Favorite Charyn takes Queen Ann; 129-1 Longshot wins Coventry
The five-day Greatest Show on Turf got rolling on a warm Tuesday, and as always, Royal Ascot showcased a bit of everything. The first four races, all graded stakes, went to a 3-1 favorite, a 129-1 shot, an Australian shipper, and to Irish 2,000 Guineas victor Rosallion.
There wasn’t much drama in the meet’s traditional opener as Charyn stalked a hot pace and surged to the lead inside the quarter pole. The 4-year-old Ireland-bred drew off by 2¼ lengths over 10-1 shot Docklands after a mile in 1:38.04 on the straight course. Maljoom was third.
Charyn
Charyn earned an automatic berth into the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar
Charyn, trained by Roger Varian, earned a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in November at Del Mar. Winning rider Silvestre de Souza, a native of Brazil, said: “What I did was very little. I just had to wait for the right moment, and he won quite easily. At halfway I thought I don’t want to get there too soon.”
The son of Dark Angel paid $8.20 for his fifth win in 15 starts. He’s 3-for-4 this year after going 0-for-7 in 2023.
129-1 Rashabar by a nose in Coventry (G2)
Eighteen-year-old Billy Loughnane teamed with trainer Brian Meehan, a two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), on 129-1 shot Rashabar in one of the biggest shockers in Royal Ascot history.
Rashabar broke his maiden in the Coventry in his third career start.
Asfoora (8) ridden by Oisin Murphy wins the King Charles III Stakes (Group 1) on Day One of the Royal Ascot Race Meeting at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, United Kingdom on June 18, 2024. Shamela Hanley/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM