First Group One Winner for Poet’s Voice

Tara Madgwick - Thursday June 21
The surprises kept coming at Royal Ascot overnight with Frankel's hot favourite Cracksman going down in the Group I Prince of Wales's Stakes (1m2f)at the hands of five year-old journeyman Poet's Word.

Poet's Word - Ascot Racecourse TwitterRunner-up in last season's Group I English and Irish Champion Stakes, as well as the Group I Sheema Classic earlier this year, the Sir Michael Stoute trained son of Poet's Voice warmed up for this with a workmanlike win in the Group II Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown and showed deal of improvement from that run to land his first race at the top level.

Ridden by James Doyle, Poet's Word proved much the better in the run to the line beating Cracksman by two and a quarter lengths with Godolphin runner Hawkbill in third.

"Cracksman beat Poet's Word a long way here last time (Champion Stakes). Maybe Cracksman is not at his very best now but we have beaten the others comprehensively," Stoute said.

"Poet's Word is a very consistent, brave, sound horse. That's what he is. A huge well done to all the staff because they have put a lot of work into a horse like this.

"I was delighted for Poet's Word. He's been in at the deep-end in Group 1s and has been running well in them, so it's great for him to win one.

"I think Royal Ascot is very special to any trainer. We have been very lucky in that we have brought a lot of nice horses here over the years.

"We're very glad it's happened and it's great for all the staff."

Bought for 300,000 guineas from the Tattersalls October Book Two Sale, Poet's Word runs for Saeed Suhail and has the overall record of six wins and six placigns from 15 starts. A half-brother to Group III winner Malabar, he is the best of five winners from stakes-placed Whirly Bird.

Poet's Word is the first Group I winner for Darley's Dubawi stallion Poet's Voice, who shuttled to Australia for five seasons with Group II winner Viridine his best Australian bred offspring. He died earlier this year at age 11.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Barnstorming Win by Headwall in the Warra
The super-consistent Headwall reaped a just reward in the $300,000 Group III Snap Print Solutions Wollongong The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange.
Kiwi Bred Comeback King Globe wins Cranbourne Cup
The super-talented Globe put a troubled 14 months behind him with a powerful all-the-way win in Saturday’s A$500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).
Better Than Ready's Port Lockroy Triumphs in G1 Railway Stakes
Interstate visitors have a poor winning record in the $1,500,000 Group 1 Swan Draught - Railway Stakes, but Port Lockroy played his part in squaring the ledger when choosing the perfect spot to end a run of bad luck in stakes races.
Out Of The Wilderness - Viridine Captures Ortensia Stakes
Viridine has been something of a tease after a spectacular start to his career with four consecutive wins including the Listed Heritage Stakes and Group II Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick.
Champion Stakes Goal for Poet's Voice Colt
The powerful Godolphin stable is building a formidable record in the Group III NJC Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle winning with Sweynesse (Lonhro) in 2014 and Astoria (Medaglia d'Oro) 12 months ago.
Storyville Downs the Colts in G2 WA Guineas
The WA Champion Fillies Stakes heroine Storyville earned a shot at the Group 1 Northerly Stakes after she gave the colts a start and beating in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II White Claw - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.
Shakespeare to Test Derby Credentials
Johno Benner and Holly Wynyard will get a better line on three-year-old staying prospect Shakespeare when he contests Wednesday’s Victoria Derby Trial (1800m) at Flemington.
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Gringotts Continues Kiwi Winning Run in $1million The Gong
Kiwi bred Gringotts continued his coming-of-age campaign with a powerhouse front-running performance under 60kg to win Saturday’s Group III A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.