Ryan Moore secured his ninth Royal Ascot jockeys' title, ending a four-year drought, with victories in contrasting styles on Broome and Rohaan. The 6-1 shot Broome made all the running in the Hardwicke Stakes, defeating a field including Irish Derby winner Hurricane Lane, while Rohaan produced a remarkable late surge in the Wokingham Handicap, threading through a narrow gap to win under top weight.
Rohaan's victory, his second consecutive win in the ultra-competitive handicap, moved Moore to seven winners for the meeting, three clear of rivals William Buick and Danny Tudhope with two races remaining. Moore, known for his stoicism, allowed himself a rare smile after the win, praising the horse and trainer David Evans: 'I knew from two-and-a-half out that he was coming right back to form... He felt like the horse of old.'
Moore's earlier win on Broome in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes was a front-running masterclass. He set a strong pace from the start, and despite a challenge from Hurricane Lane, Broome powered away to win by three and a quarter lengths. The victory saw Broome's odds for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes cut from 33-1 to around 12-1.
William Buick, who finished the week with five winners, won the Jersey Stakes on Noble Truth but was on the wrong Godolphin horse in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes as Naval Crown (33-1) edged out Creative Force (12-1). Buick later won the Queen Alexandra Stakes on Stratum, his second win in that race. James Doyle, rider of Naval Crown, expressed relief at finally getting a winner on the final day, saying, 'Charlie said to me this morning, “Why are you looking so grumpy?” And I said, “I’m running out of bullets.” So for this fella to get us out of jail is brilliant.'
Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Broome, ended the week as leading trainer for the 11th time with five winners, one ahead of Charlie Appleby. Moore's 74th Royal Ascot winner moved him to within four of Frankie Dettori's record among current jockeys.
