Fennell Bay ends Mark Johnston’s wait

Published on 22/06/2012 01:18

FENNELL Bay ended Scottish trainer Mark Johnston’s wait for a Royal Ascot winner as he grabbed victory in the dying strides of the King George V Stakes.

Johnston has now sent out four winners of the handicap in the last ten years with Fennell Bay joining Linas Selection (2006), Fantastic Love (2003) and Systematic (2002) on the roll of honour. Fennell Bay (12-1) came flying down the middle of the track under Joe Fanning to just edge it by a neck in a tight finish from Handsome Man in second and Rougemont third.

Johnston said: “It gets more of a relief every time. It was beginning to look like a blank week so it’s fantastic to get one in the bag.”

Today at Royal Ascot, supposed Mick Channon second string Laugh Out Loud can create a mini-upset in the Coronation Stakes. Channon fields two in the race with Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Samitar looking his clear number one. However, this looks a tricky contest to judge, and Laugh Out Loud looks a thoroughly progressive filly. Frankel’s brother Noble Mission is fancied in the King Edward VII Stakes, while Minimise Risk must have a squeak in the Queen’s Vase.

Amazonas won on her debut at Yarmouth and can make a swift ascent up the ladder in the Group 3 Albany Stakes, while Danadana picked up a nice prize at Redcar last time and it could pay to keep the faith in the Wolferton Handicap. Sir Henry Cecil’s Emilio Largo is napped in the closing Buckingham Palace Stakes.