Aussies rule at Ascot

It was not quite barbecue weather at Ascot but a bit of rain failed to prevent

an Australian domination at the Berkshire track.

Two Antipodean riding expatriates, Kerrin McEvoy and Hugh Bowman, collected

the three main events of the day and while the former has earned his

distinguished reputation over the last three seasons, the latter has been here

less than two weeks.

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Bowman had already managed five winners from his extended stay but landed by

far the most valuable so far in the appropriately-named feature, the

totesport.com Victoria Cup, aboard the Alan Jarvis-trained Wise Dennis.

There had been plenty of conjecture about the stalls advantage on the straight

course but the 14-1 shot was drawn right in the middle and that is where he

stayed.

Bowman asked him for an effort over a furlong out and Wise Dennis burst clear

to win by four lengths from Skhilling Spirit.

"What can I say, it's a privilege to ride here," said Bowman. "The horse

has got gears and I just had to get him settled, put him right and he did it for

me."

It was only Bowman's second outside ride, as he is based with Mick Channon

while he awaits the arrival of his Royal Ascot mount Bentley Biscuit, a stunning

winner at Doomben a few hours earlier.

Jarvis knew all about him, adding: "When I was out in Oz with Jardines

Lookout I got to know some of the jockeys and I think I gave Kerrin McEvoy some

of his first rides here too.

"Wise Dennis ran in quite a decent race at Southwell but he won with his head

in his chest and when it started to rain here, I really fancied him.

"The Hunt Cup would now be an option, but that won't be easy and he could run

with a 3lb penalty in a Listed race next week at York that he won two years

ago."

For good measure, Bowman later took the McGee Group Maiden Stakes on Channon's

Dubai Destination colt Yem Kinn (11-2), who made a pleasing juvenile debut by

just holding off the race-fit favourite Fitzroy Crossing.

Channon said: "We've been very pleased with for a while, although there was a

worry about the ground. We'll definitely look at Royal Ascot if he comes out of

this OK."

McEvoy's first victory came in the shape of the potentially Pattern class

Heaven Sent, who took the John Doyle Fillies' Heritage Handicap in good style.

The field became well strung out in the closing stages, with Apply Dapply the

7-4 favourite's only obvious rival, but Heaven Sent kept finding more and won

well by two lengths.

Owner Cheveley Park Stud's managing director Chris Richardson reported: "She

keeps progressing and seems just as effective on top of the ground as when there

is ease.

"I think she'll step up to Stakes class - Listed or Group Threes - now. She's

entered in Ireland (Ridgewood Pearl Stakes on May 26) but I'm not sure about

that."

Stoute and McEvoy doubled up with Mountain High, who had been a beaten

favourite on his four previous outings and was again sent off the 8-13 'jolly'

for the Bovis Homes Buckhounds Stakes.

But Stoute had placed him accurately in this Listed event and there was

nothing wrong with the way he went about his business, making all the running to

win by a convincing four lengths.

McEvoy said: "He didn't really like the ground but he did it very well."

Current title leader Jamie Spencer was handed a two-day ban (May 23-24) for

not riding out for sixth place on High Heel Sneakers.

Spencer quickly made amends in the Alfred Franks & Bartlett Sunglasses Handicap

by steering home Zidane to emulate his half-sister Firenze, on the mark at

Nottingham a few minutes earlier.

Always a capable if slightly frustrating performer, the 7-2 market leader

proved much too good, coming home a comfortable two-and-a-half-length winner and

leaving the James Fanshawe team contemplating a trip back here next month for

the Wokingham Handicap.

Princelet (5-1) lost an eye in a nasty accident when jumping but had his

remaining one firmly on the prize in the Mitsubishi Electric Handicap.

One of Nicky Henderson's select Flat runners, he held the interfered-with Ned

Ludd by a length under Michael Hills.