Rewilding shows Royal Ascot his true colours in a stunning finish
16 June 2011
Bred by Watership Down Stud, Rewilding's amazing stamina pulled him through to win the Gr.1 Prince of Wales's Stakes by a neck.
Rewilding gave his breeders, Watership Down Stud, another thrilling day when he took on and beat a class field in the Gr.1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. The dual Group 1 winning Tiger Hill colt out of Darara, the stud's foundation mare, is a half brother to the multiple Group 1 winning champion Dar Re Mi. Rewilding, ridden by Frankie Dettori, overhauled the Aiden O'Brien-trained favourite, So You Think, in the final strides.
Simon Crisford, racing manager to winning owners Godolphin, said Ballydoyle's decision to deploy Jan Vermeer as a pacemaker handed their horse the advantage. “It’s huge. It’s fantastic. They played into our hands because the pace was so strong which is what our horse needs. He takes a while to get into his rhythm and that’s why Frankie gets on so well with him,"
Frankie said "It was a tremendous battle with two great horses. When I got past him it was a sheer joy. When you see two great horses battle it out, it’s a sheer joy to be in a race like this."
“Rewilding doesn’t get the recognition he deserves - he’s a very good horse.”
The colt will be aimed at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes back at Ascot in July.
Congratulations to all of his connections.
