3 minute read

Trainer Archie Watson was understandably thrilled after landing his first ever Royal Ascot winner thanks to Soldier's Call, the 28-runner Windsor Castle Stakes.

The Showcasing colt showed dazzling speed to head up the group of horses racing closest to the stands' side rail.

He also demonstrated great resolve in the closing stages of the five-furlong contest as Sabre burst from the pack to throw down a serious bid for glory.

But 12/1 shot Soldier's Call dug deep to win by a half a length to give Watson recompense for finishing second with Nate The Great an hour earlier in the Chesham Stakes.

Watson, in his second full season with a trainers' licence, said: "I'm very blessed. It means the world to me and the whole team at home.

"We are a very young team and I'm sure there will be some partying at The Pheasant in Lambourn tonight.

"I was delighted with my runner in the Chesham. He ran a huge race.

"But this horse has got so much natural speed. We were umming and ahhing about whether to run in the Norfolk Stakes or the Windsor Castle. So I'm glad our decision to run here has been vindicated.

"We are just grateful to Steve Parkin (owner) and his team for sending us this calibre of horse.

"I would imagine the Molcomb (at Glorious Goodwood) would be his aim. We would love to go to Churchill Downs for the new Breeders' Cup race over five and half furlongs (for two-year-olds)in November if that's the way the season progresses.

"He and Nate The Great are two very natural horses and there is nice strength in depth to our two-year-olds."