The stage for stories delivered once more. Where else would you have seen a horse known as Superman and a jockey called Billy the Kid?
Royal Ascot exists to showcase brilliance and that characteristic was everywhere on day one of this historic meeting, from an Australian speedball called Asfoora in The King Charles III Stakes to Charyn, the powerhouse who plundered the opening contest, The Queen Anne Stakes. There was even a winner for Willie Mullins, the Champion Jumps trainer, Belloccio in the final race.
As good as they all were, though, they couldn’t match Rosallion, whose efforts in winning The St James’s Palace Stakes had his trainer, Richard Hannon, likening him to a comic book hero or Billy Loughnane, the 18-year-old who wondered if he was dreaming after pilfering the Coventry Stakes.
What an afternoon this was and, fittingly in front of the King and Queen, we saw the coronation of a champion. The St James’s Palace stakes was a showdown between the winners of the English, French and Irish 2000 Guineas to see which three-year-old colt was best over a mile.
Notable Speech, trained by Charlie Appleby, was sent-off 6/4 favourite for the Group One after his Newmarket triumph in May when beating Rosallion, who – carrying the distinctive yellow colours of Sheikh Mohamed Obaid al-Maktoum – had gone on to win in Ireland.
18-year-old jockey Billy Loughnane won the Group 2 Coventry Stakes on day one at Royal Ascot
The youngster rode Rashabar (right) to victory after seeing off close competition in a photo finish
Loughnane secured his first Ascot victory after starring on-board Rashabar in the Coventry Stakes
How the tables were turned. Rosallion, ridden supremely by Sean Levey, was a quite magnificent victor, mowing down Aidan O’Brien’s runner Henry Longfellow with Metropolitan, the French Guineas winner, in third. Notable Speech came home seventh, breathless, after trying to keep up with the 35mph gallop.
‘When you have a couple of years without a horse like this, believe me you feel it,’ said Hannon. ‘It makes you appreciate the good ones even more and, my God, this lad is good. Physically, he looks like Superman. He just does everything so easily.
‘Whoever rides him looks like they are on a motorbike, he’s so nimble and quick. Believe me, this is one of the most satisfying days I’ve had. If he never wins another race, it won’t matter. What a great day. He’s never let me down.’
Hannon, who had previously won the St James’s Palace Stakes with Barney Roy in 2017, had a look up at the towering Ascot grandstand as he mulled over what had happened and that is exactly what Loughnane did an hour earlier after his 80/1 success on Rashabar in the Coventry Stakes.
Loughnane, wearing the distinctive green-and-blue silks of the Sangster family, is a breakout star, who could do for racing what Jude Bellingham did in football or Luke Littler has done in darts. He is fearless, at home on a massive stage and his ride to force the Brian Meehan-trained colt home was perfect.
Meanwhile, Rosallion, ridden supremely by Sean Levey (pcitured) won the St James’s Palace Stakes
Loughnane who in an ordinary world would be sitting his A-levels, would not be denied
Rashabar only had a nose and head to spare over Electrolyte and Columnist – both owned by the Emir of Qatar, who has spent fortunes recently buying horses to give him a chance of success at Ascot – but Loughnane, who in an ordinary world would be sitting his A-levels, would not be denied.
‘What a feeling,’ he gasped. ‘I wasn’t sure we had hung on in the photograph but the feeling of hearing my number called out is difficult to put into words. I wasn’t sure I would ever ride at Royal Ascot when I got my licence. I will try and savour every moment here.’
In tears, not too far away, was his father, Mark, who is also a trainer and his son’s biggest supporter.
‘This is the best moment in my life,’ he said. ‘This is what dreams are made of. He’s just a good boy.’ That much is true: but he is also a star of the future.
