Isle of Jura stormed to Royal Ascot success June 22 beneath a jubilant and emotional Callum Shepherd, including a Hardwicke Stakes (G2) to his three profitable wins in Bahrain over the winter.
Shepherd endured the low of shedding the mount on Ambiente Pleasant forward of the Derby, wherein that colt completed second behind Metropolis Of Troy . Shepherd was scoring for the primary time at Ascot after 65 shedding rides, whereas coach George Scott was 0-for-41 on the assembly.
Goliath continued a great week for Francis Graffard in second whereas Center Earth stayed on for third.
Shepherd’s efforts to carry within the rush of conflicting emotions after he crossed the road finally gave means. In a tearful interview, he admitted that the six weeks since being changed by Robert Havlin after profitable the Lingfield Derby Trial had been a serious problem.
“With all of the feelings popping out I will battle to compose myself,” mentioned Shepherd, who punched the air as he and Isle of Jura crossed the road. “He is been such a particular horse to George and the group, and for Sheikh Nasser to be right here having loved all this success in Bahrain, he is an excellent horse and he simply by no means lets us down. The final six weeks have been fairly tough and that simply feels actually particular.”
Isle of Jura was purchased by Scott and agent Billy Jackson-Stops for Bahrain’s Victorious Racing as a once-raced maiden, however is bred to be a great horse and is taking his connections on fairly the journey. The gelding, a 4-year-old son of New Strategy , was bred by Godolphin. He’s out of UAE Oaks (G3) winner Falls of Lora (Road Cry) and is a full sibling to Cascadian, a a number of group 1 winner in Australia.
“He is an excellent horse and he is grow to be extremely simple to journey,” mentioned Shepherd. “He is tremendous relaxed stepped up in journey and you’ll put him anyplace. I am so lucky that I received on him at Thirsk round a yr in the past this week. The journey he is taken us all on is wonderful. I am so lucky to journey him and I could not do it for higher folks.
“It is wonderful, I’ve dreamed about this for thus lengthy and it has been an actual check this week.”
Isle of Jura is undefeated in his 5 begins this yr. A final-out victor of the listed William Hill Competition Stakes at Goodwood in Might, the Hardwicke was his first win on the group degree.
United States-based contender Missed the Lower completed final of 9 for coach John Sadler.
