Advertorial
Point Lonsdale wins battle with Reach For The Moon to take Chesham Stakes
Point Lonsdale came out on top in a thrilling renewal of the Chesham Stakes to deny the Queen a famous winner on her visit to Royal Ascot.
Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore had only tasted success once this week, with Love in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes – but their supporters latched on to this once-raced Australia colt.
Sent off the well-backed 10-11 favourite, he was given a real race of it by Frankie Dettori on the John and Thady Gosden-trained Reach For The Moon.
Understandably in the conditions, it was only a steady pace set by Sweeping, who was still in front of the main group entering the final furlong while Reach For The Moon led Masekela on the far side.
Point Lonsdale then came through to challenge and with Reach For The Moon pulled clear, with the latter drifting right and the favourite going off to his left.
It did not stop him going forwards, however, and he won by half a length. Great Max caught Sweeping for third.
Coral make Point Lonsdale a 12-1 chance for next year’s 2000 Guineas. Paddy Power and Betfair go 16-1 about the Derby.