- Lanarkshire-based trainer Goldie celebrates historic triumph in the King Charles III Stakes
- King Charles compliments jockey Paul Mulrennan for his expert handling on way to victory
- Part-owner John McGrandles says: ‘American Affair is probably the only horse here with a Glasgow postcode in his passport’.
Scottish trainer Jim Goldie savoured an historic triumph after the jet-heeled American Affair became his first Royal Ascot winner in the King Charles III Stakes.
It was the first winner there to be trained north of the border since 2008 when Big Timer won the Wokingham.
Before that, the last reported Scottish-trained Royal Ascot success was in 1841 when Lanercost won the Gold Cup.
Lanarkshire-based Goldie has been training since 1994 and has a CV including wins in Goodwood’s Stewards Cup and the Grand Sefton Chase over Aintree’s Grand National fences.
The one thing that was missing was a Group One performer, but he has now emphatically ticked that box after his outstanding stable jockey Paul Mulrennan harnessed American Affair’s blistering speed and handled him expertly on his way to victory.
An 11/1 shot, American Affair stuck to his guns in the closing stages to repel the challenge of Frost At Dawn.
Paul Mulrennan rides American Affair to glory in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot
King Charles complimented Mulrennan on his horsemanship after presenting him with trophy
Scottish trainer Jim Goldie gives the thumbs-up after American Affair’s historic triumph
It was Mulrennan’s first Royal Ascot win since 2010, but the first time Goldie had managed to get onto the podium.
‘This is very sweet,’ said Goldie after realising his life’s ambition. ‘He has just been fantastic. We started him off at seven furlongs but, since he got back to five furlongs, he’s got better and better. Funnily enough, I was quite confident he would do it here. It all fell into place and, aye, it’s great. It means lot.
‘I knew he had the talent. Various things went wrong for him at Haydock last month, so we tweaked them. I knew he was one of the fastest horses in the race and it is just how you control that power. We came down to Ascot a day early and got him relaxed.’
Mulrennan, who was complimented by King Charles for his level of horsemanship after receiving his trophy, said: ‘I am a northern jockey. I am riding Monday-to-Friday horses. To get here, just to come here and have a ride here is special. This is our Olympics.
‘You’re riding with Ryan Moore, Christoph Soumillon and William Buick, the best jockeys in the world. The best horses, trainers, owners are all here – it’s a big stage. It is hard enough to get rides here, so it’s nice to come down here and have a ride, but to win a Group 1 here is very special.
American Affair, above, was first Scottish-trained winner at Royal Ascot in 17 years
‘The last time I had a Royal Ascot winner [Dandino], I had jet black hair! Jim has been very good to me. He is a master trainer. He can get inside a horse’s head. He is not afraid to tweak things around, run them over different trips and that’s what I’ve learned off him – it is an amazing sport.’
Winning breeder and part-owner John McGrandles said: ‘American Affair is probably the only horse here with a Glasgow postcode in his passport! This horse is the biggest winner we’ve had, yes. And the horse’s stable name is Charlie and he’s won the King Charles!”
