Circus Maximus rewards late entry in St James’s Palace at Royal Ascot

Circus Maximus was a surprise winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes on a rewarding first day at Royal Ascot for his trainer, Aidan O’Brien, and his jockey, Ryan Moore. The 10-1 shot had finished in the middle of the pack in the Derby less than three weeks ago but, dropped in distance to a mile and with blinkers fitted for the first time, he made much of the running and stayed on strongly up the straight. The son of Galileo was a surprise supplementary entry for this race last week, dropping half a mile in distance.

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The colt had to be brave to withstand challenges that seemed to come in waves. Having gone past Fox Champion, he had to outbattle the favourite, Too Darn Hot, and resist the late thrust of King Of Comedy, beaten just a neck after hanging across the track towards the grandstand.

“He’s got a real good attitude,” Moore said. “Too Darn Hot came to beat him and he dug in.”

Phoenix Of Spain seemed to get an ideal tow into the race but his effort flattened out from the home turn. Charlie Hills suggested the effort in winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas by three lengths had taken its toll on the grey.

Earlier, O’Brien and Moore had also teamed up to win the Coventry Stakes with Arizona, who scored by half a length from Threat. Godolphin got one on the board in the King’s Stand Stakes, won by Blue Point for the second time in a row, while Lord Glitters stepped up on last year’s second place in the Queen Anne to win it this time. He was helped by last year’s winner, Accidental Agent, refusing to leave the starting stalls.