Royal Ascot Recap: Day 1

Written by Melissa Bauer-Herzog

Third time lucky for Battaash

Enjoying his first G1 King’s Stand attempt without dual-race winner Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}), Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) took full advantage of a softer edition to lead home a 1-2 finish for trainer Charlie Hills.

Going to post late in the 1000 metre race, Battaash was more than eager to run under jockey Jim Crowley, who has been his lone rider since this race in 2018. He went straight to the lead on the near side down the straight while Hit The Bid (GB) (Exceed And Excel) led most of the field on the far side. Battaash took the sole lead with 500 metres to run even with Crowley sitting chilling for the next 200 metres.

There was no catching Battaash from there with the 6-year-old gelding winning by 2.25l over stablemate Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) with Liberty Beach (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) a head back in third.

Watch: Battaash (Ire) wins the G1 King’s Stand S.

It was the fourth trip for the Dark Angel (Ire) son, who made his Royal Ascot debut at two in the Listed Windsor Castle S. where he finished 12th. Battaash was the banner result of a top day for Jim Crowley and Shadwell Stud’s Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum with three victories on the card.

"I had to hold him for two furlongs; he was on a bit of a going day and wanting to charge off,” Crowley said. “My only concern was to try to get the fractions right on him because obviously he was quite keen today. There was nothing quick enough to lead him, and I wanted to save enough for the finish, which worked out.

"He was really good going down today. It didn't make any difference during the race - when those gates opened, he was gone. He is just such a naturally fast horse, it's hard to find anything quick enough to lead him. That's what happened that day at York - he got a tow. He is a superstar and I'm very grateful to be riding him.”

The gelding’s win proved popular but in the end it may have been his strapper who stole the spotlight with Bob Grace winning his first Royal Ascot race after decades in the sport. Interviewed by ITV after the race, Grace quickly became a social media favourite.

“Bob probably gets a stride slower every year, but the horse now goes at the same pace that Bob does,” Hills said. “It is amazing the connection the two have. He might be one of the fastest horses in the world, but he walks so slowly.”

One of seven Group 1 winners and 59 stakes winners for Dark Angel, Battaash was a 200,000 gns (AU$399,000) purchase at the 2015 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale out of Book 2. Now a three-time Group 1 winner he’s out of a half-sister to Group 2 winner Etlaala (GB) (Selkirk {USA}) and the dam of G2 Duke of York winner Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).

Hills noted that the G2 King George S. at Goodwood is likely up next with Battaash winning the race three times in his career.

Dual Ascot success for Circus Maximus

The Flaxman Stables and Coolmore co-owned Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) starred at this meet later in the week last year in the G1 St. James’s Palace but he made the news on Day 1 in 2020 when outdueling Terebellum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to win the G1 Queen Anne S.

Making his first start since finishing fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile, Circus Maximus came out running while looking for his third career Group 1 success. With Ryan Moore aboard, he raced down the centre of the track on the lead in the 1600 metre race with Marie’s Diamond (Ire) (Foostepsinthesand {GB}) about half a length back on the near side and Space Traveller (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) on the leader’s hip on the outside.

Marie’s Diamond was able to grab the lead half-way through the running before being confronted again by Circus Maximus as Moore got to work on his mount. Frankie Dettori asked Terebrellum to move up closer to the leading duo as they entered the final 500 metres and she quickly complied, drawing even with Circus Maximus.

Marie’s Diamond briefly joined in the duel but yielded as the other two dug down to fight it out to the line. Terebellum took over the lead with 250 metres left to run but Circus Maximus wasn’t done yet. The 4-year-old gained on her with every stride and was even with her a stride before the line, just getting his head in front at the crucial moment.

The pair crossed the line 3l in front of third placed Marie’s Diamond, who had kept his position by a head over Roseman (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) for third with 2018 winner Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}) fifth.

It was the 71st Royal Ascot victory for Aidan O’Brien, who watched the race from Ballydoyle in Ireland.

“We were delighted with that performance,” he said. “Circus Maximus is very tough, he travels with a lot of speed, then quickens and then toughs it out. It was unbelievable, really. Ryan gave him an unbelievable ride and we are delighted.”

COVID-19 regulations have changed the normal routine with no spectators and only a skeleton group of horsemen on the grounds but with runners every day of the week, the Ballydoyle team has put together a plan that involves the same crew staying in England all week.

"It is very exciting to have a winner,” he explained. “Royal Ascot is usually a very busy week for us as we go back and forth, so it is brilliant to be able to see all the preliminaries.

“It is great for us and we get to see a lot of stuff that we otherwise wouldn't. We have got a great team of people to do everything when we are not there, and we couldn't be happier really. Pat Keating and the lads bring them to the races and the lads fly them over so it's a great team of people and they are all working together. We are so lucky to have so many special people, really.”

A son of Galileo (Ire), Circus Maximus is out of G2 Duke of Cambridge winner Duntle (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). From the family of Australian Group 1 winner Delectation (Shamardal {USA}), Circus Maximus is one of five Group 1 winners for Galileo out of Danehill Dancer (Ire) mares with the cross producing 74.71 per cent winners from 87 runners and 35 stakes horses, including 22 stakes winners.

Pyledriver provides feel-good story in King Edward VII

Harbour Watch’s (Ire) Pyledriver (GB) pulled off an 18-1 upset in the G2 King Edward VII S. when providing trainer William Muir and his son-in-law, jockey Martin Dwyer, with the victory.

A homebred for Knox & Wells Limited and R Devlin, the colt relished his stretch out to 2200 metres in the race, Racing among the back runners and giving the leading Sound Of Cannons (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) nearly a dozen length advantage with only Arthur’s Kingdom (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) between the leader and that group, everyone was happy to let Sound Of Cannons run himself out on the front end.

As they approached the half-way point in the race, that’s exactly what happened as the field tightened up behind the lead, giving him only a few lengths advantage. Entering the home straight, Pyledriver was the first one to challenge the leader and he didn’t have much resistance to overcome to take the lead. From that point his only serious threat looked to be Arthur’s Kingdom with that one within 0.5l of him with 200 metres to go.

Pyledriver wasn’t going to let that challenger rain on his parade, pulling away in the closing stages to win by 2l. After beating him two races before with Circus Maximus, Coolmore teamed up with Frankie Dettori to take second with Arthur’s Kingdom while a strong late run from Mohican Heights (Ire) (Australia {GB}) saw him nab third from race favourite Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).

With the victory, Pyledriver gave Muir a second Royal Ascot success 18 years after his first win and gave him two top two finishes from two runners on the card after Jack’s Point (GB) (Slade Power {Ire}) finished second in the Buckingham Palace H.

"We could have had a double! Both horses got led out this morning; I was there to weigh them,” he said. “Jack's Point came out of the yard like an absolute jumping jack, and he was 14, 16/1. By the time he'd had his lead-out and come back to his box, he was 66/1. I had to go home and look over the door and check he hadn't lost three legs! I thought, that's fair enough.”

Nearly immediately after crossing the line, Pyledriver was talked about as a G1 Investec Derby chance and Muir conceded that the race will be discussed with Pyledriver’s owners.

"I suppose we will have to think about the Derby. We have got two weeks and a bit longer. He's had an easy run there today - he has gone round in the slip-stream and just picked up. I thought we would run a big race, but there were one or two horses in here that were well-touted, well-talked about.

"Aidan O'Brien said that Mogul was probably his best Derby hope. Whatever he does, he is such an athletic, nimble, easy mover. You can never say that a horse will run at Epsom. But this horse has such a balanced way about him, I think he probably would handle Epsom. But you don't know.”

Pyledriver is from the second to last crop of former Emirates Park shuttle sire Harbour Watch (Ire). The sire of 18 stakes horses and nine stakes winners, Harbour Watch had to be pensioned from stallion duties in 2017 due to issues caused by an accident during his racing career.

Frankly Darling gives Gosden 50th victory

Ridden and trained by the Frankie Dettori/John Gosden team that has combined for so much success. Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) relished the 2200 metres of the Oaks trial to give her trainer his 50th Royal Ascot victory in the G2 Ribblesdale S.

"Any time you have a winner here - I can remember during this week scrambling one winner, one year having no winners, having six seconds and finally a winner one year. Look, it is not an easy place to win races - as you saw in the Queen Anne,” Gosden said after the race.

Going off as the race favourite after romping home in a maiden by 5l two weeks before, the 3-year-old was keen to start her work, eagerly racing behind Golden Lips (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}). The filly ran in second throughout the early stages as Golden Lips opened about 4l on the field a quarter of the way through the race.

Watch: Frankly Darling win the G2 Ribblesdale S.

Frankly Darling closed that gap as the field entered the final 1000 metres but Dettori had convinced his mount to relax and she waited for his signal to take on the leader. That signal came with 500 metres left to go and Frankly Darling quickly accelerated to not only take over the lead but pull away from the field in a style reminiscent of her maiden victory.

Dettori gave her one tip with the crop but mostly just showed it to her in the closing stages to keep her focused. The James Doyle-ridden Ennistymon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) came running late as the leader eased down to cut the margin down to 1.73l at the line but she was no real threat to the winner. That filly led home a 2-3 finish for Aidan O’Brien with the Ryan Moore-ridden Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 2.5l behind her stablemate in third.

“She luckily got in on the first day at Newcastle - they divided a maiden, so she got to run on 1 June and won well,” Gosden explained. “She's still learning; as you can see, she was a little wild, there's a bit of Frankel about her - 'I want to run and it's my business if I want to run, not the jockey's' - but she showed an awful lot of class today. I don't think I am spoilt for choice for the Oaks. I think we have one Oaks filly only and we don't have anything remotely related to a Derby horse. That is the way it is.”

Bred by Hascome & Valiant Stud and raced by Anthony Oppenheimer just like her relative Golden Horn, Frankly Darling is now the second stakes winner for her Listed-winning dam Hidden Hope (GB) (Daylami {Ire}) with that mare also the granddam of Frankel’s (GB) Group 3-placed Frankellina (GB).

The 41st worldwide Group winner for Frankel, the filly also comes from the same family as New Zealand Listed-winner Brocco Babe (Brocco {USA}).

Nazeef determined in G2 Duke of Cambridge

The two 1600 metre races spoiled viewers with epic duels to the wire with Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) following Circus Maximus’s lead by just getting her head in front in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S.

The final of three winners on the day for Shadwell and Jim Crowley and second of two for trainer John Gosden, Nazeef was going for her fifth straight victory in six career starts and looking for her first Group win.

The 4-year-old raced in midpack down the centre of the track as Invitational set the pace up front. The field stayed compact in the middle of the straight course, galloping two-by-two behind Invitational (GB) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) as she pulled away to open up a few lengths on the field. In the final 600 metres, the field spread out and Nazeef found herself near the back with plenty of work to do to catch the leader, who was travelling strongly.

Invitational started to fade in the final 300 and Agincourt (Ire) (Declaration Of War {USA}) was the first to confront her, quickly taking over before being joined by Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) and Nazeef in front. Queen Power wasn’t able to stay with the other two and quickly conceded as the battle began. Racing eye-to-eye, Agincourt and Nazeef dug deep for the 100 metre duel with Nazeef having to do the most work to get the lead. With the distance running out, Nazeef finally got her head in front a few strides before the line to keep her win streak alive with Queen Power in third 2.5l behind the pair.

"A wonderful treble [for Jim Crowley and Sheikh Hamdan],” Gosden said. “It is testament to the owner - he has many horses in training with many trainers. He is a huge part of our industry and I think for Sheikh Hamdan to have a treble on the first day of Ascot - what a huge achievement. I am sure he would like to be here, but boy oh boy, what a great achievement. He puts so much into it and he deserves it.

“She is the sweetest filly; you go into the barn and she is the first to come and say hello to you. She is very affectionate and very genuine and very brave. She did nothing but improve last year; she went right through the handicap ranks and came into Listed this year. I have warned about the bounce factor; in her case she won the Listed race at Kempton and came back and won here. I think she deserves a little rest now.”

Out of Listed-winning Handassa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Nazeef is one of two siblings to race for her dam. This has proven to be an extremely speedy family with her granddam Starstone (GB) (Diktat {GB}) a half-sister to Champions and full brothers Pastoral Pursuits (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and Goodricke (GB) in addition to producing Fastnet Rock’s American Grade 2 winner Desert Stone (Ire) and Group 3 winner Euginio (Ire).

A homebred for Shadwell, Gosden says the goal now is to get Nazeef a Group 1 placing with the G1 Falmouth on her radar after a small break.

Motakhayyel wins opener

The first Royal Ascot win of the week went to Shadwell’s Motakhayyel (GB) (Heeraat {Ire}) in the Buckingham Palace H. over 1400 metres to kick off Tuesday’s card.

Trained by Richard Hannon, Motakhayyel was piloted to the nearside group by Jim Crowley where he raced in midpack. Stuck between the horses in his group, Crowley had to weave his mount through traffic before he could ask for the colt’s acceleration but once he was clear, he found himself on the lead in his group and of the field with groupmate Jack’s Point (GB) (Slade Power {Ire}) chasing him down but never able to catch him.

Motakhayyel finished 1.25l in front of Jack’s Point with fellow Shadwell runner Mutamaasik (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) 2.25l behind the winner in third.

"That's it - the rest of the meeting is cancelled!" Hannon joked after the victory. "It's great. They've done so well to have the meeting. The fact that the trainers are the only ones here - it's exactly the same. It is still Royal Ascot.

"There aren't 60,000 people here, but maybe there are more people at home watching and paying attention than there ever have been. It's fantastic, in what has been a very gloomy few months. It looks like sport is coming back, in the right way, racing is adapting and we are showing that we can adapt to new regulations and so on.”

Winning four of his six starts, Motakhayyel is a grandson of Listed Sandringham winner Hold To Ransom (USA) (Red Ransom {USA}). That mare moved to Australia a few years after her racing career and is the dam of Australian stakes-winners Retrieve (Rahy {USA}), Reparations (Exceed And Excel), and Abduction (Street Cry {Ire}).

Still an active member of the Godolphin broodmare band, Hold To Ransom has a 2-year-old filly named Stalking by Animal Kingdom (USA) and after slipping to Exosphere the following year, returned to him in 2019.

Coeur De Lion pounces in Ascot S.

The longest race of the card was also the concluding race with the 4000 metre Ascot S. serving as an early week warm-up for the G1 Ascot Gold Cup.

Racing for Alan King with apprentice Thore Hammer Hansen aboard, 7-year-old Coeur De Lion (GB) (Pour Moi {Ire}) added a sixth victory to his 35-race resume after spending the winter racing over hurdles.

Racing in the middle of the pack near the rear, Coeur De Lion had plenty of cover as they let Pianissimo (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) set the pace. There wasn’t much racing in the early stages of the race but with 1200 metres to run, Hansen swung his mount to the outside to give himself running room. That worked out well as the field turned into the straight with Coeur De Lion steadily making up ground.

It looked as though the gelding may run out of time when they hit the 400 metre mark but that all changed in the last 100 metres when he pulled up to confront the leaders then found another gear to pull away by 1l in the end.

Verdana Blue (Ire) (Getaway {Ger}) finished second by a neck over Summer Moon (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) with Teofilo’s (Ire) Rochester House (Ire) in fifth.

By G1 Epsom Derby winner Pour Moi (Ire), Coeur De Lion is out of a half-sister to three Group winners, including Group 1-winning Invermark (GB) (Machiavellian {USA}), who also finished second in the G1 Gold Cup during his career.