ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND – Coolmore’s Santiago navigated the marathon distance and proved strongest in Friday’s Queen’s Vase (G2) on Day 4 of the 2020 Royal Ascot Meet.
The 7/2 third choice stateside broke well under Ryan Moore and settled into fifth while finding a comfortable rhythm. The 2/1 stateside favorite Born With Pride was the first to set the pace, but Punctuation soon overtook him and held the front-running position through much of the early going.
Born With Pride retook the lead off of the far turn, but Santiago made a move to the front shortly after straightening away. The Aidan O’Brien trainee made good headway and took command with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining.
Berkshire Rocco fought hard to keep pace, but it was all Santiago in the final stages as he crossed 2 3/4 lengths well-clear in a final time of 3:05.67 for the 1 3/4-mile event over the soft going.
“I am very happy with what he has done today, he has a good attitude,” Moore said. “
He went through the race very smoothly. The form looks fairly solid, the second horse had run a good race at Lingfield and the third horse he won a Listed race here on King George day and was placed in a couple of Group races in France. It wasn’t a big field, but I would say they brought a fair level of form.”
The field was largely strung out as the runners finished in the following order: Al Dabaran, Born With Pride, Nobel Prize, Punctuation, Cloud Thunder, and On Guard. London Arch was a non-runner.
Santiago takes The Queen's Vase – giving Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore their fourth winner of Royal Ascot 2020 🏆🏆🏆🏆
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 19, 2020
He looks like a colt with a big future for the @coolmorestud team #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/p2RLbSBiHd
Santiago’s victory followed a smart maiden-breaking effort at third asking while going 1 mile over a soft Listowel course last September. The 3-year-old Authorized colt improved his record to 4-2-2-0.
“Santiago is a lovely, straightforward horse,” O’Brien said. “He travels and stays well. He is a very easy horse to train and get fit – we are very happy.”
Santiago returned $9.60 to win and $3.40 to place, Berkshire Rocco brought back $2.60 to place, and Al Dabaran paid $3.80 to place.
