2008 Royal Ascot - Day 1 in review

The first day of the 2008 Royal Ascot provided all the drama and pageantry that has made the event the most important fixture in international thoroughbred racing.

The festival got underway with the Group One Queen Anne Stakes, where Aidan O’Brien’s Haradasun narrowly fended off French raider Darjina to give the trainer his first victory of the festival. Race favourite, 9/4 priced Finsceal Beo, had to settle for third place.

The second race of the day provided an upset as 22-1 priced Equiano trumped 14 other runners to claim the Group Two King’s Stand Stakes. Takeover Target finished in second place, with the favourite, Fleeting Spirit, once again settling for third position.

The second Group One race of the day saw Aidan O’Brien’s Henrythnavigator score a hat-trick of Group One wins for the season, beating Raven’s Pass and Twice Over to the finish line to take the St. James’s Palace Stakes.

There was more action to come as Art Connoisseur took the Group Two Coventry Stakes, with second placed Intense Focus and third placed Lord Shanakill paying out handsomely on each way bets.

The penultimate race of the day was a thrilling spectacle, with spectators witnessing a blanket finish in the Group Two Ascot Stakes. 20-1 outsider Missoula won the race by a nose, while Mamlook finished just ahead of race favourite Liberate.

The first day of the 2008 Royal Ascot was not done serving up surprises. In the final race of the day, the Windsor Castle Stakes, Flashmans Paper scored a sensational 100-1 victory, beating race favourite Bushranger with a powerful surge over the last furlong. Third place Mullionmilehour came in third at 16-1.

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