Queen 'delighted' as horse rides to victory on second day of Royal Ascot

The Queen is said to be delighted as her horse Tactical rode to victory on the second day of Royal Ascot.

Tactical, ridden by James Doyle and trained by Andrew Balding, had a length-and-a-quarter victory in the Windsor Castle Stakes on Wednesday afternoon.

Doyle said: “To ride a winner here for Her Majesty is what dreams are made of.

“It worked out perfectly. He jumped really well from the stalls and was a true professional – for a horse who had only run once before.

“He took it all in his stride, and it’s a testament to Andrew’s training.”

It’s the first winner for Her Majesty in four years and came after disappointment this morning, when her horse First Receiver, ridden by Frankie Dettori, was pipped to the post by Russian Emperor.

The Queen’s bloodstock adviser John Warren said: “I think everyone involved is absolutely thrilled – all of Her Majesty’s team, and obviously Andrew and his team.

“Throughout the conversations the Queen was saying how delighted she is to produce a two-year-old winner at Royal Ascot.”

Read more: Queen's official birthday marked with new military ceremony at Windsor Castle

Looking to future plans, Warren said: “It looks like he will stretch out in trip, so we’ll look at races like the Richmond at Goodwood and the Prix Robert Papin in France.”

He added: “It is obviously a great shame Her Majesty isn’t there to enjoy the buzz of having a runner, but she has studied every bit of it today, watching the races. It’s the icing on the cake to have a winner for her.

“I think the Queen, every day of her life, follows racing one way or another when she can. She will have read the Racing Post and known very well the important, fancied horses. She always dedicates half an hour or so to the information every day, so she’s very well tuned in and racing is her tremendous pleasure.

“The Queen doesn’t get frustrated lightly – she’s very pragmatic and takes everything in her stride. I suspect deep down there may have been a tinge of disappointment she wasn’t there, but that was completely overridden by having a winner and breeding it.

“I suspect she got a warm inner feeling from pulling this one off.”

Read more: 17 joyous photos of the Queen smiling at Ascot

Trainer Balding said: “It’s obviously a great thrill for all of us to have a royal winner at the Royal meeting.

“On racedays we tend to give the Queen a ring in the morning and give her our thoughts. We did that this morning, so she was well informed.”

In normal years, the Queen would be at Royal Ascot to see her horses ride in person, but this year, she’s had to make do with the televised races.

There are no spectators allowed at this year’s event, to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Instead she has access to a feed showing the parade ring, and will watch the races from home.

The Queen is kept largely in isolation at Windsor Castle, but did watch a smaller version of the Trooping the Colour ceremony on 13 June, her official birthday.

The Queen is known to be a great horse lover, and still rides regularly despite being 94. She revealed her favourite horses in an approved interview with Horse and Hound earlier in June.