Aqlaam claims Jersey Stakes

Ascot, England: Richard Hills managed what Frankie Dettori could not as he won a dramatic renewal of the Jersey Stakes (Group 3) on day two at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.

Hills, who was notching up his 20th winner at the Royal meeting, was supplying Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, with his first success aboard Aqlaam at this year's event and first ever in the speciallist seven-furlong contest for three-year-olds that have yet to win a Group One or Two race but have often competed at that level, including the Classics.

Sent of at handsome odds of 13/2 Aqlaam got the better of Godolphin's Il Warrd by two lengths, with Dream Eater a neck back in third for trainer Andrew Balding.

Hills hit the front inside the final furlong and the William Haggas-trained colt comfortably held off Frankie Dettori's mount.

Calming Influence, Il Warrd's stable companion and 9/2 favourite, finished ninth.

A delighted Hills said: "He's a horse with a big future. He got me there quick and Ascot is a big place so he's just had a look around, but this is only his third run and he's still learning about the game.

"It's a big thing in a jockey's life to ride a winner here, it's very important and this is what it's all about."

Thrilling show

Haggas added: "That's fantastic, I'm absolutely thrilled to bits. We've always liked him and he's proved himself today.
"He's always been a nice horse and he's now won a Group Three, so let's see if he can go up from here."

Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Surour said he was not disappointed with Il Warrd's performance. "He ran very well and I'm happy with the way he finished his race. He's been beaten by a better horse on the day.

"I was disappointed with Calming Influence (ninth), we'll just have to see how he is."

Later in the afternoon, Duke Of Marmalade comfortably won the Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Group 1), the day's feature race.

The winner was supplying the Aidan O'Brien- Johnny Murtagh partnership with a third Group One at this year's Royal meeting. Phoenix Tower was second for the legendary Henry Cecil, while Pipedreamer was a short head away in third.

Murtagh said "He was the first horse that I rode when I came back from Dubai.

"He's up there with the best horses I've ever ridden and today was the big target."

Results

Jersey Stakes (Group 3) 7furlongs:
1. Aqlaam 13/2 (trained by W Haggas) ridden by R Hills; 2. Il Warrd 10/1 (S Bin Surour) L Dettori; 3. Dream Eater 7/1 (A Balding) F Norton.
Distances: 2lengths, Neck, 1/2. Time: 1min 26.98secs.

Prince of Wales's Stakes (Group 1) 1mile 2 furlongs:
1. Duke of Marmalade Evs (A O'Brien) J Murtagh; 2. Phoenix Tower 7/1 (H Cecil) T Durcan; 3. Pipedreamer 12/1 (J Gosden) J Fortune.
Distances: 4lengths, Short Head, 1 1/2. Time: 2min 05.35secs.