Star Performers of the Weekend – Coral Racing Club Members have their say
25 Oct 2023
All eyes were on British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday, and we were treated to some standout performances from some of the best flat horses in Europe.
So on Monday we asked you, our Coral Racing Club members, to tell us who your Star Performers of the Weekend were and why.
ART POWER stunned the field when winning at a huge price, whilst beating Frankie Dettori's mount, and favourite, Kinross. BIG ROCK put in a wonderful performance, to win the QEII by a massive distance before King Of Steel helped Frankie Dettori close out his Ascot account with another Group 1 victory in the Champion Stakes.
Check out what members had to say as we pick out some of the best entries below.
British Champions Sprint Stakes – Art Power
There weren't too many people that fancied Kinross to get beaten in the Champions Sprint on Saturday, let alone by a 40/1 outsider in the shape of Art Power. After starting quickly, David Allan began to edge left on the experienced gelding, eventually being headed by Frankie on Kinross inside the final furlong. In an incredible show of determination, Tim Easterby's runner picked himself back up and rallied to get back in front, winning by a neck.
John, from South Yorkshire called the performance "incredibly gutsy" before going on to say that it was a "great ride and training performance". David, from Tyne and Wear described the run as "impressive" before suggesting that the ground suited the gelding, saying he'd "seen him win at York in his younger days in similar style on similar going, which he clearly loves". Was Art Power your Star Performer of the Weekend?
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Big Rock
The field let Aurelien Lemaitre get away on Big Rock in the QEII, and I bet given another chance that they wouldn't be as comfortable with that decision. Christopher Head's French raider bolted to the lead out of the stalls and the pack couldn't get close to him over the trip. Lemaitre was celebrating well before he hit the line, with his lead aboard Big Rock dwindling to a still distant six lengths.
Peter, from Somerset, called Big Rock a "special class of horse" whilst David, from Monmouthshire, said that it was an "unbelievable performance in a race with such a strong field". Amanda, from Surrey, called it a "gutsy performance" and enjoyed watching him "run the opposition into the ground". Did you think Big Rock's performance was the most special of the weekend?
Champion Stakes – King Of Steel
We couldn't talk about Star Performers of the Weekend without mentioning, what was possibly, Frankie Dettori's final ride in the UK. He started the race at the back of the field and looked to be going nowhere with over half a mile to go. Frankie was pushing the Roger Varian-trained colt along four furlongs from the finish, before switching to the outside and making up ground. The duo hit the front inside the final furlong and stayed on well to claim victory by three quarters of a length.
This was certainly the most popular winner of the weekend amongst our members, with several wishing the ever-present jockey well as he heads to the USA next year. Steven, from Hampshire, called it a "superb ride" and said "thank you for the memories" to the outgoing jockey, meanwhile Sharon from Lincolnshire couldn't believe he got up, asking "how did he win from there?" before calling it "brilliant". Richard, from Cheshire, called Frankie "indomitable" and a "force of nature" and Vince, from West Midlands simply called him a "legend". Will you miss Frankie Dettori next season?
Join us next Monday as we'll be back to ask you who your Star Performer of the Weekend was.
So on Monday we asked you, our Coral Racing Club members, to tell us who your Star Performers of the Weekend were and why.
ART POWER stunned the field when winning at a huge price, whilst beating Frankie Dettori's mount, and favourite, Kinross. BIG ROCK put in a wonderful performance, to win the QEII by a massive distance before King Of Steel helped Frankie Dettori close out his Ascot account with another Group 1 victory in the Champion Stakes.
Check out what members had to say as we pick out some of the best entries below.
British Champions Sprint Stakes – Art Power
There weren't too many people that fancied Kinross to get beaten in the Champions Sprint on Saturday, let alone by a 40/1 outsider in the shape of Art Power. After starting quickly, David Allan began to edge left on the experienced gelding, eventually being headed by Frankie on Kinross inside the final furlong. In an incredible show of determination, Tim Easterby's runner picked himself back up and rallied to get back in front, winning by a neck.
John, from South Yorkshire called the performance "incredibly gutsy" before going on to say that it was a "great ride and training performance". David, from Tyne and Wear described the run as "impressive" before suggesting that the ground suited the gelding, saying he'd "seen him win at York in his younger days in similar style on similar going, which he clearly loves". Was Art Power your Star Performer of the Weekend?
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Big Rock
The field let Aurelien Lemaitre get away on Big Rock in the QEII, and I bet given another chance that they wouldn't be as comfortable with that decision. Christopher Head's French raider bolted to the lead out of the stalls and the pack couldn't get close to him over the trip. Lemaitre was celebrating well before he hit the line, with his lead aboard Big Rock dwindling to a still distant six lengths.
Peter, from Somerset, called Big Rock a "special class of horse" whilst David, from Monmouthshire, said that it was an "unbelievable performance in a race with such a strong field". Amanda, from Surrey, called it a "gutsy performance" and enjoyed watching him "run the opposition into the ground". Did you think Big Rock's performance was the most special of the weekend?
Champion Stakes – King Of Steel
We couldn't talk about Star Performers of the Weekend without mentioning, what was possibly, Frankie Dettori's final ride in the UK. He started the race at the back of the field and looked to be going nowhere with over half a mile to go. Frankie was pushing the Roger Varian-trained colt along four furlongs from the finish, before switching to the outside and making up ground. The duo hit the front inside the final furlong and stayed on well to claim victory by three quarters of a length.
This was certainly the most popular winner of the weekend amongst our members, with several wishing the ever-present jockey well as he heads to the USA next year. Steven, from Hampshire, called it a "superb ride" and said "thank you for the memories" to the outgoing jockey, meanwhile Sharon from Lincolnshire couldn't believe he got up, asking "how did he win from there?" before calling it "brilliant". Richard, from Cheshire, called Frankie "indomitable" and a "force of nature" and Vince, from West Midlands simply called him a "legend". Will you miss Frankie Dettori next season?
Join us next Monday as we'll be back to ask you who your Star Performer of the Weekend was.
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