Duke Of Cambridge third for Usherette

Usherette flew home to be third in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes over the straight mile at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, June 21. 

The Andre Fabre-trained five-year-old, successful in the same race on soft ground 12 months ago, broke smartly and was taken back by Mickael Barzalona to settle in 11th of the 14 runners on the stands’ rail. 

She was relegated to last with three furlongs to race and still had the rest of the field in front of her entering the final quarter-mile but had no room to manoeuvre.

Usherette, switched out with over a furlong remaining, ran on strongly to take third in the closing stages and go down by a length in total behind the winner Qemah, who scored in 1m 38.34s on good to firm going. 

Andre Fabre said: “Usherette ran very well. She got stuck for room at a crucial stage of the race but stayed on strongly.”

Mickael Barzalona commented: “She finished well.”