Namibian rallies to uphold Johnston record

Report: Royal Ascot, Friday

Queen's Vase (Group 3) 2m, 3yo

TRAINER Mark Johnston celebrated his first winner of Royal Ascot 2011 on Friday when Namibian gave him his sixth victory in the Queen's Vase.

The son of Cape Cross had to survive a stewards' inquiry after hampering Solar Sky, who looked the likely winner under Tom Queally.

However, the stewards did not think Namibian had erred sufficiently and the announcement was greeted by a chorus of cheers, presumably from punters who had backed the 7-2 favourite.

William Hill quoted the front two at 25-1 for Ladbrokes St Leger, while Johnston will have also been buoyed by the performance of the front-running Eternal Heart, who stayed on for third.

"That was a great performance and  the three were fighting out the finish at one stage," said Johnston.

"It's an interesting race because they are not guaranteed to be two-milers and our winners have often come back in trip before.

"Namibian has a few good entries and you'd think about the Leger."

Henry Cecil, who trains Solar Sky, said: "It would have been lovely to have given the Lordship Stud a first Royal Ascot winner."