The Royal Procession made its way to the parade ring a few minutes
before two in the afternoon. Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh
were in the first carriage. Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles
rode in the second carriage. The Royal Party alighted in front of a
special platform. The Chairman of Ascot, the Duke of Devonshire,
extended a warm welcome to the Royal Family and the fans and made
special mention of the fact that he had made a promise that he would
have Ascot ready for the 2006 meeting. He addressed the Queen, “Your
Majesty, I have kept that promise.”
The Queen recalled her fondness for Ascot and declared the race course
open. Less than ten minutes after the Queen’s declaration, the horses
for the Coventry Stakes, the first race in the six-event card began
trekking into the paddock. William Hill, a bookmaking company in the
United Kingdom, paid out on a 20,000-pound wager that Ascot will race in
2006 and that Wembley Stadium, which is being rebuilt, will go over the
stipulated time-frame.
The Royal Ascot meeting runs over five days-beginning on a Tuesday and
ending on Saturday. There are six races every day. There is, at least,
one Group I race every day. A total prize money of
3,255,000 pounds sterling (Rs.27.66 crores approx.) will be on offer.
Five and six furlong races are run on a straight course. The straight
course is also used for 7-furlong events. Mile races are run on a
straight course and on a round course as well. Ascot is a right-handed
track like race courses in India.
There is the Tote that commands considerable patronage. Bookmakers
operate in large numbers. The minimum, in most cases, is two pounds.
Some have a five-pound minimum. There is no betting tax. All the
receipts are computer generated.
The Coventry Stakes, a six-furlong race for two year-olds was won by
Hellvelyn, ridden by Ted Durcan. Trained by B.Smart, Hellvelyn was
making it three for three lifetime and was the 4-1 joint favorite with
Holy Roman Emperor who was unplaced.
The second race, the 5-furlong King’s Stand Stakes, went to Takeover
Target, an invader from Australia. A 6-1 favorite in the 28-horse field,
Takeover Target won in a photo over Benbaun, ridden by Jamie Spencer.
Takeover Target, a seven year-old who was bought for 1,250 Australian
dollars, was ridden by Jay Ford who was riding his first race in the
United Kingdom. “It is great to win at such a prestigious meeting and
before such a big crowd,” Ford said. Joe Janiak, the winning trainer
said,” this is a big dream come true. He (Takeover Target) still has his
winter coat and was a bit on the big side today-he should be right for
Saturday now.” Takeover Target will race on Saturday in the Golden
Jubilee Stakes.
Freely available at 2-1 in the betting ring, Araafa, winner of the Irish
2,000 Guineas on heavy ground at the Curragh, made the St James Palace
Stakes a ‘no contest.’ Forwardly placed in the mile event, Araafa, a son
of Mull of Kintrye, charged into the lead turning for home to win by two
lengths. Stormy River, in the hands of Olivier Peslier, ran on to be the
runner-up. It was the first Group I win for trainer Jeremy Noseda. He
said,” it was a good performance. Alan (rider Alan Munro) gave him a
great ride. We will consider all the obvious races and I would love to
go to the Breeders Cup.” Alan Munro had expressed high optimism all
along and had said a day before the race that he would be surprised if
he did not win.
The fourth race was the Queen Anne Stakes, another Group I event, over a
mile. Peeress, a mare, was favored at 15-8. Proclamation, winner of the
Jersey Stakes at York (Royal Ascot meeting) and the Sussex Stakes (Group
I) at Goodwood last year, was 11-8 when the wagering began and drfted to
85-40 as post time approached. A disappointing 11th in the Haydock
Sprint Cup in September 2005 after the resounding win in the Sussex
Stakes, Proclamation had not raced in 300 days. In addition, the
Godolphin outfit is going through a dry spell in Europe. Proclamation
had every chance as the race was run and came up empty. In a diplomatic
statement, Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s Racing Manager said, “ it was
nice to get Proclamation back on the track. He was a bit rusty. We run
Electrocutionist in the Prince of Wales on Wednesday and we think he has
a stronger chance than Proclamation.”
Ad Valorem, a disappointment in recent starts, found his best stride in
the hands of Kieren Fallon. Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien had to sweat
it out as the stewards ordered an inquiry. “I can relax now. This horse
always wanted fast ground. I would like to go to the Sussex Stakes. On
firm ground, he’s a Breeders Cup prospect, “ O’Brien said.
Court Masterpiece, Jamie Spencer up, was second and Ed Dunlop, the
trainer, expressed unhappiness. “Jamie was very angry as he thought he
would have won,” Dunlop averred.
Peeress’s connections also expressed frustration. Bruce Raymond, Manager
for the owners of Peeress, said, “Ad Valorem has definitely cost us
third place. He intimidated us. I thought the winner would be demoted.”
Peeress ended up fourth.
Baddam won the two and one half-mile Ascot Stakes going away. Ian Mongan,
an Irish rider, was aboard.
The finale, the Windsor Castle Stakes over five furlongs, was taken by
Elhamri, a 20-1 proposition. D P McDonogh was the jockey.
Wednesday’s feature is the 10-furlong Prince of Wales Stakes, It is a
Group I race and carries a purse of 350,000 pounds (Rs.2.97 crores
approx). David Junior is strongly fancied. He was victorious in the
Dubai Duty Free in Dubai in late March on World Cup day.
Electrocutionist, winner of the World Cup, is the second favorite. Given
the current form of the Godolphin barn, my enthusiasm for
Electrocutionist, to be ridden by Frankie Dettori, has waned. Ouija
Board, a strong second to Shirocco in the Coronation Cup on Oaks Day at
Epsom , is going and will have Olivier Peslier in the saddle. Fallon
rides Ace. It is a seven horse field and it is the third race. Ouija
Board has done a lot of traveling and if the rigors of her campaign have
not had an adverse impact, I believe she will outpace them all when it
matters.
Soviet Song is opposed by the streaking Echelon in the Windsor Forest
Stakes. Soviet Song is making her second 2006 start. She has a lot of
class. However, Echelon’s form is such that she can keep her streak
going. Kieren Fallon rides for Sir Michael Stoute.
London is dry and warm and the race course is being watered every day.
Despite the watering, it is ‘firm’ ground.
