PHOTOS: Royal Ascot off to a flyer

And we’re off with a bang at Royal Ascot 2020, a very different meeting this year without the famous Royal procession, top hats and elegantly dressed women. But the racing remains top notch with seven high quality races highlighted by the two Group 1 The Queen Anne Stakes over a mile and the King’s Stand Stakes over five furlongs.

Jim Crowley got Dubai’s challenge off to a sensational start when 14/1 chance Motakhayyel comfortably won the opening Nuckingham Palace Handicap over seven furlongs, from Jack’s Point and Mutamaasik.

Godolphin were narrowly denied a ninth victory in the Queen Anne Stakes, the first Group 1 race of Royal Ascot 2020, when Terebellum was pegged back by Irish-trained Circus Maximus in an absolute thriller. Ridden by Frankie Dettori for legendary handler John Gosden Terebellum was shaping like a winner with less that 50 metres to run before he was caught on the line by a hard-ridden Circus Maximus and Ryan Moore.

Frankly Darling brought up a landmark half-century of Royal Ascot wins for top handler John Gosden when winning the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes under a typically consumate ride by Frankie Dettori.

Pyledriver, a horse that was unsold at the sales, delivered the perfect riposte to those who doubted his potential when posting a dominating victory in the King Edward VII Stakes. Ridden by Martin Dwyer, a Clasic winning jockey, Pyledriver scored at odds of 18/1 and has stormed into the Epsom Derby picture with betting quotes of 14/1. Arthur’s Kingdom, the mount of Frankie Dettori chased the winner home to take second place with Mohican Heights and Andrea Atzeno third.

Battaash justified his reputation as one of the leading sprinters in the world when blitzing his rivals to win the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes, one of the highlights on the opening day at Royal Ascot . Ridden confidently by Jim Crowley, the six-year-old son of Dark Angel exorcised his Royal Ascot demons having finished runner-up in his last two attempts to win the 1,000 metre contest.

Given the red-hot form that he was in, Jim Crowley would not be denied a hat-trick of which came when Nazeef battled hard to win the Duke of Cambridge Stakes from Agincourt, the mount of Daniel Tudhope. Invitational jumped well and went for home but was pursued by Nazeef and Agincourt with the former just getting the nod. Queen Power, ridden by former champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa was third.

The concluding race of the opening day was won by 16/1 chance Coeur De Lion, who won under a good ride by Thore Hammer Hansen. Verdana Blue, the 4/1 favourite ridden by Ryan Moore came home in second ahead of the Jone Fanning-piloted Summer Moon.