It’s Frankie Dettori’s Royal Ascot farewell but former Hong Kong-based Irishman Neil Callan stole the show early on the first day, standing tall and roaring with delight after taking out the opening race of the carnival aboard long-shot Triple Time.
Callan, who wound up his Hong Kong stint at the end of the 2020-21 season, shocked punters in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes (1,600m), holding off Dettori and second favourite Inspiral aboard $34 chance Triple Time for trainer Kevin Ryan.
“I’m speechless for once. I’m a bit emotional as well. It’s some feeling, Royal Ascot,” Callan told ITV in the minutes after his victory.
Callan added another Group One to a CV that includes last year’s Sun Chariot Stakes – also for Ryan – and a trio of elite-level success in Hong Kong aboard Tony Cruz’s Blazing Speed.
“When I came back from Hong Kong, I didn’t really know what to expect. You’re not guaranteed anything in this game. You work for what you get and I’m just lucky Kevin Ryan came back and gave me a bit of support,” Callan said.
“Kevin kept saying to me last year, ‘I want to wait for the right horse’. He gave me Fonteyn, she won the Sun Chariot, and now he’s given me this fella. He was so confident in this horse, he said he’s the best horse he’s ever trained.”
Dettori was also runner up in the Group One St James’s Palace Stakes (1,600m), finishing second aboard favourite Chaldean as Ryan Moore and Paddington tasted success.
Paddington’s victory was the second on the card for all-conquering duo Moore and Aidan O’Brien after River Tiber’s Group Two Coventry Stakes (1,200m) triumph.
O’Brien moved to 83 Royal Ascot winners, going past Michael Stoute for the most ever victories at the prestigious carnival.
Tuesday’s other Group One went the way of jockey Hollie Doyle and trainer Archie Watson, with Bradsell saluting at $15 in the King’s Stand Stakes (1,000m) as favourite Highfield Princess finished second and Australian raider Coolangatta could only manage 11th.
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