Jersey Stakes - 20th June, 2012

Ishvana produced a sublime performance to land the Jersey Stakes, as she fended off the market leaders Sentaril and Aljamaaheer in what was a cracking opener for day two of Royal Ascot.

Seamie Heffernan was always towards the head of affairs and when he asked his mount to extend she duly did with aplomb and with a furlong to go the race was well and truly within her grasp.

Johnnny Murtagh managed to get a tune out of the classy Sentaril late on and she stayed on for second place, whilst the 4/1 favourite Aljamaaheer was just touched off into third place, but ran eye-catchingly in what was a competitive renewwal.

2012 Jersey Stakes Result:

1. Ishvana (S Heffernan) 20/1

2. Sentaril (J Murtagh) 5/1

3. Aljamaaheer (P Hanagan) 4/1 Fav

22 Ran

Jersey Stakes History

The Jersey Stakes is a Group Three race run at Royal Ascot over seven furlongs for three-year-old horses.

One of the highlights of the Royal meeting, this contest offers horses that have are just below top class to bag victory on the big stage and some of managed to use this as a stepping stone to greater achievements later in their career.

A couple of notable winners of this event in the last few years include John Gosden's Observatory, who was a classy winner of the 2000 Jersey Stakes. Gosden's raider went on to become a classy performer and managed to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes later on in his career, whilst some notable Group victories around Europe.

Aidan O'Brien saddled Mozart to victory in the 2001 running and that Ballydoyle inmate went on to make his name over the shorter distances. A winner of the July Cup and Nunthopre Stakes handed the rising star the accolade of top European sprinter to highlight that this contest can unearth future stars.

Sir Michael Sotute has a decent record in the race and during his illustrious career has saddled a handful of winners with Jeremy being a notable victor in the 2006 renewal, whilst the team of Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes are a duo to watch having won the 2011 Jersey Stakes with Best Terms.