Racing:Colour Vision held off fellow Godolphin runner Opinion Poll to take top honours in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot under Frankie Dettori. The Italian rider had to choose between the pair earlier this week and many saw it as a surprise when he sided with Saeed bin Suroor's Colour Vision over the more established Opinion Poll.
Dettori settled the 6-1 chance on the heels of the leaders for much of the two-and-a-half-mile journey and quickened up well in the straight to take the lead. Opinion Poll came from further back with a big challenge under Mickael Barzalona, but former Mark Johnston inmate Colour Vision held on by half a length.
The pair did come close together, however, and the stewards called an inquiry shortly after the finish but the placings remained unaffected.
The hot favourite for the Group One feature was last year’s winner Fame And Glory. But while Aidan O’Brien’s odds-on shot travelled nicely into the straight, he could not pick up from further back and was ultimately well beaten.
Formerly with Mark Johnston, Colour Vision had made an impressive debut for Bin Suroor in the rearranged Sagaro Stakes on the all-weather at Kempton, and Dettori clearly felt he was open to more progress than Opinion Poll, who was second in the race 12 months ago.
A further neck away from the Godolphin duo in third was the John Oxx-trained Saddler’s Rock. Like the winner, he ran an excellent race for a four-year-old, especially considering how hard he pulled in the early stages.
Princess Highway had emulated her dam Irresistible Jewel as she powered to victory in the preceding Ribblesdale Stakes. Dermot Weld saddled the latter to win the Group Two event 10 years ago in the hands of Pat Smullen for Moyglare Stud, and the same team struck gold once again with Princess Highway.
Investec Oaks second Shirocco Star set out to make all under Darryll Holland, getting a few on the stretch turning in after a canny ride, but Smullen was happy to work his way into contention and Princess Highway could be spotted travelling well from some way out.
Shirocco Star just started to toil at the top of the straight as Smullen cruised down the outside and swept into the lead with two furlongs to run. The 17-2 chance quickly pulled clear and did not stop, passing the post with six lengths to spare over 5-2 favourite The Fugue, who kept on to steal second place on the line.
The game Shirocco Star was a further short head back in third, but the Queen’s Momentary never got in a blow under Hayley Turner.
Reckless Abandon overcame clear signs of inexperience to record his second victory from as many starts in the Norfolk Stakes, the first race of the day. Clive Cox’s Doncaster winner was smartly away in the five-furlong Group Two and quickened up to take the lead heading towards the furlong marker.
It looked as though the 4-1 shot would throw away his chance as he hung violently left in the hands of Adam Kirby, coming right across to the stands side rail. But it is testament to his ability that he still managed to win, passing the post with three-quarters of a length in hand.
Gale Force Ten filled the runner-up spot, racing on the other side of the course, with Ian’s Dream third. O’Brien, trainer of Gale Force Ten, said: “I’m delighted with the run. We’ve often run a horse back in the Railway Stakes after this, so he would be a possible for that.”