Royal Ascot Recap, Day 1
By Michaela Moricova
On Tuesday, King Charles III arrived at the Ascot racecourse in a carriage, and upon this ceremony, the five-day-long racing festival could commence. Cards of each day comprise six races, while the first afternoon starts strong with three G1s. Hollie Doyle made history in one of them and became the first female jockey to win a G1 at the meeting, and thanks to Paddington’s triumph, Aidan O’Brien has become the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot’s history.
Frankie Dettori didn’t enjoy a win on Tuesday as he finished second three times; moreover, he was given a nine-day ban for a careless ride in the Wolferton Stakes.
Inspiral Beaten in an Upset
Four-year-old Inspiral belonged among the victory candidates in the meetings’ opening, the G1 Queen Anne Stakes over a mile. The bay filly won three G1s in 2022 and was expected to run well in her 2023 debut with Frankie Dettori aboard. And she did as the Thady & John Gosden trained filly didn’t have a good start; however, she delivered a beautiful finish in the closing stages. Still, it wasn’t enough. Inspiral successfully inched ahead of TRIPLE TIME, but the outsider kept going strongly. The four-year-old bay entered the race with a 33/1 chance, yet he put on such a bold run that his premiere G1 win seems utterly deserved.
The Kevin Ryan trained colt showed some eagerness at the beginning, and in no time, he galloped near the front. Jockey Neil Callan allowed him to settle behind the leading Light Infantry (Spencer), whom he easily left behind when nudged forward. Triple Time then denied all his rivals, trying to get the better of him, and only for a moment, Inspiral left him behind. The son of Frankel dug deep, though, took back the lead, and prevailed by a neck in 1m 40.70s. Light Infantry hung onto the third place, with preferred Modern Games (Buick) managing only fourth, probably being put off by the rain and softening track.
Honestly, Triple Time’s stunning effort didn’t surprise me that much. Indeed, he snatched up only a G3 victory in the past; however, his pedigree has always been promising something more should come from this big colt. Most of his half-siblings have earned black-type status; Ajman Princess won the G1 Prix Jean Romanet in 2017, and Third Realm finished fifth in the Epsom Derby in 2021.
Hollie Doyle Lands Controversial King’s Stand
Another favorite was beaten among sprinters in the G1 King’s Stand Stakes as BRADSELL came out on top, scoring his first G1 win in 14/1. Archie Watson decided not to send the three-year-old colt to the Commonwealth Cup for three-year-olds as he believed his trainee could better even older rivals. He was right because the bay relished the five furlong-trip, and after achieving a G2 victory in 2022, he added a G1 win to his resume when prevailing by a length over Highfield Princess (Hart). Both runners were always in the first wave, but Hollie Doyle asked Bradsell some questions first. The colt bolted up, and Highfield Princess tried to run him down, yet the subsequent winner severally hung to the left. Ultimately, he won the King’s Stand Stakes in 1m 0.91s, but the incident of Bradsell crossing half the track and pushing Highfield Princess to the left was taken to the steward’s room.
Hollie Doyle survived the inquiry though and became the first female jockey to achieve a G1 victory at Royal Ascot. Behind Bradsell and Highfield Princess, outsider Annaf (Ryan) finished third, while Australian raider Coolangatta (McDonald) was nervous before the start, keenly led the field, and then retreated to eleventh place. Wesley Ward’s Twilight Gleaming (Velazquez) followed the same path but finished one but last, beating only another Australian, Cannonball (Pebble).
Ryan Moore Crowns His Treble With a G1 Win
At first, Ryan Moore bagged the G2 Coventry Stakes aboard RIVER TIBER. The son of Wootton Bassett is trained by Aidan O’Brien, who prepared eight winners of this race for two-year-olds; however, River Tiber had to fight for success. At the end of the six-furlong trip, he seemed tired but scored by a neck and remained unbeaten in his third start.
The final race of the card also meant a victory for Ryan Moore as he successfully piloted home five-year-old VAUBAN. The Willie Mullins-trained chestnut is a G1 winner over jumps, but in the Copper Horse Handicap, he enjoyed a trip of a mile and six furlongs so much that he pulled away from his rivals in the final stretch, destroying the field by seven and half a length. Frankie Dettori-led Absurde, also trained by Willie Mullins, snatched up second place.
Still, Ryan Moore achieved the most lucrative win of the day in the G1 St James’ Palace Stakes over a mile. Although Frankie Dettori had another great chance to score here, piloting the 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean, PADDINGTON proved better. Chaldean showed the way and looked ready to deliver from the front; however, Ryan Moore had only to nudge Paddington, and the big bay enthusiastically went forward. The Aidan O’Brien trained colt won the Irish 2000 Guineas and was expected to improve once more, and he did so, winning the St James’ Palace Stakes impressively by three and ¾ lengths in 1m 40.74s. Chaldean had to settle for second.
Frankly, Paddington still looks quite green, so he may improve even further, and it’s quite fitting that with Paddington’s triumph being the highlight of the day, Aidan O’Brien became the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot’s history.
Don’t miss Frankie’s Fanfare, Part 11: Dettori Makes His Final Royal Ascot a Winning One
