Baaeed sparkles once more amongst a week of stars

Royal Ascot, in the beaming sunshine – a week to remember. After two years with no or limited crowd, it was a delight to see the racegoers enjoying top class racing at the Royal meeting.

Baaeed fittingly opened the week in the style as he breezed to an eight successive win in the Queen Anne Stakes. As in the Al Shaqab Lockinge a month earlier, the William Haggas-trained colt stylishly put the race to bed ahead of Real World in second. His official rating increased to 128 a week later, making him the highest-rated racehorse in Britain currently in training.

A royal g’day

The week was graced with international runners throughout, but the King’s Stand in particular was headed by two superstar raiders. The highly anticipated USA star, Golden Pal, had disappointed on his last appearance on British shores, finishing seventh in last year’s Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes. Australia were also represented with Chris Waller’s Nature Strip an intriguing inclusion. The latter scorched the Ascot turf to win the five furlong sprint by four-and-a-half-lengths. No such luck for his American rival who fluffed his lines at the start, subsequently finishing in last.

Wednesday’s star performances were rounded off by QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner, Coroebus. His jockey, William Buick starred with an enterprising ride to find space on the rail one furlong out. He matched his rivals before heading towards the line, prevailing over Lusail to win the St James’s Palace Stakes by a head.

I’m very proud of both of them

Just the five runners went to post in Wednesday’s Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, represented by four different countries. UK’s Bay Bridge took up favouritism, with France, Japan and Ireland also represented. It was the latter who came out on top on a day to remember for trainer Joseph O’Brien and jockey Shane Crosse. Both secured their first respective Royal Ascot winners as State Of Rest made all to see of his rivals from the front. That was State Of Rest’s fourth Group 1 in as many countries.

Kyprios sees of rivals to claim Gold Cup glory

With the sun beating down on the Berkshire track for a third consecutive day, the crowd eagerly awaited for superstar-stayer Stradivarius in what looked certain to be his last Ascot appearance. His bid to win a record-equalling fourth Gold Cup was thwarted by Kyprios. His trainer (Aidan O’Brien) and jockey (Ryan Moore) added the prize to their already victorious Royal Ascot.

Stradivarius looked to endure a difficult trip but ran on well into third. Kyprios picked up the pieces and enjoyed a smoother trip into the race and finished ahead of Mojo Star.

Inspiral dazzles in sizzling heat on return

It had been an unsuccessful week for the Gosden/Dettori team up until Friday, but the long awaited return of filly Inspiral soon put that right. Dettori, who had faced criticism on Thursday, delivered his world famous flying dismount in front of a packed crowd, who would’ve been pleased with the relaxed dress code with temperatures north of 30 degrees.

Dettori guided Inspiral through the field before pushing further clear of her rivals to win the Coronation Stakes in exquisite style.

Richard Fahey and Christophe Soumillon also had reason to smile leaving Ascot on Friday evening. Perfect Power delivered another fine moment for the Yorkshire-based trainer when winning the Commonwealth Cup. It was a third Group One for the horse and a third Royal Ascot winner for French jockey, Soumillon.

A godolphin 1-2

The final Group One of the week went to Godolphin. The powerhouse-ownership ended the week with an impressive 1-2 in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes. Naval Crown (33/1) finished a narrow victor ahead of stablemate Creative Force, winner of the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes on Champions Day last year.