yesterday at Royal ascot was a bit like cheltenham in march.

​Let us not forget that ‘Magic Thursday’ began with a 150/1 winner. Personally, I love a shock winner. There is a peculiar kind magic in itself when a member of the disregarded gets one over on the highly considered.
Of course, the highlight of the meeting, the longest-lasting memory, will be the first success at the Royal meeting for King Charles. His mother, the late Queen Elisabeth – when will I stop missing her presence at Ascot and Epsom – achieved her first success at Royal Ascot only weeks after her coronation, also in a handicap. Now, her son has also achieved a first success as monarch weeks after his coronation. I hope she was looking down and forming opinions on where to go next with Desert Hero. St. Leger, possibly?
In the inevitable focus of attention on the King and Queen, it should not be overlooked what a brilliant ride Desert Hero got from Tom Marquand, possibly the ride of the week. Nor should it be overlooked what a willing partner Tom had in Desert Hero. It was not a straight-forward victory, there was no coming with a wet sail to mow-down the opposition, easing up at the line, to it. Tom had to change course at least twice and Desert Hero had to squeeze through gaps a less gallant horse would have backed away from and then he put down his head and battled his way to be first passed the post. In the moment of victory, the Queen brushed away a tear and the King looked genuinely thrilled to own a Royal Ascot winner. We can only hope on the morning after the afternoon before his obligation to maintain the royal participation in horse racing has graduated to bone-fide enthusiasm for the sport and a desire for greater success in the future.
For two-days Hollie Doyle held the bragging rights over hubby Tom. As the first female jockey to win a Group 1 at Royal Ascot, she has made a mark that will be recorded in the history of the sport for as long as the sport survives. Tom may have only won a handicap and a Group 3 thus far at Royal Ascot 2023, yet he provided the King with the first of, I hope, many successes at Royal Ascot, ensuring it will be Tom who will appear on the front pages on the national newspapers. They appear to be too supported of each other for childish chiding, but Tom, for now, is a national hero.
Frankie, of course, is writing his own scripts these days. Courage Mon Ami, even if he did go into the Ascot Gold Cup with three-wins from three-runs, was, in my book, an unlikely winner. It just isn’t done for such an inexperienced horse to win an Ascot Gold Cup. The Derby winner had more runs in his career than the Gosdens’ latest Gold Cup superstar. In fact, every classic winner this season had appeared on the racecourse more times prior to their classic success than Courage Mon Ami. Thady has mighty shoes to fill once his name alone is on the training licence.
Of course, Frankie being Frankie had to step on toes during his parade of jubilation. His harsh 9-day ban imposed by the Ascot stewards on Tuesday might be nothing compared to his incarceration in the Tower of London for breaching royal protocol by kissing the Queen. I dare say, Camilla took it in good spirit but the precedent cannot be allowed to become established for fear of someone far less innocent than Frankie attempting the same closeness. For this sport, our Royal family is precious; we need their presence on a racecourse at every available occasion. I hope Frankie offers his apology and the matter will be laid to rest. At least he didn’t pick the Queen up and twirl her around as he did Lady Bamford after the Oaks. Small mercies, perhaps.
Again, as with Tom Marquand, the success overshadowed the great ride Frankie gave his willing partner. Nothing fancy or as forceful as Marquand’s, just a perfectly conducted tactical exhibition of his brilliance in the saddle. The Gosdens’ will never lack for big-race success but they will find it near-impossible to replace Frankie. Only Ryan Moore is his equal and he is very unlikely to sever his ties with Aidan O’Brien. I couldn’t see Buick leaving Godolphin, though James Doyle might, though he is on the heavy side. And it is too high-profile an assignment for any of the young riders marking their name at the moment. So, would Marquand be tempted to ditch Somerville Lodge for Clarehaven?
Then, as if Gold Cup Day couldn’t get any better, and in accordance with the magic hour back in 2018 (I shouldn’t make stabs in the dark when it comes to dates and years) when Frodon won for Bryony Frost at Cheltenham, a female jockey put the icing on the tastiest of flat racing cakes when the divine party-girl Hayley Turner won the Britannia Handicap on a horse with the same spirit as Frodon. I loved the way Docklands stretched out his neck and raced for all his worth to the winning post.
The thing with Hayley, as it is with Bryony, it’s what she gives after the race that is the delight. She is buoyant of spirit without coming across as either self-important or overly-ambitious. She has accepted her place in the sport and remains grateful for the opportunities that come her way. It is why the sport must continue to promote and encourage female jockeys; as with Hayley and Bryony, they bring an extra-dimension to the sport. I hope when Docklands progresses to Group races that Hayley keeps the ride. As with Frankie, she is irreplaceable.