ASCOT DAY FOUR: Lush Lashes storms to victory in Coronation Stakes

Derby winning trainer Jim Bolger saddled his first winner at Royal Ascot since 1993 when Cuis Ghaire, partnered by Kevin Manning who was riding his first winner at the royal meeting, landed the group 3 Albany Stakes.

Sent off a heavily backed 8-11 chance, favourite backers were made to sweat mid race as the daughter of Galileo looked as though she wasn't picking up but the further they went the better she looked and she stayed on strongly to draw 1 3/4l clear of Penny's Gift and Danidh Dubai who filled the minor placings, earning herself single-figure quotes for the 2009 1000 Guineas.

Cuis Ghaire, ridden by Kevin Manning, wins the opening race on day four of Royal Ascot

Asked whether the general 8-1 quote for next year's 1000 Guineas was appropriate, Bolger replied; "I don't know too much about ante-post betting as you know!"

..

RACE 2: King Edward VII Stakes

1st Campanologist 9-1
2nd Conduit 11-4
3rd Top Lock 40-1

Frankie Dettori usually reserves his flying dismounts to Group One occasions but he made an exception after Campanologist obliged with a bold front-running display to take the King Edward VII Stakes.

He went into the race without a win in 34 races while Sheik Mohammed's Godolphin operation have not been able to flex their muscles like they would have hoped to this week.

But Dettori is a shrewd tactician from the front and, when he kicked for home three furlongs out, the signs looked ominous for the chasing pack. Andrew Balding's Top Lock threw down a commendable challenge but he could not get his head and front and it was left to Conduit, the 11-4 favourite, to fly home for second when it was all too late.

It was a solid win but an inquiry from the BBC's Rishi Pershad as to whether he was the right type of horse for the Irish Derby may have been a little ambitious.

'That may be a little too soon,' said Dettori. Quite right, too, because the race is next week.

..

Race 3: Coronation Stakes

1st Lush Lashes 5-1
2nd Infallible 11-2
3rd Carribean Sunset 16-1

Disappointing Oaks favourite Lush Lashes put the record firmly straight with an emphatic victory in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes, completing a fantastic double on the day for trainer Jim Bolger and jockey Kevin Manning, after Cuis Ghaire's earlier victory in the Albany Stakes.

Lush Lashes stormed to victory in the Coronation Stakes

After her most impressive victory in the Musidora Stakes at York, Bolger's daughter of Galileo was unable to justify odds of 5-2 in the Epsom classic but her trainer's decision to drop her back in trip rather than go for Thursday's Ribblesdale Stakes proved vindicated when 5-1 chance emphatically saw off runner-up Infallible and third placed Carribean Sunset, with 9-4 favourite Spacious finishing a slightly disappointing fourth.

Bolger said: 'I've been very impressed with her but I didn't think she could win in that style. We knew after Epsom that she was going the right way but obviously I was very tempted to go for the Ribblesdale.

'But having won a Group race already, we decided to upgrade her into a Group One and she's done it very well. She had the Goffs (Fillies) Million won with a furlong to run and that is only seven furlongs, so she's always shown plenty of pace.

'I was a little concerned about her getting the mile and a half at Epsom but, to be fair, it was more that she didn't handle the track there. Next time it will probably be a mile and a half. There's the Irish Oaks at the Curragh.'

..

Race 4: Wolferton Handicap Stakes

1st Supaseus 12-1
2nd Many Volumes 17-2
3rd Pinpoint 16-1

Steve Drowne drew level with Johnny Murtagh on three winners in the race to be top jockey at Royal Ascot when making all of the running in the Wolferton Handicap on the Hughie Morrison-trained Supaseus.

Drowne, who partnered Flashmans Papers to victory in the Windsor Castle Stakes and Fifteen Love in Thursday's Britannia Stakes, gave his mount a superb tactical ride, kicking from the front, and the 12-1 chance responded by bravely repelling all challengers in the final furlong. He had a length to spare over Henry Cecil's Many Volumes at the line with the staying on Pinpoint in third. Favourite Monte Alto failed to land a blow.

Morrison said: 'I looked at the opposition and thought it was an incredibly tough race. We only just got in, we were the last one to get in and I honestly thought he needed a flat track, but he bobbled around in front and Steve rode a fantastic race. Once he was in front I thought he would be very difficult to pass.'

Drowne added: 'We looked at it beforehand and saw that three potential pacemakers had come out and the plan was always to be up there. He bowled along in front and had his ears pricked and with three furlongs to go I thought he'd take a bit of passing - he's a strong galloper.'

..

Race 5: Queen's Vase

1st Patkai 6-4f
2nd Amerigo 14-1
3rd Gravitation 33-1

Patkai won comfortably to give Ryan Moore a second winner of the meeting.

The favourite won comfortable by seven lengths.

Amerigo came home second, just edging out Gravitation.

Race 6: Buckingham Palace Stakes

1st Regal Parade 25-1
2nd Dhaular Dhar25-1
3rd Jedburgh 16-1

Sprint king Dandy Nicholls claimed his second-ever Royal Ascot winner when Regal Parade won the final race of day four.

Dhaular Dhar, trained by Jim Goldie, was second with the veteran Jedburgh in third.

Attention will now switch to tomorrow and the final day of this summer spectacular.