LONDON // The achievements made by horses from Dubai’s Godolphin stables on the opening day of Royal Ascot have been praised by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai celebrated a treble for Godolphin but said he was keen to continue the success on the podium as well as in other regional and international events, reported the state news agency Wam.
Godolphin’s Barney Roy gained a first G1 success in the St James’s Palace Stakes, leaving Lancaster Bomber in the second place with the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Thunder Snow in third in the mile contest for three-year-old colts.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, presented Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance with the trophy.
There was further Godolphin success with the Richard Fahey-trained Ribchester and Mutakayyf - owned by Sheikh Hamdan - finishing first and second, respectively, in the one-mile Queen Anne Stakes.
Sheikha Al Jalila bint Mohammed bin Rashid and her mother Princess Haya bint Al Hussein were presented with the trophy.
The Wesley Ward-trained Lady Aurelia landed the 1,000-metre King’s Stand Stakes, leaving Godolphin’s Profitable in the second place.
Another Godolphin horse, Sound And Silence, trained by Charlie Appleby, won the Listed five-furlong Windsor Castle Stakes, beating stablemate Roussel into second place.
And the trophy of the last race on day one was presented to Abdullah Al Mansouri, Executive Chief of Dubai Government’s Office in London.
Those present at the opening of the event, which runs until June 24, included Sheikh Hamdan, Lt. Gen Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid, Deputy Chief of Dubai Police and Public Security, and Queen Elizabeth II of the UK and Head of the Commonwealth.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
