Royal Ascot: Naval Crown posts big upset in Platinum Jubilee; Campanelle dead heats for third

In 2021, stablemates Creative Force and Naval Crown finished first and second in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes for 3-year-olds at Royal Ascot, one of the lesser stakes of the famous British racing week.

A year later, in a more prestigious race, the order of finish was reversed when Naval Crown edged Creative Force for a narrow win in Saturday’s Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes on the fifth and final day of the Royal Ascot meeting.

Naval Crown paid $113.10 in American pools, while Creative Force was 14-1. The first two finishers are owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing and trained by Charlie Appleby. Naval Crown was the 18th betting choice in the 24-runner field.

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Campanelle, the Kentucky-based filly trained by Wesley Ward, finished in a dead heat for third at 10-1 with the Australian runner Artorius (11-1).

Naval Crown, ridden by James Doyle, was always prominent in the $1.23 million Platinum Jubilee, run over a straightaway six furlongs, and won by a neck.

Shortly after the start, the field broke into two groups. Naval Crown was part of a group racing closest to the grandstand side of the track. For the first half-mile, Naval Crown stalked Home Affairs, an Australian Group 1 winner who was the 2-1 favorite. Doyle moved Naval Crown closer to the front with a quarter-mile remaining and held off Creative Force, who closed from well off the pace in the group that raced on the far side of the track.

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Campanelle, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., was always near the front, but could not sustain the advantage and was beaten a half-length by Creative Force.

Home Affairs faded to finish 20th, beaten 7 1/2 lengths.

Campanelle won the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2020 and the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup for 3-year-old sprinters, by disqualification, at the same meeting last year for owner Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stable. Campanelle’s third in the Platinum Jubilee was the best result from five Ward-trained runners at Royal Ascot this year.

Naval Crown, a 4-year-old British-bred colt by Dubawi, has won 4 of 15 starts racing in Great Britain, France, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Platinum Jubilee Stakes was Naval Crown’s first start since a fourth-place finish in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai in March, and his first Group 1 win. Naval Crown won a minor stakes at Meydan in February 2021 and the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort Stakes at seven furlongs there in January of this year.