Delighted Doyle 'had to be brave' on Naval Crown in thrilling Platinum Jubilee

Saturday: Platinum Jubilee Stakes, Royal Ascot

For all the talk of international super sprinters blitzing their way to more glory at Royal Ascot, it was two horses who are making a habit of fighting out finishes at this meeting who ended up in the photograph for first place.

On the far side it was William Buick and Creative Force, winner of the Champions Sprint Stakes on British Champions Day, while it was his James Doyle-ridden stablemate Naval Crown who had powered clear on the stands' rail.

It had been the same last year when the pair fought out the finish to the Jersey Stakes, but this time Naval Crown was the horse to get the prize by a neck from Creative Force.

Anyone who had witnessed the pair gallop at Godolphin’s private facility in the build-up to the race, however, would not have been surprised by the narrow margin between the two.

Naval Crown: has found his optimum trip at six furlongsCredit: Alex Livesey (Getty Images)

“William rode in a piece of work involving the two of them the other day and he came back and said, ‘Charlie I’m going to have a job splitting them’. There really wasn’t a lot between them at home,” winning trainer Charlie Appleby said.

“I said to James to try and keep on the coat-tails of the others if you can because he’s going to be running on at the finish. He was placed in the 2,000 Guineas and in the Jersey Stakes over further than this.

“The one thing Naval Crown had coming into this race was that he was still learning to sprint, and he’d only done it once before in his life when he ran in Dubai last time. It’s a stiff six here, so that was going to help.

“I thought Creative Force ran a blinder from his draw. If it had been easy ground I’d have put Creative Force right in the mix as he’s been there and done it in the top races, whereas Naval Crown is just coming through the sprinting division.”

The victory was not the first time Naval Crown had surprised Appleby, who confessed the four-year-old had accidentally “missed the cut” when horses in his yard were put forward for gelding over the winter.

The win also meant a new plan had to be formulated for the horse with Australia’s Home Affairs and Artorius having been expected to take the prize after the dominant display of Australian Nature Strip in Tuesday’s King’s Stand Stakes.

Creative Force (near side): couldn't overhaul stablemate Naval Crown (far side)Credit: Alex Livesey (Getty Images)

Naval Crown was shortened to 8-1 (from 33) for next month’s Darley July Cup by Paddy Power, and Appleby said: “We hadn’t really thought much beyond this as we thought we’d be following in the Australian horses based on what happened earlier in the week.

"I don’t see any reason why we won’t go to the July Cup at Newmarket with them.”

Naval Crown’s success was the second time this season Doyle had unexpectedly landed a Group 1 for Godolphin, after capturing the 2,000 Guineas on second-string Coroebus.

“Charlie said hang on to their coat-tails for as long as you can and I got a lovely draft into the race behind Home Affairs,” he said. “He dropped away around the two and a half, so we had to be pretty brave and kick for home.

“We knew the last furlong would be a long way but he's got that stamina in his legs from running over further. It's one of the highlight races of the week and to win it again for Sheikh Mohammed and Charlie is great.”

The Godolphin one-two took reigning champion trainer Charlie Appleby to the top of this year’s standings, while Sheikh Mohammed’s operation enjoyed a fine Royal Ascot week with wins for Coroebus, Secret State, Dubai Future and Noble Truth as well as Naval Crown.

However, while his son, Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, was at the track on Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed was not in attendance during the five days, as had been the case for the 2,000 Guineas and Derby festivals.

While Godolphin chief executive Hugh Anderson flatly refused to comment about Sheikh Mohammed’s absence, Appleby said the Godolphin founder’s non-appearance did not dampen the celebrations of what was a super week for the group.

“I speak with him every day and I know he’s been watching what’s going on here very closely this week,” Appleby said. “He’ll be very happy as it’s been a good week for Team Godolphin.

“All credit has to go to the team and to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. The support he’s given to me and my team since day one has been incredible and the only way I can repay him is to have winners on days like these.”

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