Palace Pier Shines On Day One At Royal Ascot

News | 15th June 2021

After a year without fans in 2020, day one of Royal Ascot delivered in spades with three special Group 1 performances from Palace Pier, Oxted and Poetic Flare.

Off the track, a crowd of around 12,000 made their way to Ascot Racecourse as part of the Government’s Events Research Programme (ERP) making the empty and quiet grandstands, synonymous with last year’s meeting something of a distant memory. 

Dressed to impress, with hats of all shapes, colours, and sizes accompanied by the glorious British weather, the day was arguably already made.

PALACE PIER – QUEEN ANNE STAKES 

On the track, Europe’s top miler Palace Pier proved the main attraction of the day. 

John Gosden’s stable star travelled into the lead in commanding fashion and put the race to bed over a furlong out. It was a thrilling start to the Royal meeting with the much-loved Italian, Frankie Dettori soaking in the applause of a significant crowd whilst topping it off with his trademark flying dismount.

OXTED – KING’S STAND STAKES 

Following a brilliant performance from speedy two-year-old Berkshire Shadow in the Coventry Stakes, it was the turn of the older sprinters to put on a show in the Group 1 King’s Stand. 

Amongst them was last year’s winning pairing of Jim Crowley and Battaash, however it was to be young Cieren Fallon Jr and Oxted who stole the show.

Oxted, who hadn’t quite found his best form since winning the July Cup last year produced a simply scintillating performance to land the 5-furlong sprint. A wonderful result for trainer Roger Teal and his family run operation.

POETIC FLARE – ST JAMES’S PALACE STAKES 

In the final top level race of the day, it was the turn of the Irish as Jim Bolger combined with Kevin Manning to land the St James’s Palace Stakes with Poetic Flare.

The QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner oozed class as he extended clear of a competitive field to win gamely. He will surely have some significant targets to come with a potentially mouth-watering clash with Palace Pier looming at Glorious Goodwood.

Here is some of the rest of the day’s social media reaction.

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION….

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