‘Start of a good run’ at Royal Ascot as Godolphin’s Ribchester, Usherette and Portage are victorious

Ribchester won the Jersey Stakes under William Buick. Usherette was no less impressive for Mickael Barzalona in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. James Doyle then encouraged Portage in the Royal Hunt Cup, writes Geoffrey Riddle.

James Doyle rides Portage, right, to a win in the Royal Hunt Cup on Day 2 of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2016 in Ascot, England. Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

ROYAL ASCOT, England // It was Princess Haya who summed up Godolphin's day best.

On a card where the royal blue silks were carried to victory three times courtesy of Ribchester, Usherette and Portage, the wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, revealed just how much the founder of the Dubai-based organisation values success at this racecourse just outside London.

On Tuesday it had rained here at Ascot and Godolphin's best-laid plans were washed away. The 'Boys in Blue' had sent out 15 runners and had only Belardo's second to Tepin in the Queen Anne Stakes to shout about.

Ribchester won the Jersey Stakes under William Buick in some style. However, Usherette was no less impressive for Mickael Barzalona in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. James Doyle then encouraged Portage to shrug off 27 rivals in the Royal Hunt Cup before Princess Haya went up herself to collect the trophy to the pride of her husband.

It does not end there because Godolphin have eight runners on Thursday’s card.

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Related: Tepin powers past Belardo to confirm her superstar status in Queen Anne Stakes win at Royal Ascot

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Godolphin are not going to get back to the top of the world winning Group 3 and Group 2 races, nor major Flat handicaps, but at least this was a major step in the right direction.

When asked what it meant to record a double at Royal Ascot, the late King Hussein’s daughter replied: “It means a lot. We have had a rough patch. There has been a lot of changes within the team.

“There is probably a lot more refinement to be done but this win is hopefully the start of a good run from here on in.”

Of the three winners it is probably Usherette who can go the furthest. She is now on a winning sequence of four since she was put in her place in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville in August.

Back then she was just another promising but immature daughter of Shamardal, but Fabre has been patient and she now looks destined for the top.

Whether she can scale the summit though is open to debate. But Fabre has always maintained Usherette is classy and he is keen to travel to Tepin’s stomping ground and take her on at the Breeder’s Cup.

“I’m quite confident she could beat Tepin,” Fabre said. “She has an exceptional turn of foot. Today Usherette hit the front very early but when she comes from behind she is even better.

“She has something, that’s for sure.”

Usherette may not be the only winner on Wednesday’s card who shows up at Santa Anita in November because Lady Aurelia put up a performance in the Queen Mary Stakes of mezmerising power.

Wesley Ward’s speedball finished seven lengths clear of Al Johrah and clocked a time almost three seconds faster over the 1,000 metres than Profitable had done in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes the previous day.

That horse had been ridden by Adam Kirby, who was on the mark again at the top level when he guided My Dream Boat to a surprise victory in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at the expense of Coolmore’s Found.

Japanese raider A Shin Hikari, who was ranked as the highest-rated horse in the world, finished last of the six runners.

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