Soldier's Tale is right on Target in Golden Jubilee

He needs nursing at home, but on the track he is as tough as teak and Budget

Stables' SOLDIER'S TALE (Stravinsky) drew on all his courage to claim a

last-gasp success in Saturday's Golden Jubilee S. (Eng-G1), the closing-day

feature at Royal Ascot. Ending Australian hopes of

a Royal sprint double, the well-supported 9-1 chance produced a late rattle to

deny Takeover Target (Celtic Swing) with a final thrust to record a

head success. A visor was applied after his below-par effort when third in the

listed John of Gaunt S. at Haydock June 7, and it worked the oracle here on the

problem-plagued six-year-old.

"This might be my best day as a trainer," an

emotional Jeremy Noseda explained. "He's has countless problems and we've got

him to win this. He's such a tough horse and a brave horse and deserves it."

Soldier's Tale's career had been confined to just seven prior starts, but he

had always shown talent and captured Newcastle's Chipchase S. (Eng-G3) on only his

fourth outing in June 2005. Injured when fourth in the July Cup (Eng-G1) at Newmarket

that season, the chestnut showed he retained all his ability on his belated

return when an eye-catching third behind Amadeus Wolf (Mozart [Ire]) in the May 16 Duke of

York S. (Eng-G2). He was sent off the 4-6 favorite to build on that at Haydock last time,

but failed to fire, prompting connections to resort to the headgear.

The

equipment change sharpened him up sufficiently to race handily throughout the

first half of the contest as he tracked Takeover Target. Driven as that rival

hit the front at the quarter pole, Soldier's Tale responded gamely to reel him

in and win it on the bobber.

"He's had countless fractures, colic surgery and

pieces of his stomach removed -- he has to have a special diet as he finds it hard

to digest," Jeremy Noseda said. "We live in fear all the time of him getting

colic again, but he's just a special horse and a fighter. He's twice been at the

point of having to be put down, but he's fought hard and, despite all the

problems, he's always been honest and tried. He's my favorite horse in the yard

and I love him for his great heart. Ninety-nine horses out of 100 would have

given up with all the problems he's had."

Trainer Joe Janiak was delighted with the run

of the gallant second.

"It was absolutely fantastic and he deserves a bit of a spell off now, as

he's had a hard campaign and done a lot of traveling," Janiak

said. "Even though the July Cup ([Eng-G1] at Newmarket on July 13) looks suitable for him, I don't want to push him

to the limit and I think we'll just pack up and go home and concentrate on the

local races. I'd give Japan and Hong Kong a miss and I love the conditions in

England, so I hope we'll be back next year if he's up to it."

Tuesday's King's Stand S. (Eng-G2) heroine Miss Andretti (Ihtiram), sent off

the 2-1 favorite, was restrained behind the early pace and, when asked for her

effort, failed to pick up and trailed in 15th.