Three trainers have been slapped with a £1000 fine on the first day of Royal Ascot. Permission was given to Irish horse Lazuli to wear a red hood which was removed at the start, as was Man of Promise and Nature Strip, and for Golden Pal to be ponied to the start.
However, Golden Pal, trained by Wesley Ward, Nature Strip, trained by Chris Waller, and Lazuli and Man of Promise, both trained by Charlie Appleby, had entered the Parade Ring after the signal to mount had been given. As a result, the trio were handed fines after conducting interviews. Hollie Doyle also ran into trouble as the 25-year-old was suspended for two days for using her whip above the permitted level from approaching the final furlong.
She still enjoyed a fabulous day on the opening day of Royal Ascot this year, with victory on Bradsell in the Coventry Stakes. The horse galloped to a comprehensive victory and the win made Doyle the most successful female rider in Royal Ascot history, following successes on Scarlet Dragon (2020) and Amtiyaz (2021) - taking her one clear of Hayley Turner.
"It was an impressive performance. He got squeezed out of the gates which was frustrating,” she said. On Bradsell's effort, she added: "He jumped okay and I got squeezed for room early on which wasn't ideal but I just let him recover naturally.
"Throughout, I was ever so worried I was on the wrong side. I gave him a good squeeze and he really responded well. His instant response surprised me because he can be a little lazy at home." It was still a fine day for Appleby too, whose Coroebus won an absolute thriller to take the St James's Palace Stakes and secure his first win away from Newmarket.
Despite being stuck in the far corner, William Buick and his charge held on to win ahead of second place Lusail in a photo finish, while My Prospero came home in third. Aikhal was leading Lusail, but with a furlong and a half to go, Coroebus made his move and surged to the front.
In a tight finish, delighted jockey William Buick took the win by a head from his rivals. The delighted trainer said: "We knew coming into today it would be a different style of a race. I just wish the pace had been stronger.
"On the turn it allowed him to get a breather but his class and determination got us over the line. We'll have discussions about the future, but the Sussex (Stakes) is there as an option and the Prix Jacques le Marois is another. I'm sure a clash with Baaeed is something that we'd all need to discuss, but Sheikh Mohammed never shies away from a challenge."
