ITV Racing pundit Ruby Walsh and winning connections were left stunned when Shaquille recovered ground lost at the start to win at Royal Ascot on Friday.
Punters reckoned the Commonwealth Cup would be a slam dunk for Little Big Bear who went off at 10-11 as one of the heaviest backed favourites of the week.
And they must have thought they were quids in when Shaquille ‘bunny-hopped’ exiting the stalls, which looked fatal to his chances of winning the 6f sprint.
He was soon last and when he caught up with the field he started to over-race in jockey Oisin Murphy’s hands.
Little Big Bear launched his challenge when hitting the front a furlong out but Shaquille went after him and managed to collar the favourite to win by a length and a quarter, giving trainer Julie Camacho her first royal meeting victory and first at Group 1 level.
“Shaquille certainly surprised me when he came from the stalls,” said Walsh. “I couldn't believe it.
“Oisin just sits on this horse and allows him to gradually catch up with the field. Within a furlong and a half he gets onto the back of the main field.
“No sooner he gets onto the back of the field than Shaquille decides he wants to go faster. You’ll see Oisin having to slow him down now.
“This is a really good performance from the winner. Oisin gets out from behind Little Big Bear between the two and the one, gets him into top gear as he’s heading to the furlong pole and he sees it out really well.
“I’d say it was a brilliant performance. This horse has really over performed and got a great ride from a man that reacted to the situation that developed in front of him.”
When Shaquille missed the start, Camacho said she thought. “That’s it. He’s blown his chance.”
She added: “This is massive. We never thought we would train a Group 1 winner, not at Royal Ascot anyway.”
