Royal Ascot:France's Vision D'Etat delivered a perfectly timed challenge under Olivier Peslier to land a thrilling race for the Prince of Wales's Stakes on the second day of Royal Ascot. The 2008 French Derby winner, ridden by Olivier Peslier, beat 6-4 favourite Tartan Bearer into second.
Peslier was tucked in on the rails at the rear of the field as the eight runners swung into the straight and pounced on last year's Epsom Derby runner-up Tartan Bearer in the last 100 metres, to win the coveted Group One prize by half a length at odds of 4-1.
Tartan Bearer, ridden by Ryan Moore, was followed home a head behind by the second French challenger Never on Sunday (7-2).
Trainer Eric Libaud, who has had winners in Dubai and Hong Kong as well as France, said: "Of all the winners I've had in the world this is the most special, the most beautiful."
Peslier, riding the colt for the first time, won high praise for his consummate horsemanship.
He said: "The trainer told me it was best to leave it late. That was perfect for me."
Vision D'Etat, a creditable fifth in last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, was promptly quoted at odds of 10-1 for this year's renewal in October.
His victory gave another international flourish to the royal meeting after runners from Australia, the US and Ireland all enjoyed success on day one.
Earlier, Richard Hills picked the wrong one of his father Barry's two runners in the opening Jersey Stakes, opting for the 5-1 favourite Infiraad who finished last of 16.
Victory went to the other Hill's runner, 12-1 chance Ouqba, who atoned for a disappointing run in the English 2,000 Guineas.
It was a first Royal Ascot winner for jockey Tadgh O'Shea who said: "Hopefully that will be the first of many for me. He deserved that. He's going places."
The pattern was repeated in the Windsor Forest Stakesfor fillies and mares with the Cheveley Park Stud's Heaven Sent (5-2) strongly fancied to give champion jockey Moore his first winner of this year's Royal Ascot.
But he was denied by 10-1 shot Spacious, the other Cheveley Park runner, who won by a length to give Johnny Murtagh his second winner of the meeting.
He said: "She's a big-striding filly and is beautifully balanced."
Trainer James Fanshawe, who convinced the owners to keep the horse in training as a four-year-old, said: "This is a filly I have always believed in."
Murtagh struck again when favourite Forgotten Voice had punters shouting for joy in the Royal Hunt Cup.
The lightly-raced colt, the 4-1 favourite, took his 100 per cent record to four by turning this competitive handicap into a procession under Johnny Murtagh.
Leading well over a furlong out, Jeremy Noseda's charge forged clear and won easily by two and a half lengths from Huzzah. Mia's Boy was three-quarters of a length away third with Nanton fourth.
Jealous Again ran out an impressive winner of the Queen Mary Stakesto give American trainer Wesley Ward and jockey John Velazquez their second winner of the meeting.
Bursting out of the stalls, Jealous Again had far too much speed for the opposition and had them all burned off a long way out.
Lady Royal Oak was second early on in the centre of the course but Jealous Again (13-2) never saw another horse and she romped in by five lengths.
Misheer stayed on well for second two lengths ahead of Ceedwell, who pipped Capercaillie for third.