Kiyoshi Romp revives Royal Ascot memories - top run by Valonia
Jamie Spencer, wearing the silks of Qatar Racing, was at his best in finding a gap at the furlong marker, and three-year-old Kiyoshi did the rest, bursting clear to win by one and a quarter lengths, but looking easily capable of winning by a bigger margin. This was Kiyoshi's first win since last year's Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, although trainer Charlie Hills had explanations for her subsequent defeats.
Hills said: "It is just great to get her back and to prove that she is as good as we've thought, and know, she is.
"She is very good indeed, but she was a sick filly in the spring and had to have two months of antibiotics. But she did a piece of work last week that was really special, quite breathtaking, and it looked like she had her old spark back inside her. We had the cheekpieces on then, so we left them on.
"She is not ungenuine but they help her concentrate. She had been getting very laid back and they sharpen her attitude. Jamie [Spencer] gave her an absolute peach of a ride and I will definitely miss him [Spencer is set to retire at the end of the year]. He has been great for me - he rode my first Classic winner and has been a big supporter. It is good that he is staying on in the firm [Qatar Racing] and he is obviously going to be a big support."
Kiyoshi (Jamie Spencer) pulls clear of her rivals in the Sceptre Stakes
Spencer said: "She always wants to be held up - it's just the way she is. She has taken a while to come right but George Baker [a fellow jockey] rode her in work last week and said I could ride her any way I wanted and she would win. It's more down to his judgment than mine.
"She stays a mile. It's just a case of, when you have a setback, you are always playing catch up. It has taken a while but Charlie and the team have got her right now. It's onwards and upwards now. I am sure that she will probably stay in training next year and will do well as a four-year-old."
The Gr.1 Sun Chariot Stakes, run at Newmarket's Rowley Mile course, is likely to be next on Kiyoshi's agenda.
A one-two for Qatar Racing was narrowly denied when the Henry Candy-trained Valonia (Oisin Murphy) failed to grab the second spot by the width of a beer mat - she finished fourth, a nose and a short-head behind favourite Bragging and Al Thakhira. The latter filly was bred by Qatar Bloodstock Ltd and sold at Tattersalls as a foal.