Duke Of Cambridge Result: Duntle battles to victory

Duntle hit the mark at Royal Ascot.

Duntle won at Royal Ascot for the second successive year when coming out on top in a tight finish to the Duke of Cambridge Stakes...

Having landed the Sandringham Handicap 12 months ago, David Wachman's filly returned for this Group Two event having been disqualified from first place in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown last season.

She travelled well throughout in the hands of Wayne Lordan but found it reasonably hard work to shake off the attentions of the pace-setting Ladys First with Dank and Beatrice Aurore also closing in.

The 100-30 favourite gamely stuck her neck out, though, and beat 25-1 chance Ladys First, a third runner-up for Richard Fahey at the meeting, by half a length. Dank was third.

Lordan said: "I travelled really well and might have got there a little soon. She didn't kill herself in front, but she picked up when something joined me.

"She improved an awful lot as a three-year-old and she's still going the right way.

"This is where everyone needs winners and it's a great help."

Wachman said: "Wayne gave her a very good ride, he didn't want to get there too soon. He was hanging on and hanging on but he still ended up getting there two out.

"She doesn't win by far but she does enough.

"The Matron Stakes is in the past, it's history, now we'll try to win another Group One.

"She has loads of options, there's a good programme for the fillies.

"The Falmouth (at Newmarket, July 12 ) is maybe where we are heading now, there's also a race in France (Jacques le Marois) which our owners sponsor and that is also on the agenda."

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