My Dream Boat gives Cox second Ascot win

My Dream Boat was a surprising winner to give Clive Cox and Adam Kirby a second Group One success of the week in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Beaten a long way by Japanese superstar A Shin Hikari in France last time out, he was sent off the outsider of the seven-runner field at 16-1.

Following on from the King's Stand victory of Profitable, after which Kirby was reduced to tears on announcing that his girlfriend had given birth just hours before, the jockey will never forget this week.

Odds-on favourite A Shin Hikari - the highest-rated Flat horse in the world - set out to make all the running but failed to get away from the field turning into the straight and Yutaka Take was soon sending out distress signals.

Ryan Moore then produced Found and looked sure to give Aidan O'Brien his 50th Royal Ascot winner, but Kirby was just starting his run on My Dream Boat.

Cox's four-year-old even defied a drift into the centre of the track to beat Found by a neck.

Kirby said: "I was pretty confident he'd be in the first three. The race went perfect.

"He gave me a real good feel when he won two starts ago but he was bit free last time and didn't get home. Full credit to the horse, he stayed at it. It was a very gutsy performance."

My Dream Boat sports the colours of owners Paul and Clare Rooney, more familiar in jumping circles and owners of Grand National runner-up The Last Samuri.

Clare Rooney said: "I'm full of emotion. It's just amazing. The ground suited our horse better and I'm just delighted."

Cox said: "He looked special when he won the Gordon Richards (at Sandown), but when we took him to France he was tracked back in the field and things didn't go quite right.

"He got into a nice rhythm and I'm very proud of him.

"Adam's riding out of his skin at the minute. Professionally and personally he's on a high.

"The horses are running amazingly, it feels like a dream."

Connections of A Shin Hikari were deflated after the Japanese horse finished last.

Hirotsugu Hirai, spokesman for owners Eishindo Co Ltd, said: "We knew it was not going to be easy.

"It was his first time round a bend this sharp and it was a surprise to him. Also, the turf was very soft - like a luxurious carpet - and that didn't suit him.

"After the race the horse was fine, but we are upset."

O'Brien said of runner-up Found: "She ran very well. Ryan was very happy with the filly. Our filly quickened well, but that's racing."

John Gosden said Western Hymn, who was third, could run in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, after which the Clarehaven handler would consider stepping the colt up to a mile and a half.