There have been many Royal Ascot winners sent out from the famous Manton House and Ollie Sangster has the chance to write the next chapter of its history on Wednesday when he saddles his first runners at the summer showpiece.
The grandson of illustrious owner-breeder Robert Sangster, it is fitting he has begun his training career at the family’s historic estate of Manton and he is poised to tack up two in the Windsor Castle Stakes on day two of the Royal meeting, with Windsor runner-up Inquisitively and Keeneland winner Bledsoe set to represent the young handler.
Having learned his trade working as assistant to such distinguished names as Wesley Ward, Joseph O’Brien, Hugo Palmer and Charlie Hills, Sangster has saddled two winners from 17 runners during his first season with a licence and although never expecting to hit the big stage so soon in his career, he is looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s exciting, but nerve-wracking too,” said Sangster. “Lets hope we get there, but I’m looking forward to it.
“I wasn’t expecting to have a runner this year so hopefully it will work out. It’s what we all dream of, that’s for sure.”
Inquisitively shaped with great promise when second from a bad draw at Windsor, while it was old ally Ward who trained Bledsoe to score in the States, but with the summer heat baking down, conditions could really suit the speedy son of Iqbaal when he lines up for the first time in the UK when reporting for Listed duty.
He continued: “I was very happy with Inquisitively’s run at Windsor, we were drawn 14 of 14 which kind of set the race up for the winner a bit but we were happy with it anyway and the form has been good since. The third and the fourth have both won their next starts.
“Bledsoe came over a bit ago and I had some earlier targets which for a few reasons he missed. I hope the weather stays like this because the faster the better for him.”
