Blast off! Apollo One finally lands a big one for emotional Charalambous

Apollo One, whose name was becoming a byword for heart-breaking near misses in the top sprint handicaps, finally had his day in the sun in the Group 3 John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes.

Pipped by a nose in the Portland at Doncaster last time and a close runner-up in the Stewards' Cup for the second season in succession in August, Apollo One had finished second or third in nine of his 12 runs since last winning at Kempton in 2022.

He ended that run of near misses in style, travelling powerfully under Danny Tudhope before putting the race to bed with an impressive burst over a furlong from home.

"He's been very unlucky but he's been giving 15lb to improving handicappers," said an emotional Peter Charalambous, who not only trains the winner in partnership with James Clutterbuck in Newmarket but also bred and owns Apollo One. "I'm 66 this year and it's special to have bred his mother, to have foaled him and I've seen him every day of his life."

It was a landmark first winner at Ascot for the joint-trainer, who savoured the moment with family.

Charalambous added: "I nearly had a Royal Ascot winner with him a couple of years ago when he was second in the Wokingham but I'll take this one. I've had winners at most racecourses but I've been waiting 40 years to have one at Ascot."

Clifford Lee approves after riding Al Qareem to win the BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes for a second timeCredit: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Repeat win

The smile on Clifford Lee's face said it all after Al Qareem made it back-to-back wins in the Group 3 BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes.

It has been a memorable year for the rider, with well over £2 million earned in prize-money, but few horses give him as much pleasure as Al Qareem, who is always up for a game of 'catch me if you can'.

He asked that question once again at Ascot and his six rivals never came close to reeling him in.

"Going into the first bend he was half taking me on," admitted Lee, "but I've got a lot of confidence in him and the petrol gauge never really fades. He just keeps galloping.

"He tries so hard and you know he's going to give you 150 per cent. Even on the wrong ground he finishes on the backsides of the leaders, but he loves it when the going gets soft."

Rumstar comes clear of his rivals in the Listed BetMGM Rous StakesCredit: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

PB for Portman

Jonathan Portman set a new personal best for prize-money earned in a year thanks to Rumstar's impressive win in the Listed BetMGM Rous Stakes.

The four-year-old had been on a losing streak stretching back to his juvenile days but took the £31,191 first prize to send Portman through the £400,000 barrier for the first time in a year.

"I'm just delighted I've found a race for him to win because it's been a long time since the Cornwallis," said Portman. "He's not been the luckiest and I was concerned about the ground but that was obviously a load of rubbish!

"I'm chuffed for the horse and chuffed for his owner Vincent Ward, who is sitting at home not very well."

Reflecting on a career-best season, Portman added: "At the beginning of the season I thought the older horses were all badly handicapped and over the hill but it's the older horses who have all won two or three races each and been fantastic to me. I mustn't grumble but we always want more and anyone is welcome."

Gray's day

Shane Gray celebrated success at Ascot for the first time thanks to Volterra's bloodless win in the £180,000 BetMGM Challenge Cup.

Away smartly, the duo were never headed and Gray had the luxury of easing Voterra close home as he cruised to a three-and a-quarter-length victory over Qirat.

"I couldn't believe going into the two how well he was going," said the winning rider. "I didn't want to get caught napping so I gave him a squeeze and he didn't half pick up. He's getting stronger and I definitely think he's a black-type horse going forward.

"I can't thank [owner] Sheikh Mohammed Obaid enough for putting me on. Ascot is the premiership of racing and it's lovely to get a winner here."

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