Wonderful Tonight Exactly That In Hardwicke

ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND – Undeterred as one of two fillies taking on males, Christopher Wright’s Wonderful Tonight was exactly that as she strode home to a 1 1/2-length triumph in Saturday’s Hardwicke Stakes (G2) at Ascot Racecourse.

Wonderful Tonight was keen to run on early but eventually settled under jockey William Buick and tracked from fourth until tipped out off the far turn, when she immediately took off and took over the lead, then took no prisoners en route to a comfortable victory. The David Menuisier-trained 4-year-old daughter of Le Havre won her third straight and 245 days after her last start, which came going this same 1 1/2-mile distance here at Ascot in last October’s British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1). Wonderful Tonight’s record is now 9-5-1-1.

“She is top-class,” Buick said. “She probably does handle this ground well compared to some others, but I thought that performance today against the colts was her best yet. And she showed a turn of foot today that I don’t think she’d shown before. I thought she looked great – David and his team had done a great job with her over the winter and have bided their time.”

Broome, the 2/1 stateside favorite and full brother to Point Lonsdale (winner of the Chesham Stakes 2 races prior), closed swiftly inside the final furlong but was merely second-best on the day. Hukum, Thunderous, Albaflora, Japan, Sir Ron Priestley, Ilaraab, Highest Ground, and Deja completed the order of finish.

Bangkok, Logician, Mogul, Pablo Escobarr, and Tiger Moth scratched.

Wonderful Tonight returned $10.60 to win and $3.60 to place. Broome brought back $3.20 to place. Hukum paid $5.40 to place.