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War Command romps in Coventry A stunning performance by runaway winner War Command in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes made it four wins for Irish trainers on the opening day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday. The son of War Front was completing a double on the day for the team behind Queen Anne Stakes winner Declaration of War, namely trainer Aidan O'Brien, part/owner and breeder Joseph Allen, and the Coolmore triumvirate of Messrs Magnier, Tabor and Smith. However, O'Brien's son Joseph finished unplaced this time on favorite Stubbs, and it was another Ballydoyle stalwart, Seamie Heffernan, who rode the winner. In third was another O'Brien runner, Sir John Hawkins, the mount of Ryan Moore. Allen, who lives in Florida, but is visiting Royal Ascot with his wife Annette, said, "This is surreal -- it could not get better than this. I did not expect the first winner (Declaration of War) because he was so disappointing on his previous run in the Lockinge Stakes, but this is a horse I have always liked. "He's had a few issues -- he had a splint at one point -- but he's come around and what he did today was scary. His dam, Wandering Star, has a US Ranger filly foal at foot -- I bred and raced US Ranger with the same team." "I've been involved with horses for 35 years, and this is the highlight. To win two major races on the first day of Royal Ascot is a dream." War Command was given quotes of 5-1 for next year's Two Thousand Guineas, and 10-1 by Ladbrokes. "The winner went too fast," said Richard Fahey as his second-placed charge, Parbold. "We wouldn't have beaten the winner anyway but (jockey) Tony (Hamilton) thought he was better for another two or three lengths. In race riding you make a decision and decide who the fancied ones are and you go that way Today it didn't happen. "He is entered in several large two-year-old sales races and it would be hard not to run him in them." Olly Stevens and his wife Hetta trained their first Royal Ascot winner in their debut season when Extortionist landed the £60,000 Windsor Forest Stakes for two-year-olds. The victory completed a 152-1 double for jockey Johnny Murtagh, who had won the King's Stand Stakes on Sole Power earlier on the card. On this occasion, Murtagh wore the colors of Qatar Racing, a partnership involving the Al Thani brothers of Qatar. They own Robins Farm, which is the Stevens' base near Chiddingfold in Sussex. The winner, a 16-1 shot, is a son of Dandy Man, a first-season sire. "It feels fantastic -- Hetta and I have dreamed of this all our lives, but this win is testament to David Redvers (who is piloting the Qatar Racing project with Sheikh Fahad Al Thani), to Sheikh Fahad and all the team. It was David who picked out the horse as a yearling and I'm so glad we can repay Sheikh Fahad's faith in us," Stevens said. Extortionist won his first race, but was only fourth at York next time out. Stevens said, "He came back from Nottingham with a sore shin and I had to swim him in to his race at York, where he was four lengths below his best. I was furious with myself that day, but put him away after that and we've known he was always a fast horse. Next could be the July Stakes and we'll work away from there." "It worked out well and I got a nice tow into the race the horse did very well -- he went to the start very well and behaved well in the stalls," Murtagh said. "He was a little bit keen for the first half a furlong but as soon as I got in behind Kieren Fallon (on board Haikbidac) he settled lovely and he was always going to win when I pulled him out with a furlong and a half to go. He responded well and was very generous -- it was a good win for the team. I think he will improve for this. He was impressive on his first start but blew up on his second but he will improve again for this." There was a sting in the tail for Murtagh, who received a two-day ban for use of the whip when winning on Extortionist. The stewards found he used his whip above the permitted level. His ban is on July 2-3. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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