Tasting victory at Royal Ascot has become almost second nature for trainer Wesley Ward in recent seasons but even he could not have predicted the demolition job Lady Aurelia would produce in the Queen Mary Stakes.
Over the years racegoers at the blue riband meeting have been treated to a number of magical moments, and the performance of the speedy two-year-old will for many be right up there with the best of them.
Although Ward was bullish about the prospects of the daughter of Scat Daddy after she bolted up on her debut at Keeneland, there was a fear in the back of his mind that soft ground could work against her on her first outing on turf.
However, those concerns were never a factor as, after breaking smartly from stall 14, the 2-1 favourite quickly adopted her role at the head of the field in a tactic which has been used to good effect by many of the American handler's runners here since 2009.
It was evident from the halfway point that there was only going to be one winner, with Frankie Dettori having a double handful of horse underneath him as those in behind began to tread water in trying to bridge the gap.
Having forced a relentless pace it could have been expected Lady Aurelia may have been forced to pull out all the stops close to home to hold on to victory, but after asking for more at the furlong pole the market leader responded in style.
Showing another gear Lady Aurelia only needed to be pushed out with hands and heels, affording Dettori the luxury of pointing to the packed stands as she passed the line officially seven lengths clear of runner-up Al Johrah.
She was giving Ward his second straight win in the race after Acapulco 12 months ago, and seventh Royal Ascot winner in all.
Ward said: "She is an amazing filly. I kept professing about her and you need it to come true, so thank God she lived up to it.
"She is special, is very sound and should have a big future. We're very excited about her.
"There was a little bit of a question for me with the ground, but she overcame that and Frankie rode her beautifully.”
After ruling out the Nunthorpe for the winner, Ward outlined two possible options as to where she will be seen out next.
He said: "We will probably keep her based over here, I need to talk to the owners. It all depends where her next start will be, but that will hopefully be the Molecomb and then on to the Prix Morny.
"We probably won't go to the Nunthorpe with this filly. I'd like to space her races out. There is nothing in the United States on the grass for a filly like her at the moment."
REPLAY: The awesome Lady Aurelia evokes memories of Frankel with an astonishing win in the Queen Mary #RoyalAscothttps://t.co/8a9PFodAfR
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 15, 2016
Ribchester ran out an easy 7-1 winner of the Jersey Stakes.
Richard Fahey's colt was carrying a penalty for his win in the Mill Reef last year, but had the best form heading into the race, having finished third in the Qipco 2000 Guineas.
With that form franked by winner Galileo Gold on Tuesday, he took full of advantage of a drop in class.
Having tracked the pace-setter Gifted Master, William Buick never had an anxious moment, powering away to score by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Thikriyaat.
Forge kept on gallantly for third, but the favourite Castle Harbour, previously unbeaten, could never get on terms.
Buick said of the winner: "He ran very well in the Guineas and he might have done a little bit better had things worked out differently.
"He doesn't mind that ground and it was real good performance.
"Richard said beforehand, 'Just get the job done'."
Ribchester could now renew rivalry with Galileo Gold in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on 27 July.
REPLAY: Ribchester runs out an impressive winner of the Jersey Stakes for @godolphin at #RoyalAscot earlier today🇬🇧🏇https://t.co/QrYRxc1amd
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 15, 2016
Godolphin claimed their third winner on the second day of Royal Ascot when Irish raider Portage struck in the Royal Hunt Cup.
Mick Halford's four-year-old was never too far off a generous pace set by Early Morning on the far side of the track.
But once the nine-runner breakaway group converged into one, Portage really got going in the hands of James Doyle.
The 10-1 chance took the lead inside the final furlong and kept on powerfully on the far rail to deny Librisa Breeze by a length and a quarter.
Onrushing duo Mitchum Swagger and Azraff were third and fourth respectively.
Halford, celebrating his first Royal winner, said: "It's hard to put into words, but it's certainly exciting.
"It means the world to us, Sheikh Mohammed has been incredibly good to us, all the way back to Casamento - this is how we can repay his generosity.
"We think he's a decent horse, we've been very patient with him and hopefully he'll repay us now."
What a day for Godolphin! It's a #RoyalAscot treble as PORTAGE proves too strong in the Royal Hunt Cup: https://t.co/UqjfyMXIJP
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 15, 2016
Dettori doubled up as Persuasive stretched her unbeaten record to four races in the Sandringham Handicap.
The grey filly's length-and-a-quarter defeat of Diamond Fields lacked the visual impact of Lady Aurelia's Queen Mary cakewalk, but her jockey was still most impressed.
Persuasive, the 11-4 favourite, charged for home a furlong and a half from the line and though the chasing pack closed in slightly, Persuasive easily held them off in the style of a very good horse.
Dettori said: "She's a lovely filly and everything went to plan.
"She didn't like the ground too much but to have two winners on the day is fantastic."
Sharaakah and Radiantly finished third and fourth.
Gosden said: "She's a lovely filly. We were hopeful, and I did feel if I had a banker for the week - if there is such a thing - this filly was it.
"I'll have to tick the jockey off as he's hit the front too soon, but he's riding very well, our boy.
"He had to do his minimum weight for this.
"We've got black type at Royal Ascot so we'll just see where we go with her."
