Some bookmakers are already paying out on Ryan Moore again being crowned Royal Ascot's top jockey this week after a 54-1 opening day hat-trick saw the Englishman give a glittering exhibition of race-riding.
Gleneagles’ St James’s Palace Stakes victory was comparatively straight-forward once Moore’s French rival, Make Believe, failed to fire while Washington DC landed the five furlong Windsor Castle Stakes with a blinding display of speed.
5-1 gamble
If that Ballydoyle double covered the sprint and miling divisions, Clondaw Warrior’s Ascot Stakes came at the other end of the distance spectrum. For much of the two and a half miles, a sizable gamble on the 5-1 favourite didn’t look like coming off.
Willie Mullins admitted to putting his binoculars down a mile from home, thinking the horse's chance was minimal, but Moore ultimately timed it to perfection to edge the verdict close home.
There were no more appreciative onlookers than the syndicate that owns Clondaw Warrior, including Ruby Walsh's wife Gillian, "I'm not even the work rider," Walsh said. "David Casey rides him. That's half the plan: the other half is the Galway Hurdle!"
Not even the trail-blazing American Ruby Notion could get Washington DC off the bridle in the early stages of the Windsor Castle, and the Ballydoyle colt had enough in reserve to hold off Areen at the line.
“He’s very fast. We probably could have gone with the American horse if I’d let him, but I wanted a lead for a bit longer,” Moore said. “He had a look around in front, and I’d say there’s plenty more to come.”
It was the O'Brien-trained Air Force Blue who did best of the Irish juveniles in the Coventry Stakes. Still, he came up short of the Godolphin winner, Buratino, who won well under William Buick. Jim Bolger's favourite, Round Two, flopped.
Experienced colt
It was a 38th Royal Ascot triumph for Buratino's trainer, Mark Johnston, who believed the colt's experience was a big help.
“He got beat at Ascot and again at Sandown, but stepping him up in trip has obviously been the key,” he said. “William has now ridden him three times and the horse has got better in his estimation and given him a better feel.”
