• Royal Ascot, day three

Queen's Estimate powers to Gold Cup glory

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Estimate showed guts and stamina in abundance to make history by providing a reigning monarch with a victory in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

HRH The Queen's filly was sent off favourite on the back of a fine preparation, but her stamina was far from proven.

Jockey Ryan Moore and trainer Sir Michael Stoute were extremely confident and rode her accordingly - as she sat close to the pace.

Moore saw last year's winner Colour Vision commit for home at the top of the straight and he immediately sent his mount in pursuit.

Estimate, who won at the meeting last year in the Queen's Vase, reeled in Colour Vision over a furlong from home, but had to fight off the challenge of Simenon and Top Trip to take the Group One staying prize.

"She had to show a lot of courage as she had to beat one and then stave off another," Stoute said. "He (Moore) always had her in a good position and she switches off so well. I really felt it was a seriously tough task for her, I couldn't be confident at all taking on the boys that are proven over this trip and she can be a pain in the backside at times."

Riposte provided Lady Cecil, the widow of the late, great Sir Henry Cecil, with an emotional Royal Ascot success when producing a smart turn of foot to land the Ribblesdale Stakes.

Cecil is the winning-most trainer at the Royal meeting with 75 victories, but he lost his battle with stomach cancer last week. Lady Cecil was granted a temporary licence and sent out winners last week.

The Warren Place yard went close with Tiger Cliff earlier in the week, but they hity the target as Riposte powered up the straight to land the Group Two prize.

Riposte missed the break and was anchored towards the back of the field early in the contest. It did not look a great position, as they did not appear to go fierce gallop. But jockey Tom Queally was able to thread his way through the field turning for home and his mount attacked the challenge with relish.

At the two furlong pole, only Riposte was travelling with any purpose and Queally drove her to the front. Riposte's fellow co-second favourites Just Pretending and Elik gave chase, but they were well beaten at the line.

The opening race of the day saw US trainer Wesley Ward claim another Royal Ascot winner, as No Nay Never showed speed and stamina to land the Norfolk Stakes.

The juvenile missed the break and trailed early, but showed tremendous speed to hit the front after a furlong. He looked in trouble as he was headed with over 250 yards to run, but answered the call of jockey Joel Rosario to land the Group Two contest.

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