Rare Rhythm defied a long absence to land the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes, the finale on day four of Royal Ascot. Check out our race report, reaction from connections and free video replay.
1735 Royal Ascot - Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes result
1st Rare Rhythm 20/1
2nd Appeared 13/2
3rd Star Storm 14/1
4th Top Tug 8/1
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Report
Rare Rhythm defied a long absence to land the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes, the finale on day four of Royal Ascot.
The five-year-old was last seen when finishing down the field as second favourite in last year's renewal of this race but bounced back under a positive ride for William Buick.
The Charlie Appleby-trained winner was forced wide in the early stages before Buick managed to tuck his mount in and the result was never really in doubt once the pair hit the front.
There was plenty of congestion in behind in what appeared to be a steadily run race but Rare Rhythm always appeared to be holding the challenger of another prominent racer Appeared.
Star Storm, another to race in the first half of the field, made only gradual progress in pursuit of the leaders and just held on for third from Top Tug with those held-up in rear never landing a blow.
It was a second winner of the week for Appleby and a fourth for Buick who remains in contention for the top jockey's award.
Reaction
William Buick: "This one is for Charlie and all the guys at home, they've prepared this horse tremendously well, they deal with him every day so this result is for the team. I'm just the rider on the day."
Charlie Appleby: "That was a great ride from William. We were confident this horse was fit enough, we've taken him to Chelmsford on two occasions so he was primed for today but I thought the ground would be quick enough, if I'm honest.
"So, from that draw on that ground, William has given him a brilliant ride. We were going to go forward and float across and couldn't ask for anything more.
"He's a horse we've always felt had plenty of ability, but he hasn't been seen since this race last year, we were just waiting for better ground and then we mapped him out for the November Handicap but he met with a setback.
"We came here confident but not too bullish."
