ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND – Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum’s Move Swiftly lived up to her name in a major way on Wednesday, shooting up through a hole and outbattling a tough foe for the tight win in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (G2) at the Royal Ascot meet at Ascot Racecourse.
Breaking from post 9 under Daniel Tudhope at 10/1 odds stateside, Move Swiftly dropped back toward the rear shortly after the field began running, though the group was relatively bunched. Veracious, Preening, and Nyaleti took turns setting the pace in the early running while Tudhope stayed chilly aboard Move Swiftly.
With just under 3 furlongs remaining, a hole opened in front of Move Swiftly and she shot through it. Put to task with a furlong remaining, Move Swiftly outkicked a very game Rawdaa to hit the wire first by a neck in a final time of 1:42.61 for the 8-furlong event.
“Move Swiftly did it well,” said Tudhope, who won the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) and the Wolferton Handicap on Tuesday. “I didn’t want to be too far back, but I ended up being there for some reason. She traveled nicely and enjoyed the ground. I think she will improve for that run again. I think they have always liked her and she has been a decent filly. This was her first run this year, so she is bound to improve. I felt like she was just getting tired on me and I think there is more to come.”
Rawdaa was 1 3/4 lengths ahead of the 3/1 stateside favorite I Can Fly, who posed a serious threat a furlong out before dropping out late. The rest of the field crossed thusly: Veracious, Di Fede, Anna Nerium, Nyaleti, Red Tea, Shenanigans, Indian Blessing, Agrotera, Threading, the winner’s William Haggas stablemate Pretty Baby, Preening, Hand On Heart, Bella Ragazza, and Dan’s Dream.
Move Swiftly’s win came in her 2019 debut and improved her overall record to 8-4-3-1.
“I’m thrilled to bits with this filly and she enjoyed the ground,” Haggas said. “We took a few to Newbury to work and she worked nicely. She’s run well. The other one, Pretty Baby, didn’t go on the ground and probably didn’t get the trip, either.”
Move Swiftly returned $22 to win and $8.40 to place, Rawdaa brought back $3.80 to place, and I Can Fly paid $4.20 to place.
