This is the week that keeps on giving, and the penultimate day of the 2023 royal meeting saw our ambassador claim his 80th Royal Ascot success on Porta Fortuna, opening Day Four in style with a flying dismount after the Albany. There was a to be another flying dismount, and the tally taken to 81, as Coppice stormed clear in the Sandringham, a race before Kevin Stott put things right on Derby second King of Steel. An impressive turn of foot put King of Steel past Continuous, leaving Frankie and Arrest in second last.
In the day's first win for a hot favourite, Tahiyra survived a stewards enquiry to take the Coronation Cup, giving Dermot Weld a second success in the race, albeit with 45 years the bridge in between. And it was a good day for the O'Briens. Little Big Bear may not have managed the Commonwealth (that went the way of Oisin Murphy, continuing his redemption tour on poor starting Shaquille), but Joseph O'Brien took the 3:40pm Duke of Edinburgh to keep Ryan Moore top of the jockey standings, following an earlier win for brother Donnacha, who had provided our ambassador with his milestone victory.
This was the first Royal Ascot in a new reign. But our feature race this afternoon - the newly renamed Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes - gives us a chance to look back at the old guard. Our ambassador takes on Highfield Princess here, aboard Ralph Beckett's Kinross, and the seasonal reappearance of Kinross comes a race before that of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth winner Pyledriver, who's Dubai trip never transpired, and consequently hasn't been seen since victory at Ascot last July.
Talking of the old guard... how about Changingoftheguard, looking to deliver another success for Ryan Moore (could he top the jockey standings?) and Aidan O'Brien, who (together with two sons Joseph and Donnacha) took another tally mark yesterday. Deauville Legend runs here, too, for James Ferguson. And look out for Prix Morny and Middle Park second The Antarctic in the Jersey... could today at last be his day? We finish with Goshen, back on the flat, in the 2m5f Queen Alexandra. It's the curtain closer of a week that has thrown up stories like never before. Frankie's week, The King's week. Racing's week.
Frankie's Mounts Today
Frankie has five rides today, starting with Covey in the Jersey at 3:05pm. Covey is looking for a fifth victory on the bounce, with his most recent success coming in a Haydock Handicap last month. Prix Minerve and Lancashire Oaks winning Free Wind is Frankie's mount in the Hardwicke, he's on Mums Tipple in the Wokingham, and Knockbrex will see our ambassador aboard in the Golden Gate at 5:35pm.
Of all his rides today, though, it's 6-year-old Kinross (in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes) for whom Frankie may be most excited. A winner of the Champions Sprint here in October last year, Ralph Beckett's charge also took 2022's Prix de la Forêt, before going on to record third in the Breeders Cup Mile. This is his first start of the year.
-> Don't forget to tag us and Frankie in photos of you waving goodbye to our ambassador on his farewell tour, including #RacingBreaks. Best waves will receive free tickets to Terrace Club hospitality at Royal Ascot in 2024!