It may have taken thirteen races and a day littered with second-place finishes, but Frankie Dettori finally tasted Royal Ascot success in what is set to be his final season in the saddle.
John and Thady Gosden's Gregory was all the rage with punters heading into the 1m6f Queen's Vase on the back of a ready victory in Listed company at Goodwood on his second outing.
The son of Golden Horn always looked likely to relish this stiffer stamina test and Frankie Dettori hid no secrets behind his mounts staying ability as the pair went straight to the front in the early stages.
The tempo began to lift entering the bend and the challengers began to come. Simon and Ed Crisford's Chesspiece looked set to throw down a stern effort approaching the four-furlong marker, but his run faded in the closing stages, and it was Saint George that would emerge the threat. Oisin Murphy, who was also in search of a first winner this week, drove his mount onto the rear quarters of Gregory but as hard as the pair tried, they could just not get past, and Frankie was in no mood to be denied.
Gregory continued to lengthen his stride in the closing stages and was nicely on top at the line to score by a snug one-and-a-half lengths with Saint George filling the runner-up spot. Godolphin remain in search of their first victory of the week as Chesspiece (11/2) finished back in third.
Dettori said: "I thought this winner was never going to come this year. I had three seconds yesterday, but I thought this horse was my best chance today.
"I knew this horse was good enough, but I wasn't so sure about his experience. He is very laid-back at home and I thought if he doesn't jump, he will get lost, but he jumped great, I got him to the front and I knew he would stay very well.
"I was in front for a long time and, when Oisin [Murphy, on runner-up Saint George] came to me, I thought 'oh, no, not another second'. To this horse's credit he really stuck his neck out.
"He was like a sleeping giant in the yard, and all of a sudden he's a Royal Ascot winner. Potentially, he could be a nice St Leger horse for the end of the season, but John and Thady will work something out.
"It's my last Royal Ascot and to ride a winner is fantastic. It's amazing the reception I got because it's my last season – I'm both sad and happy. I've got another three days here and it's nice to get one on the board.
"Ascot very kindly gave me a box for my family today and most of them are here, so I'm glad I could ride a winner in front of them."
Thady Gosden said: "Gregory is a horse who has only ever run twice in his life before today. He is still very inexperienced and has improved with every start.
"It was bit uncertain today as with the 14-furlong start, you're straight into the bend, and it was whether the horse broke well and had the nous to get a good position. But obviously, he got up there and took the lead. Frankie rode the fractions perfectly, he picked up very well in the straight and kept on finding.
"He obviously never ran last year at two, but he always looked a nice staying colt for this year. He's by Golden Horn, out of Gretchen, a very good family for this sort of distance and possibly further. He's also a horse who likes top of the ground as well, so it's all worked out."
On where the horse will go next, he said: "We shall have to see how he comes out of it. The ultimate target we are looking at is the St Leger and we will see where we go before that – we could possibly drop him back in trip."
Saint George's trainer Andrew Balding said: "He has run a great race. He's still relatively inexperienced, as is the winner, but he's improving with every run, so it's exciting."
Oisin Murphy added: "Saint George travelled super and I thought I might be able to come and get the winner, but it was a good battle and they pulled well clear of the rest. Two nice staying horses."
Paddy Power were seemingly impressed with the winner's staying ability and make him the 5/2 favourite (from 8/1) for Classic glory in Doncaster's St Leger Stakes last this season.
