Racing
Asfoora overrun, Zahra wins at Royal Ascot
Aussie jockey wins Royal Ascot Group 1, Asfoora concedes King Charles crown
It was not to be for Asfoora, who surrendered her King Charles III Stakes crown, but Mark Zahra had Australia in the winner's stall on Day 1 of the Royal Ascot meeting, which commenced overnight Tuesday.
Zahra scored an upset win when he carried the colours of OTI Racing to victory aboard the Harry Eustace-trained Docklands the first race of the five-day carnival, the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1609m).
It was Zahra's only ride for the week and his maiden outing at the world-famous carnival, one that would not have been possible without the urging of friend Will Bourne.
"What an amazing feeling," Zahra said.
"(It's) unbelievable. I've got to thank Will Bourne, who put me on the case. He said get onto Harry because Docklands is going there and ring him, so I rang Harry and Harry's like 'you can ride him, no problems'.
"It's one of the top moments of my career for sure."
It was the first international Group 1 success for 42-year-old Zahra, who now has 36 top-level wins to his name, including back-to-back Melbourne Cup victories in 2022 and 2023.
Docklands went one better than last year, when he was runner-up to Charyn in the Queen Anne Stakes. He also won the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2023.
Docklands is a horse Australian racing fans are familiar with the son of Massaat, who is a half-brother to Harbour Views, having competed at last year's Spring Carnival, where he finished fifth in the Cox Plate and sixth in the Champions Stakes.
Zahra had to call on all his vigour to get him over the line on Tuesday after dropping his whip final in the concluding stages, but he got the 14/1 chance home by a nose from 5/2 favourite Rosallion.
Third was 100/1 shot Cairo, while back in sixth spot was Ciaron Maher's American recruit Carl Spackler, who was heavily-backed into 15/2 and travelled just off the lead in the slowly-run race but lacked the late sprint required and was beaten three lengths under James Mcdonald.
"Everyone kept scaring me about the whip rules, so I thought it'd be easiest to throw it away at the 200," Zahra said with a laugh.
"It was a very slow, slow speed. I just crept as much as I could and we just got room at the right time, he burst through and kept responding. It was a tough effort."
Just over an hour after Docklands' win, Asfoora again contested the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1006m), which she famously won last year, but could manage only fifth position.
The Henry Dwyer-trained mare presented as a winning hope at the 400m but knocked up over the concluding stages to be beaten just over two lengths in the race won by the Jim Goldie-trained American Affair.
"Oisin [Murphy] was just of the opinion we got stuck on the wrong part of the track, Dwyer said.
"Even though she loomed at the 150-metre mark like she had a fair chance, she probably just felt the pinch for having to do a fair bit to get into the race. There's not much for us at home so it will be Goodwood, York and beyond hopefully."
Check out the latest Singapore News