Billed as the quickest turf-sprint breaker in the U.S., Wesley Ward trainee Golden Pal immediately lost all shot when his saddle slipped as the gates flew open in the Group 1, $491,850 King’s Stand Stakes. Instead, Tuesday’s Royal Ascot five-furlong turf sprint went to another shipper, the Australian star Nature Strip. The 8-year-old owned by R A E Lyons, P D Harrison et al earned his 21st win in his first career start outside of Australia.

They always say a good first go is worth a second try, and Nature Strip might make his second overseas start on Saturday, completing the Royal Ascot sprint double in Saturday’s Platinum Jubilee Stakes (G1). If his connections so chose, he would be following in his countrymates Choisir and Blue Point’s footsteps.

Streaking away from the field with a furlong to go, Nature Strip had only one horse to beat – riderless Khadeem, who unseated jockey Jamie Spencer at the start – and he headed that foe at the wire. Twilight Calls was awarded the place finish trailing 4 1/2 lengths back. Acklam’s Express finished a head behind him in third. Golden Pal, never really asked by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. after blowing the break, finished in last, remaining winless in three international races.

The King’s Stand is the first Royal Ascot win for trainer Chris Waller. It was the second Royal Ascot winner for jockey John McDonald. As part of the “Win and You’re In” berths to the 2022 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, Nature Strip has earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint starting gates. 

"It means a lot," Waller said. "We don't get the opportunity very often to come here and take on the English, Irish, French, Americans and even Dubai and Hong Kong runners.

"To therefore bring a horse here and not only run, but win is very special. It was breathtaking - Nature Strip is a very good horse and has been for a very long time. I guess he is in the twilight of his career, but he has learned to be a racehorse.

"Nature Strip was tricky early on in his career, but he has got better with age and it is an honor to train a horse like him."

Unbeaten Baaeed wins the Queen Anne

Win No. 8 came for Shadwell Estate’s Baaeed  in the Group 1, $590,220 Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday, keeping his flawless record intact. This is the first Queen Anne win for trainer William Haggas. Jockey Jim Crowly rode the Sea the Star 4-year-old to glory; he was also on board for Baaeed’s Queen Elizabeth II (G1) victory over the Ascot grounds last October.

Paying $2.20, Baaeed’s dominant performance over older horses going a straight turf mile reflected his short price. Stalking behind two leaders early, before the field broke into two lines, Crowly patiently waited to make the bid past eventual second-place finisher Real World. Order of Austalia set the tempo, but the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Mile-winner could only fight on to finish in third, just short of six lengths back. With the Queen Anne included in the  Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series,  Baaeed will have the opportunity himself to win the 2022 BC Mile at Keeneland.

Coventry renewal goes to Bradsell

Victorious Racing Limited’s Bradsell proved the merit of his debut when the 2-year-old won the $147,555 Coventry Stakes (G2). The son of Tasleet earned jockey Hollie Doyle a third Royal Ascot winner, making her the prestigious festival’s most successful female rider. Trainer Archie Watson earned his second Royal Ascot score.

Taking the weight of the early traffic out of the gate, Bradsell fell near the back early but kept on nicely advancing to a be in position to open up and extend and finish 1 1/2 lengths in front of Persian Force who leapt out of the pack late to finish second. A neck back, Royal Scotsman came in third.

Dew Sweepers' Late September, the American entry trained by George Arnold II and bred in Louisiana by Coteau Grove Farms, finished 17th of 17 entries in his first try on turf.

Backers of the 2-for-2 Bradsell were rewarded to the tune of 8-1.

Godolphin’s Coroebus lasts in the St. James’s Palace

After the 2021 Breeders Cup, trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick are well known across U.S. horse-racing households. It is an understatement to say that three Breeder’s Cup wins is hard to do. Likewise goes for Royal Ascot victories. Add one more to Appleby’s and Buick’s totals – now 12 and 29, respectively – after Godolphin’s Coroebus lasted by a diminishing head in the $491,850 St. James's Palace Stakes (G1). Coroebus became the 16th horse to win both the 2,000 Guineas/St James’s Palace Stakes double in the post-war period.

Buick navigated Coreobus in tight against the rail through the early stages, but out of the bend, he began masterfully weaving his live runner through traffic. For the final stage, it felt like he had the race in the bag, but Lusial (finished second) and My Prospero (finished third) came with a final surge and the 4-5 favorite won by a head.

The 3-year-old by Dubawi now stands tall at 5: 4-1-0.