Their Blue Point homebred Skukuza, trained by Ed Dunlop, was not disgraced when chasing Mickley, who provided Yorkshire trainer Ed Bethell and jockey Callum Rodriguez with their first Royal Ascot winner in the Britannia Stakes.
Trained by Ed Dunlop, Skukuza is a three-year-old by Blue Point out of the stakes-placed thrice-winning Trippi mare Shingwedzi.
Ed Dunlop’s Skukuza showed his liking for the Curragh once again when claiming the Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes.
The four-year-old had made a successful raid on a valuable handicap at the Kildare track on Irish 2,000 Guineas day but this time was back for Listed action and was sent off at 11-4 in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Quickly sent to the head of affairs by his big-race pilot, the Newmarket traveller never missed a beat on the front end as Moore dictated the pace before sending his mount on to secure a two-and-a-quarter-length victory over Johnny Murtagh’s Alakazi, with Paddy Twomey’s 2-1 favourite Currawood further back in third.
Robin Trevor Jones, travelling head lad to Ed Dunlop, said: “We ran him in the Britannia last year where he ran a great race (second) but it really jarred him up and we couldn’t risk him on that fast ground at Ascot this year.
“It was a brave decision not to run when you are one of the favourites for the Royal Hunt Cup but the plan has worked. He’s a Listed winner now so we are growing.
“Ryan really wanted to get a lead but he didn’t expect any pace on so he said I might have to make my own running which he did. The horse has never done that, but he did everything right and I think the further he went the further he was going to win.
“He likes coming back here for Classic days so maybe there is something for him on Oaks day!
The three-year-old is by Blue Point out of Trippi mare Shingwedzi, who was out of a Sadler’s Wells mare.
Shingwedzi won three races from 1600m to 1800m in SA, including the Oaks Plate on the Fairview poly, and she did well in stakes races inluding three Gr 2 thirds, a Gr 3 third and fourth, and two Listed runner up finis
