Racing:Byword gave jockey Maxime Guyon victory on his first ride in Britain in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. The 5-2 favourite, trained in France by Andre Fabre, scored from Henry Cecil's Twice Over to give owner Khalid Abdullah a one-two in the Group One contest.
Byword came through the field to win by half a length, with long-time leader Tazeez another three-quarters of a length away third.
Tazeez was soon at the head of affairs, with Debussy and German challenger Wiener Walzer close up. There was little change up front as the runners turned into the straight, but Guyon had moved Byword into fourth place.
And the four-year-old, who had finished second to Tuesday’s Queen Anne heroine Goldikova on his latest start, bounded into the lead and quickly went clear. Twice Over finished strongly but was unable to trouble the winner too much.
Fabre said: “The horse had the ability to win the race, but I was a bit worried about the inexperience of the jockey. He had a perfect ride without any bumps but I knew the horse had the ability.
“He has matured. He wasn’t trained much at three because he had a virus and now he is really coming to himself. He is a horse that can go for the big mile races, he won’t go further than 10 furlongs. Maybe something like the Prix Jacques le Marois next.
“We’ll discuss it with the Prince.”