BRITANNIA STAKES

HERITAGE HANDICAP

SILVESTRE de Sousa is the hardest of jockeys to pass when allowed an early lead and the champion underlined the fact yet again when making virtually every yard on Simon Crisford’s Ostilio in the Britannia Stakes, a cavalry charge over a mile.

It was a most opportunistic ride, the Brazilian breaking well and soon making his way to the nearside rail. In a race such as this it always seems that something must come from out of the pack but the 10/1 chance stuck his neck out and ran as straight as a gun barrel to the line, scoring by just over a length from Curiosity, with Magnificent and Desert Wind next.

Crisford has done well since leaving his management role with Godolphin and has been among the winners recently.

“This is my first Royal Ascot winner and I can’t thank owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Obaid enough for supporting me,” the trainer said.

“I was with Godolphin for many years and I think there were 65 winners here during my time there.

“This means everything to me.”

De Sousa sensibly let Ostilio bowl along when it became obvious the horse was plenty keen enough anyway. There have been winners for him just about everywhere over the past few seasons but, perhaps surprisingly, this was his first Royal Ascot success since 2014.