King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2)

AMILOC (11/8 favourite) stayed on best under Rossa Ryan in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes, bringing his record to five from five for Ralph Beckett and owner/breeders Mr and Mrs David Aykroyd.

Ryan Moore set the pace on Ballydoyle’s Galveston and attempted to steal away with five furlongs left to race but it became apparent turning for home that the blinkered bay was going to be reeled in.

Rossa Ryan looked confident aboard the favourite in second and was justified as he took over passing the two-furlong pole, while Johnny Murtagh’s well-backed representative Zahrann (11/4) looked uncomfortable on the good to firm ground as he gave chase.

Amiloc kept on to score by three-parts of a length, while Zahrann finished two and a quarter lengths in front of the longtime leader. The winning rider revealed that his mount disliked the ground as much as the runner-up, saying: “He travelled great and he’s done very well because he hated that ground – it was too lively for him.

Planned to perfection

“He’s tough and he’s hardy, and it’s great for Mrs Ackroyd who has been a long-standing supporter of racing, a great supporter of mine and I’m just delighted to get the job done. It’s a plan well executed and it’s prevailed.

Ryan was recording his first winner of the week, as was Ralph Beckett, who reflected: “He did it the hard way a little bit. I didn’t really want to run him in truth because I didn’t think he’d like this ground and I was wrong about that. I don’t think we’ve ever had one with five straight, so that’s good.

“It was a great ride. He’s very confident and he rode him with plenty of confidence; it set up well for us but sometimes it does.”

Like last year’s winner, Calandagan, Amiloc is a gelding, which somewhat restricts future targets.

Sandringham Stakes

Kieran Shoemark enjoyed a well-timed boost when gaining his second Royal Ascot win in the Sandringham Stakes aboard Never Let Go (22/1), trained by his longtime ally, Ed Walker.

After driving out the Rockcliffe Stud homebred to win by a length from stall two, Shoemark commented: “I was very fortunate to get the ride on this filly, it’s the first time I’ve sat on her. Ed Walker has been very loyal and it’s good to repay him.”

Reflecting on a challenging period losing John and Thady Gosden’s retainer, the rider continued: “You’ve just got to remain positive as a professional athlete and believe in yourself and believe that your luck will change and it’s just changed.”

Holyroodhouse

Arestia provided big-spending owners KHK Racing with their second success of the week when landing Friday’s finale, the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes, for Simon and Ed Crisford.

Rated 91 as a two-year-old, the £420,000 breeze-up buy finished a promising third against older horses on her seasonal return and took a step forward at Ascot to score by lengths under Oisin Murphy.

Simon Crisford was expecting a bold show, he revealed: “She’s a well-handicapped filly. We came in here full of confidence. Oisin rode a beautiful race, he tucked her in behind which is what she wants and he produced her and she finished well. We haven’t had a winner [at Royal Ascot] for a few years so it’s nice to get one back on the board.”

The daughter of Havana Grey was sold at Goffs UK by Katie McGivern’s Derryconnor Stud, whose graduate Azizam finished third in Windsor Castle Stakes earlier in the week.