Limestone tough in Queen’s Vase thriller

Limestone got up in the shadow of the post to pip Godolphin’s Del Maro giving Classic winning jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle a second Royal Ascot winner.

With a furlong to go in the one-mile-six-furlong contest it looked as though 40-1 outsider Ranga Tang was going to hold on to deliver another shock result at the Royal meeting.

But McGonagle, who won the Oaks with Thundering On at Epsom, got a rousing finish out of the Joseph O’Brien-trained three-year-old to pip Del Maro on the line.

The 10-3 shot beat the Godolphin horse by a nose with pacesetter Ranga Tang hanging on for third.

Progressive Attitude Shines Through In Close Finishes

“I’m delighted. It was a great ride from Dylan, he was in a great position and in control of the race. I’m delighted to have a second winner here this week, it’s very special.

“He didn’t do anything wrong last year, but he’s got better with every race.

“He has come out on top in a couple of photo finishes, which is a good trait to have in a horse.”

McMonagle said: “It was straightforward, I was happy to get a good start and go forward on him as he is a relaxed horse and you can really put him wherever you want.

“If there was going to be speed, I was going to be happy to follow, and if not, to go forward. I was happy to be in the position and then one came and took it off us, I felt I was in the perfect spot, we didn’t go overly quick and it gave me something to run at.

“They did quicken off the bend and caught me for a little bit of pace, but I knew this lad would come in the last furlong and we hit the line strong.”

Stayer Prospects Evident Despite Narrow Defeat

Appleby said: “We’re getting closer! I was stood next to Joseph and I said I would happily take a dead-heat with you!

“I’m delighted though and his pedigree has come out. A trip is what he’s been crying out for and we were always going to ride him in that style, drop him in and give him every chance to come home.

“You could question how hard he tries previously but he tried hard there and for me it’s nice as we don’t tend to have too many stayers. I’ll start training him like a stayer now.

“A winner would be nice but we’ll keep going. ”

Classic Ambitions Formulated After Rough Royal Passage

John and Thady Gosden’s Point Of Law was fourth for the King and Queen

John Gosden said: “It was very rough on the first bend and got hit quite hard on the inside and the outside. But he showed a great attitude and stayed on very well and looks a nice horse for the future.

“An extra run might have helped, but I was unable to get the third run in and if we had done that we would probably have run him in a handicap so he was probably better in this anyhow.

“He will have learned a lot and he could be a St Leger horse, but that’s in September and we’re only in June. It was a very solid run.”