The Japan Times - O'Brien and Moore complete full house of Royal Ascot Group One races

O'Brien had a double on the first day of the meeting to move within two of yet another landmark in his astonishing career becoming the first trainer to train 100 Royal Ascot winners.

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla were present -- though the horse that ran in the royal colours Reaching High did not live up to his name finishing last in the Ascot Stakes.

Mission Central swooped late to deny Australian race favourite Overpass, who also lost out for second to French runner Rayevka.

The winner was perhaps fortunate Hong Kong's crack sprinter Ka Ying Rising did not come.

"Aidan can do anything, can't he," said Moore.

Never the most garrulous of characters, Moore brushed aside that his 93rd Royal Ascot winner had also completed the Royal Ascot Group One full house.

"For me it is race to race really. I am just lucky to ride for Aidan and Coolmore," said the 42-year-old Englishman.

Overpass's jockey Josh Parr was gracious in defeat.

"It has been a mindblowing experience," he said.

"I am so honoured to be competing here. I did not get the victory I so wanted but it was a great performance."

O'Brien had got off the mark in the preceding race the Group Two Coventry Stakes.

However, Moore chose the wrong one this time, Wayne Lordan guiding home Great Barrier Reef to make it three wins from three outings.

For Lordan it was his first win at the meeting since 2020, but O'Brien's 12th in the Coventry -- it was the first race at Ascot he won back in 1997 with 16/1 shot Harbour Master.

- 'Blown away' -

O'Brien though had to give second best in the Group One St James's Palace Stakes -- his Gstaad just being nosed out of first by the odds-on favourite Bow Echo.

Bow Echo's jockey Billy Loughnane looked nervous as he waited for the photo finish decision -- before punching the air with delight.

"I would not put it down as one of my finest races today, but the horse got me out of trouble," said Loughnane of the George Boughey-trained winner.

"He is pure class. I am so lucky at the age of 20 to be riding a superstar.

"It is sad that Sheikh Obaid (his late owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum) is not with us any more as this horse was the apple of his eye."

Boughey said the greatest pleasure he took was that Loughnane is "like a younger brother, we chat the whole time, and to be able to have that affinity with a jockey is amazing."

The King and Queen had barely sat down when Ten Bob Tony sprang a huge surprise, in the opener the Queen Anne Stakes, storming home under Kieran Shoemark at 50/1 -- the joint-biggest priced winner of the race since Garrick triumphed 76 years ago.

For Shoemark it was a huge step forward after the blow he suffered prior to last year's Royal Ascot when he lost his job with the powerful stable of John and Thady Gosden.

"Somewhat surprised but obviously delighted," said Shoemark, who was recording his first Royal Ascot Group One winner on the Ed Walker-trained runner.

"This is massive. I appreciate the magnitude of Royal Ascot."

Ten Bob Tony was the first horse bought by his owner Simon Sadler -- he has 50 in training now -- making the Ed Walker-trained win extra special.

"This horse is named after my dad. That was his nickname because he used to run a 50p –- or 10 bob –- stall on the market in Blackpool," he said.

"Dad's not here today as he's not in the best of health, but I'm sure he watched it and I'd bet he had more on the horse than I did!"

"I am blown away. I am shaking. There are tears running down my face."

Y.Mori--JT