Canford Cliffs produced a devastating turn of foot to edge stable-mate Dick Turpin in the feature event on Day 1 of Royal Ascot today.
Richard Hannon’s colt, so impressive in winning the Irish 2000 Guineas last month, led inside the final furlong to hold Dick Turpin by a length at the line in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Pat Eddery’s unconsidered 33/1 shot Hearts Of Fire looked unlucky in third having been checked at a vital stage approaching the final furlong.
French-trained Makfi, the 2000 Guineas hero and 11/4 joint favourite with Canford Cliffs, trailed home a disappointing seventh of the nine starters.
Equally disappointing was Aidan O’Brien’s trio, with 50/1 outsider Beethoven in sixth, the fancied Steinbeck just eighth and rag Encompassing 25 lengths adrift in last place.
Elsewhere on a scintillating opening day of the annual royal meeting, Freddy Head’s 11/8 favourite Goldikova repelled the late challenge of Hannon’s Paco Boy to claim the Queen Anne Stakes over a mile while the Barry Hills-trained Equiano won the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes over five furlongs.
Hannon’s second winner of the day came courtesy of Strong Suit, the Rahy juvenile emulating Canford Cliffs by winning the Coventry Stakes for two-year-olds over six furlongs.
Strong Suit, backed into 15/8 favouritism at the off, had just a nose in hand of the Michael Jarvis-trained Elzaam at the line.
In the other events on Day 1, Junior – who won a novice chase at Taunton on his last start – came home in front of 19 rivals in the Ascot Stakes handicap over two and a half miles and Richard Fahey’s Marine Commando emerged victorious in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes for two-year-olds, a neck ahead of Aidan O’Brien’s 20/1 chance Petronius Maximus.
