Moore and O’Brien combine for big race double on Day Four at Royal Ascot

Unbeaten Caravaggio claimed the sixth win of his career to win the Commonwealth Cup before the English and Irish 1000 Guineas winner Winter took victory in the Coronation Stakes.

Having yesterday’s performance saw the pair win the Norfolk Stakes with Sioux Nation and then settle for runners-up in the Gold Cup with Order of St George, Caravaggio got the ball rolling today in a quick-fire double in the Commonwealth Cup.

Moore held back patiently in the six furlong chase before pushing the race favourite past the talented Godolphin pair of Harry Angel and Blue Point with a brilliant turn of foot to win by three-quarters of a length.

If that success was impressive, Winter then completed a Group One treble as she defeated stablemates Roly Poly and Hydrangea for an O’Brien 1-2-3 in a repeat of the Irish Guineas result.

The daughter of Galileo lived up to the favourites tag to pass the post a good two and a quarter lengths in hand over Roly Poly, with Hydrangea close behind.

The day’s opening race saw French raider Different League showed speed in abundance to land the Albany Stakes.

Trained by Matthieu Palussiere, Different League, with Antoine Hamelin at the helm, was pushed all the way to the line by favourite Alpha Centauri who came second, with Take Me With You in third a further three lengths back.

Mark Johnston’s decision to run Permian in the King Edward VII Stakes was rewarded with a battling victory that secured the trainer his 40th Royal Ascot success.

On his sixth start of the season, and just 20 days after disappointing in the Derby, the Dante Stakes winner under William Buick dug deep to repel the late challenge of Khalidi by half a length, bringing up a landmark success for Johnston at his favourite meeting.
Crystal Ocean was a further length and a quarter back in third.

Buick partnered his second winner of the day when he stole a march on the field aboard Rare Rhythm to land the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby.

The five-year-old was making his first appearance since the same race 12 months ago, when he finished eighth from the same mark and under the same jockey. Buick made the most of the favourable position he crafted on Rare Rhythm and when the pair grabbed the lead over two furlongs out, they were always the likeliest winner in the straight, coming in ahead of Appeared, Star Storm and Top Tug.

That success came after the penultimate race of the day which saw Andrea Atzeni escort Stradivarius to success in the Queen’s Vase.
The John Gosden-trained horse came in only by a neck’s distance from Count Octave in second, with Secret Advisor in third a further two lengths back.

Royal Ascot for 2017 draws to a close tomorrow with Day Five and a final day highlighted by the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and the Hardwicke Stakes.

Swiss watchmaker Longines is the Official Timekeeper and Watch and Official Partner of Royal Ascot, with the brand having an enhanced on-course presence including a branded chronometer close to the winning post.