ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND – Trainer John Gosden’s Lord North exploded onto the scene late with a devastating turn of foot to champion Wednesday’s Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (G1) on Day 2 of the 2020 Royal Ascot Meet.
The Prince Of Wales’s is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with Lord North receiving an automatic berth in the Longines Turf at Keeneland this November.
Breaking from the barriers as the 9/2 third choice stateside under James Doyle, Lord North took back to the rear and settled into stride. The early lead went to Bangkok over Addeybb and the 4/5 stateside favorite Japan, who was reportedly very hot prior to loading and was a step slow out of the gate.
Straightening for home, Bangkok remained a stubborn leader as the well-bunched field struggled to gain ground. Doyle waited until 2 furlongs out before tipping Lord North out, but once he did so, Lord North found a new gear and swept past everyone in the blink of an eye.
Lord North drew off to win going away by 3 3/4 lengths while completing the 10-furlong good turf event in 2:05.63.
“I think when John takes a horse into a race like this, you do have to prick your ears,” Doyle said. “Obviously, Lord North looked quite unexposed coming into it and he has gone through his grades. … Going into this, the vibes were all pretty confident from Mr Gosden’s camp.”
Addeybb finished second, 1 1/4 lengths clear of a four-way photo for third that went to Barney Roy over Japan, Bangkok, and Mehdaayih. Rounding out the field came Headman.
What a performance! 🚀
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 17, 2020
Lord North goes from last to first with a devastating turn of foot to win the Prince Of Wales's Stakes for trainer John Gosden and jockey @the_doyler#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/i6M7u8cn2c
Lord North’s win was his second straight following success at Haydock in the June 7 Betway Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3). The 4-year-old Dubawi gelding is owned by Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing.
“Lord North has got better and better,” Gosden said. “He is very powerful and, for a gelding, he has a great body to him.”
Lord North brought back $11.80 to win and $3.20 to place, Addeybb brought back $3 to place, and Barney Roy paid $3.20 to place.
