CALUM McCLURKIN: American Affair's Royal Ascot triumph is a Scottish sporting success story to savour

Jim Goldie is far too modest to say but American Affair’s success in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot was a sensational modern-day Scottish sporting success story.

We are no stranger to big-race success north of the border in horse racing. 

Lucinda Russell has won two Grand Nationals in the last decade with One For Arthur (2017) and Corach Rambler (2023).

Russell showed her prowess for priming one for the big occasion at this year’s Cheltenham Festival when Myretown blitzed the field in the Ultima Handicap Chase, landing a right gamble in the process.

What Scotland craved, however, was something similar on the Flat. 

It seems impossible in the modern day for a small yard in Lanarkshire to win a Group One prize at Royal Ascot. But Goldie somehow managed it.

Racing is one of the most established oldest sports in the planet. There have been results recorded as early as the 1720s. 

There has been no registered Group One success by a horse trained in Scotland in history. Until a couple of weeks ago when American Affair won the King Charles III Stakes.

The Pattern formula was only introduced in 1971 and Scotland has waited since its induction for its first Group One success. Make no mistake, this is Scotland’s most significant race win on the Flat since Rockavon won the 2,000 Guineas in 1961.

That was only the third Scottish-trained winner at Royal Ascot. Big Timer won the Wokingham Stakes Handicap for Linda Perratt in 2008. You’d have to go back to Lanercost’s Gold Cup win in 1841 for the only other known Scottish-trained success at the royal meeting.

This was the first at Group One level. And in an era where deep pockets and powerhouse breeding operations rule the sport with an iron fist, for Goldie to achieve the success with a home bred is nothing short of extraordinary.

This was a victory for patience and familiarity. Rated a lowly 67 at Carlisle at the beginning of his career, American Affair has risen through the ranks as a sprinter. As Goldie puts it, he’s getting quicker as he’s getting older.

He’s now rated 114 and a Group One winner. Scotland’s flag bearer for the Flat. Keith Dalgleish went close a couple of times with good horses on the big stage, Glasvegas and What’s The Story are two that come to mind who ran well at the royal meeting.

Goldie has a long association with good horses; think the likes of Euchen Glen, Jack Dexter and Hawkeyethenoo. The latter two were sprinters from a similar breeding line and it was the familiarity by training the family over the last two generations that helped Goldie, who turns 70 at the end of the year, to a landmark victory with American Affair.

Goldie told Mail Sport: ‘This is very sweet. ‘He has just been fantastic. We started him off at seven furlongs but, since he got back to five, he’s got better and better.

‘Funnily enough, I was quite confident he would do it here. It all fell into place and, aye it’s great. It means a lot.’

This wasn’t the strongest King Charles III Stakes in the world. The sprinting division at the top table is middling at best but the progressive five-year-old was there to take advantage and produce one of the most thrilling Scottish success stories in racing.

So what next for American Affair? Surely a trip to America for the Breeders’ Cup in November is in the offing. Now that really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Goodwood is an option but the downhill nature of the track may not play to his strengths and he’d have to carry a penalty. He’s also raced for times already this season.

A short break before a tilt at the Nunthorpe Stakes at York looks the logical next step. A trip to Ireland for The Flying Five at the Curragh would also look a suitable assignment before jetting off Stateside for the Breeders’ Cup.

Whether the winner of a weak Group One or not, history tells you how difficult and rare these are for horses trained in Scotland to win huge races such as the King Charles III Stakes. Enjoy it and drink it all in. American Affair is a Scottish sporting success story worth raving about it. Shout it loud and proud.

ITV COVERAGE IS SOLID BUT LACKS A HARDENED PUNTER

ITV Racing gets some unfair stick for its coverage of the sport. It’s not for the absolute purists and attempts to cover all aspects of a day at the races, that includes the softer social side away from the live action.

The royal parade, like the monarchy itself, will always divide opinion but it’s importance is lifting Royal Ascot can’t be underplayed. The puff pieces on champagne, hats, celebrities and fine dining are also fine. The royal meeting is a significant social event. Racing is the main focus but not the be all and end all.

The light-hearted social media bits, the parade ring, the betting ring and the form analysis all serve their purpose - special mention for Jason Weaver’s exceptionally well-articulated case for Noble Champion in last Saturday’s Jersey Stakes who won easily at 25-1. One of the best bits of punditry I’ve ever heard in any sport.

We also get plenty of insight from owners, trainers and jockeys alike. There’s plenty to like but one thing missing is a hardened punting presence. Somebody from the outside looking in who is just trying to make a few quid.

These people, folk who primarily fund the sport, aren’t catered for. Plenty of people across the country work hard at trying to read the form to the best of their ability and try to make profit from festivals. Some see it as the ultimate puzzle to figure out.

Take American TV coverage for the Breeders’ Cup as an example. Someone is given a betting bank for the weekend and see how they fare. It would go a long way in explaining the thought process and the decisions punters make.

There are 28 races over five days at Royal Ascot. Giving an individual a bank of £500 or £1,000 would be a welcome breath of fresh air to ITV’s coverage of big festivals. It would offer a good, hardened edge to things as a nice trade off to the lighter subjects of the week.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK… WHIRL was mightily tough from the front to repel Kalpana in a terrific duel in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh yesterday. Second in the Oaks, Whirl was not for passing in front against a classy, older rival.

SELECTIONS OF THE DAY… Punting opportunities look at a premium on Irish Derby day. Lambourn ought to win but there’s nothing exciting in that and a few rivals ought to get much closer today.

The main event is sidestepped in favour of the Rockingham handicap (3.30). FAIR TAXES (7-1, Coral) looks a young Irish sprinter on the upgrade for trainer Ed Lynam and can take a hand in one of the more competitive betting heats on a fairly substandard card.

Sticking with the each-way theme in sprints, the top of the market look opposable in the six-furlong Listed contest (2.25, Curragh). KING CUAN 13-2, William Hill) has more potential than most and is worth a shot upped in grade for Paddy Twomey.

With the Irish sprinting form generally pretty poor, Roger Varian sends over RUSSET GOLD (11-1, bet365) and this track will play to his strong-finishing strengths. He has bits and pieces of form that entitle him to huge respect. Take these two each-way against the field.