Royal Ascot 2020 Results Day 1 – Battaash Sprints to Royal Ascot Glory
Battaash was the star of the show at Royal Ascot on Tuesday. One of the fastest sprinters in the world won the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes over five furlongs. There were no racegoers in attendance but a global TV audience saw the horse dominate the race. The morning second favourite, Glass Slippers, drifted in the betting and Battaash was returned at a Starting Price of 5/6. The result was never really in doubt and the favourite put the race to bed entering the final furlong.
The horse is trained by Charlie Hills who has the runner-up, Equilateral, under his care. The winning jockey is Jim Crowley who should be riding Battaash in his next race. The trainer said that he would like to go to Goodwood next for the Group 2 five-furlong contest that Battaash has won in the last three years. Battaash finished second in the Ascot race in 2018 and 2019 and was unplaced as a juvenile at the track but has now won one of the most prestigious sprint races in the sport at Ascot.
King’s Stand Stakes Results:
| Result | Runner | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Battaash | 5/6 Favourite |
| 2nd | Equilateral | 9/1 |
| 3rd | Liberty Beach | 4/1 |
Battaash is owned by the wealthy Hamdan Al Maktoum while the winner of the Group 2 race over one mile and furlongs has a modest background. Pyledriver returned home from the sales without attracting a buyer and the horse is now 14/1* to win the Epsom Derby. The King Edward V11 Stakes is confined to colts aged three so is a major trial for the Derby this season. Pyledriver has some improvement to come which should please the trainer who is the jockey’s father-in-law. The horse could now take on the more expensive colts in the Derby.
Mogul was the 10/11 favourite but the Aidan O’Brien horse could only finish fourth. He is the brother of Japan, his stablemate who won the race last year. Japan is the current favourite for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the Group 1 contest for horses aged four and older over one mile and two furlongs on the second day of Royal Ascot. Mogul did not appear to stay and found no extra inside the final furlong. Plans for the Derby will probably be shelved but the horse could be effective over one mile. However, all roads lead to Epsom on July 4th for Pyledriver.
King Edward VII Stakes Results:
| Result | Runner | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Pyledriver | 18/1 |
| 2nd | Arthur’s Kingdom | 9/2 |
| 3rd | Mohican Heights | 4/1 |
The market leader also obliged in the other Group 1 race at Ascot, the Queen Anne Stakes over the straight mile. Circus Maximus was the 9/4 favourite in the morning but drifted out to 4/1 but still the favourite. Circus Maximus was headed near the finish by Terebellum, ridden by Frankie Dettori, but was just in front again at the line. There were some hard luck stories and few horses got into the race dominated by two of the best jockeys in the sport.
Queen Anne Stakes Results:
| Result | Runner | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Circus Maximus | 4/1 Favourite |
| 2nd | Terebellum | 5/1 |
| 3rd | Marie’s Diamond | 40/1 |
Crowley is the leading jockey after the first day of Royal Ascot with three wins. In addition to his winning ride on Battaash, he rode Motakhayyel to victory in the opening Buckingham Palace Handicap. The well-backed favourite was unplaced so it was a good start for the bookmakers. Crowley completed his treble on Nazeef in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes for fillies and mares over one mile. Both horses are also owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum so he had three winners. Jubiloso was a joint favourite at the off but trailed in last and the winner was the second favourite.
Duke of Cambridge Stakes Results:
| Result | Runner | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Nazeef | 10/3 |
| 2nd | Agincourt | 28/1 |
| 3rd | Queen Power | 3/1 Joint Favourite |
Frankly Darling is now the second favourite for the Epsom Oaks after an impressive win in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes over 12 furlongs. The horse was ridden by Frankie Dettori who had his first winner at Royal Ascot thirty years ago. It was Dettori’s 68th winner at the Royal meeting and trainer, John Gosden’s, 50th winner at the Flat Festival. Love is the only horse shorter in the betting for the Oaks than Frankly Darling who can be backed at 7/2 to win the fillies’ Classic.
Ribblesdale Stakes Results:
| Result | Runner | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Frankly Darling | 11/8 Favourite |
| 2nd | Ennistymon | 11/1 |
| 3rd | Passion | 13/2 |
The last race on the card was the Ascot Stakes, a handicap over two miles and four furlongs. It is a race that attracts National Hunt trained horses and a jumps handler prevailed this year. Alan King trains Coeur De Lion who beat 4/1 favourite Verdana Blue into second place. The runner-up is trained by Nicky Henderson, better known for training jumpers. Thore Hammer Hansen rode Coeur De Lion and he is a five pound claimer but Crowley took the rider’s honours on day 1 at Ascot.
After the first of five days of Royal Ascot the standings and winners are as follows:
Leading Jockey
| Jockey | Points |
|---|---|
| Jim Crowley | 3 |
| Thore Hammer Hansen | 1 |
| Martin Dwyer | 1 |
| Frankie Dettori | 1 |
| Ryan Moore | 1 |
Leading Trainer
| Trainer | Points |
|---|---|
| John Gosden | 2 |
| Alan King | 1 |
| Charlie Hills | 1 |
| William Muir | 1 |
| Aidan O’Brien | 1 |
| Richard Hannon | 1 |
Crowley is now the 9/2* third favourite to be the leading jockey at Royal Ascot. Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori are still the first and second favourites and they have the best book of rides over the next four days. The odds for the leading trainer have not been updated but the market will still be dominated by O’Brien and Gosden. Hamdan Al Maktoum is in great shape to be the leading owner.
Punters came out just about even with the bookies on the first day of Royal Ascot. There were three winning favourites and only one of them started at odds-on. Another race was won by the horse that was third in the betting. The other three winners were returned at double figure odds and the average price of the seven winners was just over 8/1. The Staring Prices ranged from 5/6 to 18/1.
The highlight of the second day of Royal Ascot is the Prince of Wales’s Stakes for which Japan is the favourite. The biggest betting heat is the Royal Hunt Cup which is one of the most prestigious Flat handicaps of the season. There are 24 declared runners (learn more about the Royal Ascot runners here) and the favourite is trading at about 5/1*. The first race on the Wednesday card is a consolation race for the Royal Hunt Cup.
The card is completed by two other handicaps, a Group 2 race and Listed contest. The shortest priced favourite is Japan who will be trying to do what his brother Mogul could not by winning a Royal Ascot Group race but this time over one mile and two furlongs. Japan won the Juddmonte International at York last season and was fourth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Mogul was more about potential than form with Japan who is the banker on the second day of Royal Ascot.
*You should have in mind that the odds can change before the event. Make sure to check them regularly in order to make an informed decision when you want to place your bet.
