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Shaquille continued his ascendency towards the very top of the sprinting division with a remarkable performance in this year’s July Cup Stakes.
The Julie Camacho-trained runner confirmed himself as one of the most progressive and talented sprinters in the world this afternoon when making it back-to-back Group 1 victories with July Cup Stakes success. The son of Charm Spirit has not looked back since finishing last of nine in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes on his second start at two and that defeat now remains the sole blip in his career to date.
Shaquille built on his reappearance course and distance handicap success with a comfortable victory in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury. Connections were duly rewarded by taking the step up to Group 1 company last month when overcoming a tardy start to land the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, but they would certainly have been hoping for a quicker beginning on Newmarket's Rowley Mile.
However, as was the case at Ascot last month, Shaquille was once again slowly away and gave himself another obstacle to overcome if he was to complete this astonishing six-timer this afternoon. He took a keen hold towards the rear of the field in the early stages but after a couple of furlongs, Rossa Ryan decided to allow his mount to stride on and the Charm Spirit colt made rapid headway to press leader Art Power. The pair picked up the running just under three furlongs out and failed to see another rival as the 5/2 joint-favourite Shaquille stuck on strongly to score by a comfortable one and a half lengths from Henry Candy's 28/1 chance Run To Freedom.
Ralph Beckett's Kinross (4/1) finished in third while the front-running Art Power was back in fourth.
It was a breakthrough top-level victory for Rossa Ryan while trainer Julie Camacho became only the second female to saddle a July Cup winner after Criquette Head-Maarek, who was scored with Anabaa in 1996.
Winning trainer Julie Camacho said: "It does upset me that everyone thinks he is the big ignorant thug, which he shows at the races and in everyday life he is an absolute darling. He is a darling to do anything with. I'm a bit overwhelmed really. I thought it is a long way home [when Rossa Ryan made that mid-race move], those were my thoughts.
"It did [turn out to be a smart move] there is no point pulling them about. I know he discussed the horse with James [Doyle], and he knew what to do with him. It is a massive moment. We are a small yard in the north. I said to a friend before Ascot, we come down here we think we have got nice horses, they give us a bang on the nose and tell us to go back up north where we belong. It is lovely to be able to come down here with a horse like him and show how good he is.
The success meant Camacho became the first trainer to earn more than £1 million in prize money on the Flat and she added: "It is not as if it [breaking through £1 million in prize money] is an overnight success as we have been at it a long time. It is nice that people in the north can have a bit of success as there are some really good trainers in the north. If we get the ammunition, we can do well with them. I'd say Haydock [Sprint Cup will probably be next]. We will put him in at Deauville. Steve [Brown, partner] will discuss it with Martin [Hughes, joint owner]. I'm only a very small part of it and Steve plays a bigger part than I do. It is great for Martin as he has put a lot into the business and racing full stop as he has got a lot of horses in training across quite a few trainers, and it is great for him to have bred him as well and that is the icing on the cake as well.
"He came on pretty keen, and he did at Ascot, which isn't ideal, but I just wish he would do everything right. I suppose we are having beaten the older horses, so it is probably [better than the Ascot win]. We were confident that the horse was fit and well and he was in good form, but we were taking on the older horses."
Steve Brown, Camacho's husband and assistant trainer, added: "I think we will stick to six for now but five [furlongs] is something we could do in the future, but we will speak to Martin. These are really nice chats to have. He is in the Sprint Cup at Haydock Park and that was going to be the natural next step for him.
"You have to remember this horse has been training quite early in the winter to get him ready for the All-Weather Championships Final. At some point I wouldn't mind having a couple of quiet weeks as he is still a baby, for all he is a talented one. We will have a chat over a cup of tea and see what the owners want to do.
"It is a great question [if he stays in training at four] and it hasn't been discussed. We left it to Martin and his directive was let's enjoy the race and we will have a chat further down the line. We are just enjoying the ride.
"We are not social animals - we just work hard. Some days are great like this, and some are disappointing. We will have tomorrow off and be back in the yard at 4.30am on Monday morning. It has been a great day for the yard."
It was a first Group 1 success for jockey Rossa Ryan, who said: "Everything I've worked for in life has been for this. I don't really know what to say. I could see something coming out the corner of my eye and I thought please don't do this to me [catch me on the line]. I couldn't believe it. I pulled up down the bottom and stood still and I had to take a moment to take it all in. It is something else.
"He didn't jump great. They didn't go mad the first furlong which gave me a chance. I thought I could ease him into it and sit in behind. I spent about four strides in behind and that was it. To be fair to him when he did his own thing and got over and went past Art Power at the three pole, he filled himself up. I could feel him underneath me. Everyone had to catch on to me as we were going a good tempo. When I gave him the office two out, he sprinted to the line and there was no stopping him. He is just a very good horse.
"Nine times out ten [when you make that mid-race move] it is a disaster. He has just got a lot of ability that is the long and the short of it. I was relieved three out when he did fill his lungs. When he put his head in front of Art Power he relaxed more I thought I could get him back more and fill him up. After that it was up to him. He has that much ability, if he did the racing the right way round you would be speaking of him as a champion and miles ahead of everything else. He is so consistent and to be only beaten once in seven runs is something else. Julie and the team do some job with him.
"From just outside the two pole I dropped my hands and let him build into it. James Doyle did say to me the best two furlongs will be his last two and he said he will stay and don't worry about the ground. When I filled him up, I wasn't too afraid and to be fair to Steve [Brown] he assured me the last two furlongs will be the best two.
"I didn't [expect to get the call to ride him], but to get the call you have only got to be happy. You want to be in the Group 1's, but it is one thing getting into them, and it is another thing having a
right chance, and it is another thing on top of that to win. It is a monkey of my back now. I'm just relieved and thrilled to be honest."
Rossa Ryan earlier spoke to ITV Racing and explained: "That was the thrill of my life. The way he jumped…I know he did the exact same at Ascot but in Ascot Oisin [Murphy] was covered up and was able to relax whereas today I was out in daylight.
"We weren't even going that fast and I just kept holding on to him. Three out, I could feel him fill his lungs. Steve said to me his last two furlongs are his best two and when he hit the hill he kept going.
"I have to give a big up to James Doyle and Oisin Murphy – I spoke to them both this morning and they filled me with confidence, especially James. It's incredible to fill in.
"To Mr Hughes and all the owners to have the faith in me to break my Group 1 duck was unbelievable. Mr Hughes is a pleasure to work with."
Paddy Power cut the winner to 7/4 from 5/1 joint-favourite for Haydock's Sprint Cup.
