Baccarat wins the Wokingham under Chaloner Baccarat surged clear in the hands of talented apprentice jockey George Chaloner to claim the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot. Having filled the runner-up spot on his previous two starts this season at Thirsk and York, Richard Fahey's five-year-old was among the leading contenders for the six-furlong sprint at odds of 9-1. The huge field split into three groups early on, with Baccarat among those racing towards the stands rail, and he q uickened up to lead over a furlong out before keeping up the gallop as challengers emerged right across the track, crossing the line well on top. Professor was a length and a half away in second, with Rivellino and the winner's stable companion Alben Star picking up minor honours in third and fourth respectively. Chaloner, who was securing his first Royal Ascot winner, said: "It feels amazing. I'm really grateful to the boss and Sir Robert Ogden (owner) for putting me on him. He gave me a good ride the last day at York and he went one better this time." Fahey added: "I always felt he could win one of these races. Everything's gone right, it's fantastic. He (Chaloner) is only a kid and needs big days like this. "He's probably capable of better, but that is what you need to win races like this. He likes them to go flat-out and he showed so when he won the St Wilfrid (at Ripon), and the last day in York he was unlucky. He'll take a step up in class now. He won't have too many more chances now of winning handicaps. "Alben Star has run another blinder. He's been a star and has earned a holiday now."
