The U.S.-based sprinter scored a historic victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot today, rallying to win by a half-length over favored Brazen Beau.
With Frankie Dettori in the saddle, Undrafted was content to settle at the rear of the field during the early stages of the six-furlong sprint, then advanced strongly on the far side of the course to claim the lead and hold off a strong challenge from Brazen Beau. The latter, a very well-regarded Australia-based sprinter, raced by himself on the near side of the course and appeared to take the lead in the final quarter-mile before succumbing late in the race to Undrafted’s late charge.
With his victory in the Diamond Jubilee, Undrafted has joined an elite group of U.S.-based runners to have won group I-level races in Europe. To the best of this writer’s knowledge, the only horses to have done so are Reigh Count, who won the 1929 Coronation Stakes; Hill Rise, who won the 1966 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes; Fourstars Allstar, who won the 1991 Irish 2,000 Guineas; and No Nay Never, who won the 2013 Darley Prix Morny.
Undrafted is trained by Wesley Ward and owned by Wes Welker and Sol Kumin. A son of Purim out of the French Deputy mare French Jeannette, Undrafted stopped the clock for six furlongs in 1:12.69 seconds.
