Spencer Hits Treble Top

Jamie Spencer booted home his first Royal Ascot treble yesterday, although his day was slightly marred as he picked up a four-day ban in the process.

The champion jockey teamed up with James Fanshawe to notch a big-race double through Cesare and Soviet Song, with the latter landing the Windsor Forest Stakes and Cesare following up with a last-gasp victory in the Royal Hunt Cup.

Spencer likened Soviet Song's success to competing in 'a relay against seven-year-olds'.

The popular mare swooped from the rear of the field to land a deserved Royal win at the fourth time of asking as Ladies' Day arrived early thanks also to the exploits of Ouija Board in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes.

Spencer coasted to an easy triumph, with the race over in a matter of strides as the 11-8 favourite burst clear of the chasing pack just over a furlong out.

She was two lengths ahead of Echelon at the line after being eased down in the last 100 yards, with Royal Alchemist a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third.

'She's a Group One winner in a Group Two without a penalty so it was like me racing in a school relay against seven-year-olds,' the rider said.

Fanshawe revealed afterwards that winning at Festivals such as the Royal meeting and at Cheltenham are the reason he is training horses.

'I like having Royal Ascot winners and Cheltenham winners and they are my two things,' he said.

'She's the first horse I've had to get through the #1 million barrier and she's done it the hard way in Britain and Ireland rather than going abroad.'

Next on the agenda for the mare is an attempt at the hat-trick in Newmarket's Falmouth Stakes before hopefully another crack against the colts.

'Hopefully this race will bring her on and all being well she will go for the Falmouth next,' said Fanshawe.

Cesare, a 14-1 chance, got the better of Stronghold by a neck to make amends for a big-race flop in the Lincoln on his only previous start of the campaign.

'He looked all hairy before the Lincoln and it was a mistake going there,' said Fanshawe.

'I always thought there was a decent handicap in him and I didn't run him because I just didn't want to blow his mark.

'He works like a class horse at home so I thought he'd get there.

'He's been favourite for a couple of these big handicaps ? in the Lincoln and at Goodwood ? and now he's proved he can do it.'

Spencer went on to complete his 213-1 three-timer on Red Evie in the Sandringham Handicap.

But he picked up his suspension in the race for careless riding after he was found to have caused interference when he moved out to make his challenge two furlongs from home.

It was another close call as Spencer once again pounced late to land the spoils by a head from La Mottie.

It was Red Evie's fifth success from as many starts this season and her trainer Michael Bell said: 'She's pretty useful and she was not tested in her wins.

'I was a bit nervous after she won a handicap at Leicester but the handicapper only put her up 2lb and she's better than a handicapper. She might go for the Falmouth and she's joy to train.

'I might have a jockey problem as Jamie might ride Soviet Song, but things change and he likes this filly.'

Spencer added: 'The horse got a nightmare of a journey and I was following Darryll (Holland), he got murdered as well, but anyway we won.

'They were ordinary horses they were coming back on me quickly and it was all going wrong and I could see the race slipping away from me.

'I only gave her one slap and when I got her running she was giving me her all.

'That's five races she's won this season and there are very few of them that can do that.

'You just need things to go right and thank goodness it's gone right today.'

Gilded was another filly to complete a five-timer when she recorded a smooth success in the Queen Mary Stakes.

Once she hit the front a furlong out the 11-2 shot quickly put daylight between herself and her rivals to give trainer Richard Hannon his fourth victory in the Group Two race.

Grand National-winning owner Mrs Elizabeth Moran was thrilled to see her colours carried to victory at the Royal meeting when Jeremy came from an unpromising position to land the Jersey Stakes.

Her green and blue silks had been in the winner's circle at Aintree after the Ted Walsh-trained Papillon triumphed in 2000.

? PA Sport