Never Say Die, Arabian Night Unplaced in Royal Ascot Race: Latter Skids into Rail and Hampers Rivals; Gold Cup Goes to Frances Elpenor, Daily Racing Form, 1954-06-18

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► Never Say Die, Arabian Night Unplaced in Royal Ascot Race Latter Skids Into Rail and i Hampers Rivals; Gold Cup Goes to Frances Elpenor Special to Daily Racing Form ASCOT, Berkshire, Eng., June 17 Reuters. — Robert Sterling Clarks Epsom Derby winner, Never Say Die, and Arabian Night, who ran second to the American horse, were both beaten out of the first three to finish in a dramatic race fop the 5,428 King Edward Vn. Stakes over 12 furlongs at the Royal meeting which was continued here today. Arabian Night at 13 to 8 was fractionally the better-priced favorite over Clarks blue riband winner and seemed likely to win until he suddenly collided with the rails inside the last furlong. As he skidded back, Jack Fergusons bay appeared to cause some scrimmaging in which Walter Jeffords Blue Prince n., Aga Khans Tar-joman and Never Say Die were hampered. Sir Gordon Richards on the 5-to-l shot, Rashleigh, went to the front to win by one length from the 100-to-6 chance, Tar-joman a full brother to Tulyar , with the Jeffords colt, Blue Prince H., at 100 to 8, a half length back in third place among the eight starters. Never Say Die, who started at 7 to 4, finished fourth. Eighteen-year-old Lester Piggott, who was astride the Derby winner in his classic score, piloted Never Say Die again today. Later Piggott was interviewed by the stewards and suspended for the remainder of the meeting. Piggott to Appear Before Stewards ! Piggott said he will appear before the stewards of The Jockey Club tomorrow before the racing begins. Britains young saddle star said he was told he should not have gone through where he did coming into the homestretch. At first the stewards made an objection to the winner, Rashleigh, but -this was later withdrawn. A son of Precipitation — Eastags, Rashleigh was clocked the mile and one-half in 2:49J/5. . j The Gold Cup, Ascots richest prize, went to France for the fifth time since the war when Marcel Boussacs four-year-old Elpenor prevailed by a short head over other French challenger, Georges Cour-tois Silex. -French jockey Paul Blanc dashed Silex into the lead soon after entering the home straightaway, but Elpenor, ridden by Jacques Doyasbere, caught him a furlong out and held off renewed challenges by Blanc on Silex in a camera finish of the grueling 20-furlong race. Malcolm McAlpines five-year-old English horse, Blarney Stone, took third, two lengths back in the field of 11. Elpenor, a 100-to-8 shot, who is by Owen Tudor — Liberation, gave former English jockey Charlie Elliott, now first trainer for Boussac at Chantilly, his first big training success. Sir Gordon Richards, Britains number one jockey who drew a blank oh the first two days of racing, today rode three winners.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1954061801/drf1954061801_6_2
Local Identifier: drf1954061801_6_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800