Shaquille defies dreadful start to land extraordinary Group 1 win

Not for the first time, Shaquille defied all expectations when producing one of the great Royal Ascot comebacks in the Commonwealth Cup.

The three-year-old arrived with an unfortunate record of misbehaving on the racecourse, having been described as "dangerous" in the build-up to his debut at York – where he broke the rib of the groom who tacked him up – before being withdrawn at the start on his first start of the year at Newcastle in April.

It looked for all the world as though he was about to add another sizeable blot to his copybook after rearing at the start and giving several lengths away on his big day, but then he started to slowly work his way back into contention under Oisin Murphy.

And then the unthinkable happened. Instead of fading in the closing stages, he powered through the line to finish a length and a quarter clear of short-priced favourite Little Big Bear to provide trainer Julie Camacho and her husband Steve Brown with not only their first winner at the royal meeting but their first at Group 1 level.

The experience in the winner's enclosure was a novel one for Camacho. After beating the likes of Aidan O'Brien and Charlie Appleby, she bounced from interview to interview in a state of shock before posing for photos with the Prince and Princess of Wales on the winner's podium after collecting the trophy.

"I was very nervous," said the trainer, who had to watch the race on her own in the parade ring. "I felt a bit sick. I thought he'd blown his chance. When he ran on I thought he might be placed and I couldn't believe it when he won. We never thought we'd train a Group 1 winner, not at Royal Ascot – I'm a bit speechless."

Shaquille's disastrous start

Shaquille (circled) reared up in the stalls and gets out much later than his rivalsCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Shaquille loses several lengths to the rest of the field and his hopes seem slimCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Shaquille attaches to the back of the pack but

Shaquille attaches to the back of the pack, an extraordinary position to come back and win fromCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Bred by Martin Hughes, Shaquille was born at Battlefield Stud, a few miles down the road from Camacho and Brown's small yard in Malton. The husband-and-wife team train 60 horses there but none have given them quite so many headaches as their latest stable star.

"We didn't really know how good he was," said Camacho. "When you watch him at home you think he might win a seller. Early on as a two-year-old he looked bloody useless. He'd walk up the gallops if he could. I can't believe the progress he's made.

"He hadn't run this time last year and it took us by surprise when he misbehaved on his first start at York in July. It shocked us as he's so good at home. He's just a different character when he gets to the racecourse – he becomes a bit naughty."

What he lacks in manners he makes up for in talent. Bar a blip in the Acomb when he never gave himself a chance, Shaquille has won all six of his completed starts, including in the Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury in May under James Doyle, who had to switch to partner Noble Style this time.

Julie Camacho (left) after Shaquille and Oisin Murphy had won the Commonwealth CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

One man who has always been convinced of his talents is Brown, who led the winner up after getting up to feed him at 3am. He was happy not to take his place with Camacho on the podium but he has played a central role in the recent growth of the yard, which sent out its first runner in 1998.

It would be easy to think they were an overnight success story but it has been a long road to them becoming competitive at the big meetings and there were times when they questioned why they were doing it. In 2015 they had 20 horses in training, but that number has tripled and they sent out a career-best 47 winners last season. While the pair may be down to earth, they are ambitious too and were among the big domestic spenders at the horses-in-training sale.

"That start was far from the plan," said Brown. "I still maintain he's never done everything right when we've brought him racing. I thought we were done when he gave lengths away but it arguably helped him as it allowed him to settle.

"We're enjoying the journey and hopefully there are a few more big days to come. It feels like it's all happened quickly but it's been a gradual process. We were always hopeful today. We're all dreamers, you have to be in this game."

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