Dream ride, dream day as Charlie Bishop lands first Group 1 on Accidental Agent
Charlie Bishop could not quite believe it and neither could Royal Ascot as Accidental Agent sprung a 33-1 shock in the Queen Anne Stakes.
The 24-year-old rider twirled his arm as he passed the winning post and then exchanged high fives in the winner's enclosure to celebrate his first Group 1 success.
Bishop, from Tewkesbury and whose main employers are Accidental Agent's trainer Eve Johnson Houghton and Mick Channon, is having his best year, this being his 49th victory.
But a big handicap success at Ascot on Accidental Agent last October was his best day before landing the first race of the royal meeting.
A wall of horses approached the furlong pole, but it was one in behind who mattered most as Bishop’s bright orange cap began moving towards the front, opponents parting for Accidental Agent to scorch through.
"This is the stuff you dream of,” said Bishop. “Coming inside the furlong I thought I was going to ride a massive race. I thought I was going to be third, but once he got into top gear he motored and was going away at the line.
"The gap opened lovely for me but he was quick enough to take it. It’s fantastic.
“I was confident. He ran well in the Lockinge and all he’s done is improve. We dreamt he might finish in the first four, but to go and win is unbelievable.”
Bishop, enjoying his first winner at Royal Ascot, added: “It’s going from strength to strength for me. The rest of the week will be an awful lot easier, that’s for sure.”
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Published on 19 June 2018inReports
Last updated 16:34, 20 June 2018
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