Good things come to those who wait... and who could hide their relief as our ambassador finally swept past the finishing post in front, on Day Two of the royal meeting, in his farewell year? Not least, of course, Frankie himself, who punched the air, having no doubt gone to bed on Tuesday night a disappointed soul, after being touched off so many times on Day One. Victory on Gregory came two races after a win for our other ambassador, Jim Crowley, on Sheikha Hissa's Mostahdaf.
It was a day to remember for Newmarket trainer Tom Clover, who recorded success in the Duke of Cambridge with Rogue Millennium, seeing off Prosperous Voyage to give him a first Royal Ascot winner. Congratulations, too, to Jessie Harrington, sadly unable to join us in person. She took the Kensington Palace with Villanova Queen, a race after our first American win on the scoreboard, with John Velazquez delivering aboard George Weaver's Crimson Advocate.
Last year, Day One of Royal Ascot belonged (at least in part), to the Australians, when Nature Strip stormed up in the St James's Palace for James McDonald and Chris Waller. This year, Day Three of Royal Ascot 2023 may end up belonging to the Americans. Wesley Ward has an entry in the Norfolk, our opening contest: with American Rascal making the trip over the Atlantic. The Norfolk leads on to our feature, a stayer's paradise with Coltrane, Subjectivist, Yibir, and last year's St Leger winner, Eldar Eldarov.
But that's only one race before our real feature, with the chance to see our very own RacingBreaks Ryder look to make it five on the bounce. We wish Ryder and James McDonald the very best of luck, of course. And they perform on a day that also sees the likes of Infinite Cosmos and James Ferguson's Land Legend rolled out. So too, in the supporting card, is Popmaster and Archie Watson's Brave Emperor, who's seen success across the continent, most recently with a win at Krefeld in Germany and a second at Bro Park in Sweden. Luke Morris takes the mount.
Frankie's Mounts Today
Frankie rides Bluestocking in the Ribblesdale for Ralph Beckett. Successful at Salisbury last September, Bluestocking added a second at Newbury last month in her only start this year. Frankie's mount in the big one is unbeaten Courage Mon Ami, the four-year-old who's only had three runs in his lifetime, but has swept them all (most recently, at Goodwood, winning by 2 3/4 lengths).
Our ambassador will be going up against RacingBreaks Ryder in the Brittannia aboard Quantum Impact (another for Ralph Beckett), and, in the Hampton Court he rejoins Dante and Prix du Jockey Club fifth Epictetus, who looked to follow winning ways in the Blue Riband at Epsom and, last season, recorded a second to future Derby winner Auguste Rodin in the Vertem Futurity. Could it be another Magnificent Seven, though?! No Nay Mets, Burglar and Unforgotten complete the line-up.
-> 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!