Merchant Navy came out on top in a thrilling climax to a dramatic renewal of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Having proved his capabilities at the very highest level in Australia, the three-year-old joined Aidan O’Brien earlier this year with a view to having a crack at this six-furlong Group One and the plan came perfectly to fruition.
The son of Fastnet Rock had made a winning Irish debut in last month’s Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh and was guided in his big-race assignment by Ryan Moore.
Merchant Navy (right) ridden by Ryan Moore wins the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on Saturday
There was drama at the very start, with 5-2 favourite Harry Angel playing up before the stalls opened and completely missing the break. He was under pressure from an early stage and ultimately failed to get competitive.
American challenger Bound For Nowhere led for a long way, but, with his tongue lolling out, Merchant Navy (4-1) drew alongside entering the final furlong and battled his way to the lead.
French ace City Light emerged as the biggest threat as the post loomed and they flashed by almost as one, but after a short wait the judge confirmed Merchant Navy had held on by a short head.
Like Harry Angel, Australian speedball Redkirk Warrior was disappointing.
Soldier’s Call ridden by jockey Daniel Tudhope (right) wins the Windsor Castle Stakes
Meanwhile, Soldier’s Call provided fledgling trainer Archie Watson with his first winner at Royal Ascot with victory in the Windsor Castle Stakes.
The Showcasing colt had confirmed the promise of his debut second at Lingfield with an impressive display at Haydock earlier this month and he was sent off at 12-1 for his third career start in this five-furlong Listed event.
Ridden by Danny Tudhope, Soldier’s Call led the group that raced nearest the stands rail from the moment the stalls opened and had enough in reserve to score a shade cosily from Sabre.
Dom Carlos was best of the rest in third.
Ryan Moore riding Crystal Ocean (left) on his way to winning the Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot
Crystal Ocean provided Sir Michael Stoute with an 11th victory in the Hardwicke Stakes.
It is 32 years since the master of Freemason Lodge first claimed the prize with Dihistan (1986) and he has since struck gold with the likes of Harbinger (2010), Telescope (2014) and the Queen’s Dartmouth (2016).
Having already won at Sandown and Newbury this season, Crystal Ocean was a red-hot 4-7 favourite to add his name to the roll of honour and odds-on backers will have had few concerns for the duration of the mile-and-a-half Group Two.
Ryan Moore positioned the market leader on the heels of last year’s winner Idaho for much of the way and when he faded out of contention early in the home straight, Crystal Ocean kicked clear for a comprehensive two-and-a-half-length victory.
Red Verdon ran a fine race to fill the runner-up spot at 33-1.
Richard Kingscote riding Arthur Kitt (centre, green) to win the Chesham Stakes on Saturday
Arthur Kitt claimed a fairytale success in the Chesham Stakes.
Tom Dascombe’s charge is a son of the yard’s 2012 Queen Mary Stakes heroine Ceiling Kitty, who died after giving birth to this Camelot colt.
Arthur Kitt proved he had inherited plenty of his mother’s raw talent when making a successful racecourse debut at Haydock last month and he was a 13-2 chance stepped up to Listed class for the opening race on the final day of the Royal meeting.
It did not look great for his supporters for much of the seven-furlong journey, with the two-year-old having to be niggled along by Richard Kingscote from the halfway stage.
However, to his credit, Arthur Kitt responded to his riders urgings and as the front-runners fell away, the youngster battled his way to the lead and held off Nate The Great by a neck.
Natalie’s Joy, the heavily backed 5-4 favourite, was disappointing.
Bacchus ridden by Jockey Jim Crowley (right) goes on to win the Wokingham Stakes
Bacchus narrowly outpointed the gambled-on Dreamfield to claim the Wokingham Stakes.
John Gosden’s Dreamfield returned from a near two-year absence to win at this track last month, his third victory from as many starts, and he was backed off the boards before being sent off the 2-1 favourite for this fiercely competitive 28-runner handicap.
The market leader was prominent from the start and led the field heading into the last of six furlongs.
However, Brian Meehan’s 33-1 shot Bacchus swiftly went in pursuit under champion jockey Jim Crowley and following a protracted duel it was the outsider who won the argument by a neck.
Major Jumbo and Tis Marvellous finished third and fourth respectively.