Royal Ascot

Coming of age when winning the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup in September, Haras d'Etreham and Cambridge Stud's Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) sprung back into action with some gusto as he battled to victory in a thrilling G1 Diamond Jubilee S. under Kevin Stott on Royal Ascot's Saturday bonanza. Breaking rapidly before gradually making his way to the stand's side, the 4-1 second favourite had to work to subdue Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the last 75 yards and found the line as the strong-closing Dream of Dreams...

Frankie Dettori ended Royal Ascot's crowd-free week on fire as he took the final day by storm, completing a big-race treble on the TDN Rising Star Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in a pulsating renewal of the G1 St James's Palace S. Making a sizeable leap to this level with even less to justify it than stablemate Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) had on Wednesday, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's unbeaten colt of such promise proved well up to standard to provide further evidence of John Gosden's razor-sharp judgment....

Emulating the emphatic G1 Coronation S. victory of her half-sister Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) two years ago, the Niarchos Family's Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) was also in a class of her own as Royal Ascot once again bowed to its greatest showman Frankie Dettori. Racing behind the strong tempo of the leading duo early, the 9-2 shot who was last seen winning the G2 Debutante S. at The Curragh in August forged up the rail in early straight and had command before the furlong pole. Powering...

There was a piece of history made in the G2 Coventry S., as Clive Cox and Adam Kirby united to land the spoils with Nando Parrado (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) who at a stunning 150-1 is the longest-priced winner in the modern era at Royal Ascot. While his price was probably hugely inflated given that virtually every one of the 2-year-olds in this line-up was an unknown quantity in this irregular season, Marie McCartan's bay had not exactly shone when fifth on debut over this trip at Newmarket June 4. Always...

Providing Wesley Ward with that much sought-after Royal winner on the final day, Stonestreet Stables' Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) delivered a fourth renewal of the G2 Queen Mary S. for the meeting's most frequent flyer. Despite the potential poisoned chalice of stall one, the 9-2 second favourite was kept wide on the far flank by Frankie Dettori with her rider keen to have a target to aim at. Arriving at the fore alongside the smoother-travelling Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) heading to the final furlong, she had that bit...

Ryan Moore will probably not ride an easier winner than Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) all week after the Ballydoyle's latest Classic prospect spreadeagled the field in the G2 Queen's Vase. Signing off 2019 with a defeat of the useful Sunchart (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) over a mile at Listowel in September, the bay was always on an even keel here settled worse than mid-division throughout the early stages before coming on strong as the pressure intensified. Moving to the lead with grace two out, the 10-3 shot stayed on powerfully after...

Strong and direct at two and just the same on this seasonal return, AlMohamediya Racing's Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) was the main player on Royal Ascot Friday as he provided trainer Clive Cox and jockey Adam Kirby with yet another major sprint when making virtually all in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. Always at the head of the stand's-side group and in front overall before two out, the 5-1 shot whose sire captured the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. for this partnership here in 2013 kept digging in to beat...

The Tote Superpools at Royal Ascot are up 61% on last year with over £80-million bet into the pools over the first three days. Twenty nations have bet into a single World Pool. Alex Frost, chief executive of the UK Tote Group, said, "Royal Ascot never disappoints and despite the challenging circumstances it is once again proving to be a wonderful week of world-class racing. Bringing together leading racing nations to bet into a single World Pool is seeing a significant increase in pool sizes and providing some excellent value...

There was a twist to Friday's G2 Hardwicke S., as the 4-year-old filly Fanny Logan (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) rolled back the years as a Frankie Dettori-ridden Royal Ascot winner in Sheikh Mohammed's vintage maroon-and-white silks. Building on a comeback second in Haydock's G3 Pinnacle S. over this mile-and-a-half trip last time June 7, last year's G3 Darley Pride S. scorer who campaigns under the Sheikha Al Jalila Racing banner was reserved in rear early off the honest tempo. Launched wide in the straight, the 17-2 shot struck the...

Having broken the all-aged track record on debut at Yarmouth June 3, The Lir Jet (GB) was a temptation that Qatar Racing couldn't resist and the operation's acquisition proved on the money as he emulated the 2009 G2 Norfolk S. success of his first-season sire Prince of Lir (Ire) on Friday. Registering the breakthrough first win for that freshman on fast ground at the East Anglian venue, the 9-2 shot had easier conditions to deal with here and also a trailblazing Wesley Ward runner as Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) powered...

Off the mark over five furlongs at Newcastle June 2, Nick Bradley Racing and Elaine Burke's Dandalla (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) really turned it on in Friday's G3 Albany S. as she came home alone. Sent off at 13-2, the bay travelled with zest anchored in rear early by Ben Curtis as Flying Aletha (Tiznow) cut out the running. Moving between rivals with menace approaching the two pole, she was in front soon after and galloped resolutely to the line for an emphatic six-length success from the 11-4 favourite Setarhe...

It is not only the most hygienic Royal Ascot ever staged that features on Friday, with Chantilly and Gowran Park also holding meetings with notable races. The Berkshire venue, of course, is at the forefront, with the G1 Commonwealth Cup the main focus as 'TDN Rising Star' Pierre Lapin (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {GB}) defends his unbeaten tally for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and Roger Varian. If the truth were told, nobody knows the true extent of his abilities but his smooth success in Newbury's G2 Mill Reef S. in...