What Happened on Day One at Royal Ascot?

Royal Ascot burst into life on Tuesday with a thrilling opening day that delivered huge shocks, rising stars and finishes that had the grandstands roaring.

The meeting began with one of the biggest surprises seen at Ascot in recent years as 50-1 outsider Ten Bob Tony landed the Queen Anne Stakes. Charlie Appleby’s pair Notable Speech and Opera Ballo dominated the pre-race discussion, while More Thunder was expected to improve on his Lockinge Stakes second, but few gave Ten Bob Tony a serious chance.

Producing the gelding with a perfectly timed challenge, Kieran Shoemark reeled in the front-running Opera Ballo and More Thunder to spring a major upset. It was a second Group One success of the season for Shoemark and trainer Ed Walker following Almaqam’s Tattersalls Gold Cup victory, and further evidence that the rider now belongs among Britain’s elite jockeys.

The result also confirmed what many had suspected throughout the afternoon. Despite the official description, the Ascot ground was riding fast, with both jockeys and trainers noting conditions were very much on the quick side.

O’Brien Closes In On Royal Ascot Century

The Coventry Stakes provided Aidan O’Brien with the first of several memorable moments on the card. While Ryan Moore’s booking on Confucius had convinced many that he was Ballydoyle’s leading hope, it was stablemate Great Barrier Reef who emerged on top.

Wayne Lordan delivered a masterclass from an awkward draw as the colt battled through a tightly packed finish to secure O’Brien’s 12th Coventry Stakes success and his 97th Royal Ascot winner overall. Adaay Of Scarlett outran huge odds of 40-1 to finish second, while Royal Heritage filled third place after another promising effort.

The King Charles III Stakes then completed a missing piece in the remarkable Royal Ascot collection of O’Brien and Moore.

French challenger Rayevka looked the likely winner when surging through the field inside the final furlong, but Mission Central produced a devastating late burst to snatch victory right on the line. The 14-1 success gave O’Brien a first victory in a race that had previously eluded him and moved both trainer and jockey closer to the century mark for Royal Ascot winners.

Bow Echo Lives Up To The Hype

The race of the day arrived in the shape of the St James’s Palace Stakes, where unbeaten Guineas hero Bow Echo faced Irish counterpart Gstaad in a clash many had been waiting weeks to see.

After finding himself squeezed and shuffled back during a messy opening phase, Bow Echo looked in trouble. Billy Loughnane, however, remained patient before guiding his mount into daylight. Gstaad fought relentlessly up the rail and briefly threatened to turn the tables on the Newmarket form, but Bow Echo dug deep to preserve his unbeaten record and cement his position as one of the outstanding three-year-olds in training.

“The horse got me out of trouble today,” said Loughnane afterwards. “This horse is a superstar.”

Handicap Drama And A Royal Disappointment

The staying handicap Ascot Stakes produced another surprise as Joseph O’Brien’s Kizlyar edged out stablemate Defiantly in a thrilling finish at 25-1. There was disappointment for the royal runners, though, as hot favourite Reaching High, owned by the King and Queen, faded dramatically and finished last after travelling prominently for much of the race.

French trainer Francis Graffard enjoyed compensation later on when Map Of Stars captured the Wolferton Stakes under James McDonald. Strongly supported throughout the day, the Wathnan Racing runner travelled smoothly before quickening clear to deny Wimbledon Hawkeye. It was another notable success for Graffard, whose team continues to make an increasingly significant impact on major British meetings.

The curtain came down with the Copper Horse Stakes and another competitive finish. Daiquiri Bay, ridden by the in-form Rossa Ryan, displayed tremendous determination to fend off Gamrai and give trainer Alan King a valuable Royal Ascot success. Paddy The Squire completed the places after running a huge race from off the pace.

By the time the final race had concluded, Royal Ascot’s opening day had delivered everything racegoers could have hoped for. There were shock results, dramatic finishes and performances that could shape the rest of the season.

Ten Bob Tony’s stunning Queen Anne upset will live long in the memory, while Bow Echo enhanced his growing reputation as a potential superstar. O’Brien, meanwhile, moved ever closer to a century of Royal Ascot winners, ensuring the storylines are already building ahead of another fascinating four days.