HORSERACING – Victorious Forever horse Senorita Bonita claimed a strong runner-up finish yesterday in the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in Britain.
The two-year-old chestnut filly, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford and ridden by jockey William Buick, led the five-furlong race early and held on well to secure a leading finishing position.
Senorita Bonita was narrowly pipped at the end by winning horse Victorious, competing for owners Mrs John Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Westerberg and trainer Aidon O’Brien, while ridden by Ryan Moore. Taking third was Ruiva, racing for Three Chimneys Farm and Wesley A Ward, with Juan J Hernandez in the saddle.
A massive field of 27 runners took part in the event, which offered £175,000 in total prize money.
Senorita Bonita was amongst a series of world-class horses competing at Royal Ascot this year for Victorious Forever, which is owned by His Majesty King Hamad’s humanitarian work and youth affairs representative and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Today, three Victorious Forever contenders will be hitting the track.
Three-year-old bay filly Warriors Whisper, trained by Carlos and Yann Lerner, will be competing in the £250,000 Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes; five-year-old bay gelding Caballo De Mar, trained by George Scott, will be racing in the £700,000 Group One Gold Cup; and three-year-old bay gelding Hilitany, trained by George Boughey, will be running the £130,000 Britannia Stakes.
Tomorrow, three-year-old chestnut filly Zanthos, trained by the Crisfords, will be racing in the £700,000 Group One Commonwealth Cup; and three-year-old grey filly She Commands, trained by Ralph Beckett, will be contesting the £120,000 Sandringham Stakes.
Victorious Forever wrap up their Royal Ascot campaign on Saturday with two more horses scheduled to race.
Three-year-old bay colt Saber Strike, trained by William Haggas, will be running the £175,000 Group Three Jersey Stakes; and seven-year-old bay gelding Phantom Flight, trained by Scott, will be running the £250,000 Group Two Hardwicke Stakes.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh