Lockinge: quick ground 'might have beaten' Dancing Gemini while Richard Hannon says Rosallion 'will take a lot of beating' at Royal Ascot

See you at Royal Ascot was the message from connections of Dancing Gemini and Rosallion, who are already relishing the prospect of a rematch with Lead Artist in the Queen Anne Stakes next month.

Dancing Gemini was sent off the 2-1 favourite to score under Ryan Moore and add to his victories in the Doncaster Mile and bet365 Mile, but once again emulated Charyn, winner of those same two races last year, by finishing second in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

The four-year-old led inside the final furlong, only to be run down in the final stages by Lead Artist, who had finished last in the bet365 Mile but had been in front of Dancing Gemini at Glorious Goodwood last year.

Trainer Roger Teal said: “The winner has beaten us before and I did think he was overpriced. That's the quickest ground Dancing Gemini's ever been on and Ryan felt it might just have beaten us. The ground was rattling fast – I did ask the clerk of the course yesterday if he'd put a bit of water on it, but he wasn't playing ball.

“We don't duck and dive and have only gone down a neck. He's beaten the rest of them convincingly but it was just an awkward draw out on the flank and he had to take him back to get a bit of cover.”

Teal indicated Royal Ascot, where he won the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes with Oxted in 2020, would be next for Dancing Gemini. He said: “He's a Group 1 winner waiting to happen. He's run a smashing race in what was probably the strongest Lockinge I've seen for a while. They were proper horses behind us and he's gone down fighting."  

Rosallion (yellow) finished two and a half lengths behind the winner Lead ArtistCredit: Edward Whitaker

A return to Royal Ascot is also on the cards for Rosallion, who was just over two lengths behind Dancing Gemini in third on his first outing since winning the St James’s Palace Stakes at last year’s royal meeting.

Trainer Richard Hannon said: “I was pleased with the run, but there is match fitness and he'll go very well at Ascot. Of course I’m disappointed not to win, but I’m sure in a few hours we'll realise he's run a very good race. He's still an extremely good horse and he'll strip a lot fitter next time and take a lot of beating. I’m looking forward to Ascot.”

Read more:

Oisin Murphy profits from Kieran Shoemark-Gosdens fallout as well-backed Lead Artist downs big guns 

'5-1 for the Queen Anne is massive' - will the Lockinge form be turned around at Royal Ascot?

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