However, last year’s unbeaten 2-year-old Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) made a mockery of her rivals and turned the Group 1 into a procession, when the John and Thady Gosden-trained filly came away with an impressive win to keep her unblemished record intact.
Off the track since her win in the the G1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in October, racing fans were made to wait longer than expected for a glimpse the daughter of Frankel (GB), but that wait proved worth it as she and Frankie Dettori, weaved their way through the pack to post an impressive 4.8l victory over US raider Spendarella (USA) (Karakontie {Jpn}), who finished second.
Meanwhile, Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was attempting to emulate her sister Alpha Centauri (Ire) and half-sister Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), who both won the Group 1, and she ran a brilliant race to finish another 0.1l away in third.
After leading for much of the race, the G1 1000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) kept on bravely to finish fifth.
Bouncing back
After receiving heavy criticism for his ride on Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Ascot Gold Cup, including from his boss John Gosden, Dettori went some way to redeeming himself with Wednesday’s win.
"She's very special," said Dettori, who was riding his first winner of the week. "When she broke slowly I thought here we go again, but I took a chance on the inside and got the splits.
"She's got an engine and she got me out of trouble. It's been a tough week, but we're on board now and can relax a bit."
Of his feelings on Friday, after what had so far been disappointing, the winning jockey said: "I woke up this morning and took a bit of time to warm up, but then I buried my head into the racing and thought I had a couple of chances and not all was lost yet," he said. "It's hard to do, but you've got to think outside the box and pull yourself together."
Gosden said that, while it was disappointing not to run Inspiral in a Guineas, he believed the filly had taken huge benefit from the extra month and she would likely now head to the G1 Falmouth S.
"I think in this case what a difference another month has made. She was going to go to the Guineas but was not quite right and then there was the Irish and French Guineas,” said Gosden.
"She showed what she can do when she's right. I think she could go a mile and a quarter quite comfortably."
One of 21 Group 1 winners for Juddmonte Farms’ Frankel (GB), the filly is out of stakes-placed Starscope (GB) (Selkirk {USA}) and she is herself a half-sister to Listed winner Solar Magic (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).
O’Brien and Coolmore firing on all cylinders
Despite an uncharacteristically slow start to the week, normal order resumed at Royal Ascot on Friday as the powerhouse combination Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore landed a double on Friday, kicked off by the ultra-talented filly Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}), who produced an impressive display to win the G3 Albany S., while the second-leg of the brace came when Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) landed the G2 King’s Edward S.
With these two victories under his belt, O’Brien moves his total tally of Group winners to a mind-boggling 899, while he now sits on 80 Royal Ascot winners overall, having snare four this week already.
The first win of the afternoon was provided by Meditate, who had already proved herself a talented performer having taken out the G3 Sprint S. at Naas in May and she added further prowess to her pedigree when she lead all the way to beat Mawji (Ire) (Exceed And Excel) by 1.8l, while Ivory Madonna (Ire) was another 0.2l further adrift in third.
It was a second win in the race following on from the victory of Brave Anna (USA) (War Front {USA}) in 2016, while jockey Ryan Moore - who was enjoying his fourth winner of the week - was adding the G3 Albany S. to his record for the first time.
"Aidan couldn't have had her any better today,” said Moore. “She's got a lovely relaxed way of going, she's a very straightforward filly. She has a bit of class and you need class to be running out there. She can carry on improving, but she's done that professionally and comfortably."
By their resident stallion No Nay Never (USA), the filly is out of the winning Dalakhani (Ire) mare Pembina (Ire), the filly was purchased by Jamie McCalmont for €360,000 (AU$543,000) at the Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale.
Pembina herself is out of Listed winner Mahalia (IRE), making a half-sister to Group 3-winning duo Johnny Barnes (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Albisola (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).
No Nay Never shuttled to Coolmore Australia for four seasons, but did not return in 2019.
The second winner of the day came courtesy of Changingoftheguard’s (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) victory in the G2 King’s Edward S., and he said on bravely to just deny the Charlie Fellowes-trained Grand Alliance (Churchill {Ire}), who finished like a train but just ran out of time and was agonisingly beaten by a 0.1l.
Both Changingoftheguard and Grand Alliance came into the race off the back of runs in the G1 Epsom Derby, with the former finishing fifth, while the latter was placed 11th and Moore said the winner wasn’t at his best on Friday.
"He wasn't at his best today but he kept going and I really needed a bit of help,” said Moore. "He's a very honest horse who just gallops and he could have done with a bit of company."
A winner of the G3 Chester Vase S. in May, Changingoftheguard is out of Grade 2 winner Lady Lara (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB}) and he is among 354 stakes winners for the peerless Galileo (Ire), who died last year.
Perfect Power takes Commonwealth Cup
They say the cream rises to the top and that was certainly the case as Richard Fahey’s star juvenile Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) came of age as a 3-year-old in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, the colt’s third win at elite level.
A winner of the G1 Prix Morny in August, a performance he followed up with a win in the G1 Middle Park S. on his final start as a juvenile, Perfect Power came into Friday’s race seeking redemption for a last start flop in the G1 2000 Guineas.
But back at his pet distance, Perfect Power - who was ridden by French star jockey Christophe Soumillon - showed an impressive turn of foot to beat Flaming Rib (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) by 1.4l, while Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) was another 0.5l away in third.
Purchased by Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown for £110,000 (AU$193,500) at the Goffs UK Breeze Up Sale in 2021, Perfect Power is by Overbury Stud-based sire Ardad (Ire) and he stood for a fee of £12,500 (AU$22,000).
The other Eustace brother
In the last race of the day, Harry Eustace, the elder brother of trainer David, saddled his first winner at Royal Ascot when Latin Lover (Ire) (Starspanngledbanner) soared to victory under Hayley Turner in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse S. on Friday.
A familiar face to many racing fans in Australia having travelled Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) on his first trip Down Under for his former boss William Haggas and he showed his talent as handler on the excursion when overseeing the gelding to victories in both the G1 Ranvet S. and G1 Queen Elizabeth S.
Having taken over the licence from his father James two years ago, Eustace was having his first runner at the Royal meeting and he trains at Park Lodge Stables in Newmarket, where both he and David grew up.
