Andrew Balding secured a third straight victory in the BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap with Berkshire Whisper, who justified 9/2 favouritism with a decisive win.
In a race that produced plenty of hard-luck stories, Oisin Murphy kept things simple on the Dark Angel colt as he raced handily down the stands’ rail.
A host of horses looked to hold chances with a furlong and a half to race until Berkshire Whisper took command entering the final half-furlong and quickened away to score by a cosy length and a quarter.
Master Technician (18/1) and Cyclonite (14/1) claimed the places in a bunch finish for the minor honours, with fourth Tuco Salamanca one of several horses to meet trouble in running.
Murphy said: “Berkshire Whisper is a very straightforward horse. He is learning on the job and getting more impressive with each start.
“He only beat three runners last time and today he was against hardened handicappers but he rose to the task. I was able to fill up and he went through the line well. He has a lot of size and we hope he can progress.
“Paul Spickett is a lucky owner – Andrew trained a Coventry Stakes winner for him, and I am sure he would like another Royal Ascot winner.”
Winning owner Paul Spickett said: “It is amazing, absolutely amazing. Berkshire Whisper is a brilliant horse and he deserved that. I am over the moon, and Oisin gave him a peach of a ride.
When asked about the future, he said: “What do you think? It has got to be top hat and tails, hasn’t it? Got to be. The Commonwealth Cup has to be on the agenda.
“Andrew is amazing and the family is amazing. All the guys and girls at Kingsclere look after me very well, so the horses won’t be going anywhere else.”
Anna Lisa Balding said: “It is always difficult to have three in the same race, but all three have run blooming well, and to win it for Paul Spickett is wonderful.
“Berkshire Whisper is an improving horse. He is a little bit quirky – as you probably saw earlier, he wasn’t an easy lead around – so it makes it even more rewarding.
“We shall see how he is tomorrow, but Royal Ascot is always a dream, so fingers crossed.”
George Wood, who rode runner-up Master Technician, said: “He has run a cracker. It was a big step up in class coming up here, but he has run a career best.”
Hollie Doyle said of Cyclonite: “That was a huge run. He jumped out and got a nice position, and he sees out a stiff six furlongs very well.”
1.50pm BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap
1 Berkshire Whisper (Berkshire Parts & Panels Ltd No1 Fanclub) Andrew Balding 3-9-05 Oisin Murphy 9/2F
2 Master Technician (Middleham Park Racing CII) Rod Millman 3-8-13 George Wood 18/1
3 Cyclonite (Ironhorse Racing Stable & Harlow Stables) 3-9-01 Hollie Doyle 14/1
14 ran
Andrew Balding – 9th Finals Day winner
Oisin Murphy – 7th Finals Day winner
