom Marquand guided Desert Hero, an 18-1 contender, to a strong finish, defeating Valiant King and Bertinelli. Overwhelmed with pride, Marquand described it as one of his most memorable moments in his racing career.

The Gold Cup witnessed a fierce battle, with Dettori skillfully riding Courage Mon Ami to triumph over the inside favorite, Coltrane, who stood at 11-4 odds. This victory marked Dettori’s latest addition to his collection of wins in the feature race, which he initially achieved aboard Drum Taps in 1992. Courage Mon Ami, a four-year-old son of the legendary Frankel, had previously secured three consecutive victories for trainers John and Thady Gosden.

Dettori was honored to receive the renowned trophy from King Charles and Queen Camilla, even planting a kiss on the Queen’s cheek. Having announced his retirement from professional racing effective later this year, the 52-year-old Italian expressed his delight, stating, “Unbelievable. I thought it was a bridge too far. But I had the perfect race. I thought Coltrane was going to come back. In fairness, Courage Mon Ami is still a baby, so it was a great run.”

Prior to Dettori’s triumphs, Valiant Force achieved a remarkable upset by securing victory in the Norfolk Stakes at odds of 150-1, joining the ranks of Nando Parrado, the 2020 Coventry Stakes winner, as the joint biggest-priced winners in Royal Ascot history. Elite Status, the favorite, settled for third place, while Malc secured second place with odds of 66-1.

Desert Hero, trained by William Haggas, successfully fended off a spirited challenge from Valiant King in the final furlong, ultimately securing a dream win in the royal silks. King Charles and Queen Camilla expressed their elation with the result from the royal box.

Zara Tindall, Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter, shared her sentiments, acknowledging the bittersweet feeling of the family’s success without the Queen’s presence. She emphasized the significance of keeping the dream alive for Charles and Camilla and the joy of fulfilling that hope, paralleling the emotions experienced by owners who cherish the opportunity to witness their horses triumph at Royal Ascot.

Marquand further demonstrated his prowess by claiming victory in the Hampton Court Stakes aboard Waipiro, trained by Ed Walker. Additionally, Rossa Ryan guided two-year-old Valiant Force, trained by Adrian Murray, to a length-and-a-quarter victory in the Norfolk Stakes, securing Amo Racing’s inaugural win at the event under football advisor Kia Joorabchian’s ownership.

Hayley Turner, on the other hand, clinched the Britannia Stakes with Docklands, the 6-1 favorite trained by Harry Eustace. In the Ribblesdale Stakes, Ryan Moore secured his 77th Royal Ascot win with Warm Heart, trained by Aidan O’Brien. The Buckingham Palace Stakes concluded with a surprising triumph by Witch Hunter, ridden by Jamie Spencer for Richard Hannon, at odds of 50-1.

In other news unrelated to Royal Ascot, Martin Lewis shares insights on fixing mortgage and energy bills, while a small town in Wales has been annually testing the age-old question of whether a man can outrun a horse in a race since 1980.

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More about Royal Ascot

• Royal Ascot Official Website
• Frankie Dettori – Official Website
• Gold Cup – Royal Ascot
• Desert Hero – Racing Profile
• William Haggas Racing
• Norfolk Stakes – Royal Ascot
• Tom Marquand – Racing Profile