Opportunity knocks to dash hopes of royal winner Opportunity denied the King and Queen a Royal Ascot winner through Warrant Holder in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes. It is three years since Desert Hero brought the house down by carrying the royal silks to success in the King George V Stakes and confidence was seemingly high in their latest contender, who was a 16-5 second-favourite to strike gold on day four. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the William Buick-ridden Warrant Holder looked likely to prevail after travelling smoothly into contention rounding the home turn and then hitting the front passing the two-furlong marker. McDonald Spoils Royal Celebration on the Rail But New Zealand-born, Hong Kong-based rider James McDonald came from further back and got a dream run up the rail aboard the William Haggas-trained 6-1 shot Opportunity to spoil the party, with a length and three-quarters separating the pair at the line. McDonald said: “I was lucky to be on a willing participant and he did everything I asked. This horse was trained to the minute. Even William said this is one of our best runners during the week, that’s just saying how good he was. “I did see the royal colours and I’ve deep respect and admiration for them. I was just glad to get a winner at Royal Ascot, that’s the main thing and I’m enjoying every minute of it. “I go home Sunday, but I want to be back next year.” Haggas Reaps Rewards of Patience Haggas and owners Wathnan Racing were both enjoying their third winner of the meeting so far. Haggas said of his four-year-old: “This time last year he behaved appallingly here, he was too free, he was a mess and he ran awfully. “I said it on Wednesday, a patient trainer needs patient owners. We put him away, gelded him and he’s come back a different horse. “He’s a bit soft, he needs nourishment, not punishment. He received the most magnificent ride, the horse was relaxed, breathing properly, and then the rest is history – it’s great.” Joseph O’Brien drew level with father Aidan on five winners for the week after his Green Carrera (8-1) ploughed a long furrow up the stands rail under Mickael Barzalona to run away with the Sandringham Handicap. Racing alone the three-year-old hit the front a furlong from home and came clean away from Symbol Of Majesty in the centre of the track, winning by two lengths with Rosa Inglesa third. O’Brien said: “She got a dream run up the rail and a great ride from Mickael with a light weight on her back. “I think if Dylan (Browne McMonagle) could have made the weight, he probably would have chosen her, but it’s very hard choosing in these races, you need everything to go right, and you can’t say in advance where the bias is going to be. “Whether we go for another handicap or for a stakes race, you’d like to think that on the back of today she could hold her own in stakes company.”
