Johnny too good for rivals

Johnny Murtagh clinched his first Royal Ascot riding title when he gained his fifth winner of the meeting on Nice One Clare in the Wokingham Stakes.

The Irishman, who took the week`s highlight, the Ascot Gold Cup, on Thursday, proved equally adept at landing ultra-competitive six furlong sprint handicaps and he delivered a copy book performance to give low-key Newmarket trainer Pip Payne his first Royal triumph.

Murtagh appeared on the scene inside the final quarter-mile on Nice One Clare and, as the gaps opened, struck for home entering the final furlong to withstand the challenge of Ellens Academy by a neck.

'I wanted to prove to everyone I wasn`t just good in the Group Ones,' chuckled Murtagh. 'The Wokingham was a very exciting race. I rode her at Newmarket first time and I knew she had a good turn of foot - and that`s what wins big handicaps. When I got to the furlong pole I got a beautiful gap and the gaps always appear when you are going well.'

Nice One Clare was rewarding a year-long plan by Payne, who had laid the mare out for the race since she finished fifth to Harmonic Way 12 months ago.

'This has been the plan since this time last year,' said Payne. 'These 32-runner handicaps are an absolute lottery but we came here with a lot of confidence. We managed to get a race into her this time.

'She has been running well in big handicaps. She likes fast-run races and she can quicken up off a fast pace. I think there is a little bit of improvement in her. She had a long winter`s rest, put on a lot of weight and she`s definitely improved physically. Maybe there`s a Listed or Group Three in her.'

'It`s been one of my ambitions for a long time to have a Royal Ascot winner,' added Payne. 'We`ve had some horses who have run very well here, but this is a very special day.'

Henry Cecil prevented what would have been only his fourth Royal meeting without a winner in 31 years when Sandmason`s grit proved good enough to take the Hardwicke Stakes from Zindabad.

Cecil`s 69th success at the fixture was achieved with his second string, as the Warren Place hopes were firmly pinned on Wellbeing, who was sent off the 2-1 favourite.

However, Wellbeing was in trouble two furlongs out as Sandmason, who had cut out most of the donkey work under Willie Ryan, saw off Mutafaweq before being pressed throughout the final furlong by the persistent Zindabad, whom he held by a head.

'It took me a while to get a winner,' said Cecil. 'And Wellbeing was definitely the first string. But Sandmason is very tough and you can see why I ran both of them. Being greedy I was hoping we might get first and second. The tactics were right but I thought the other horse would come through and take the race.'

Cecil`s fortunes at the meeting have dipped by his standards in recent years, the stable also registering single successes 1994, 1995 and 2000, and the trainer reflected on what he termed an 'up-and-down' week.

'Most of my horses have just not been finishing in the last furlong and a half. I don`t know why, they have been galloping well at home,' said Cecil.

'Wellbeing is the fifth of mine to disappoint this week and on the first day I thought I might have three winners. I find it all very frustrating.'

Jamie Osborne, in his second full season with a training license, saddled his first Royal Ascot winner when Pat Eddery, who was also finally getting on the scoresheet for the week, forced Irony home from Steaming Home in the Windsor Castle Stakes.