Godolphin's Coroebus seals dramatic Ascot win

Godolphin's Coroebus won an absolute thriller to take the St James's Palace Stakes race on the opening day of Royal Ascot.

Despite being stuck in the far corner heading towards the end of the race, Coroebus and jockey William Buick were able to make their move, coming in ahead of second placed Lusail in a photo finish, while My Prospero came home in third.

With a furlong and a half to go, Coroebus, trained by Charlie Appleby, surged to the front. In a tight finish, a delighted Buick was able to hold on and win by a head. "He's very brave and has got everything you would ask for in a racehorse," the 33-year-old said.

"The St James's Palace Stakes is always the confirmation of the top three-year-old miler and now we go and take on the older horses. You have to enjoy these good horses, I'm very privileged to be able to get on these good horses. But at the same time, it's a case of getting the job done."

Buick shared his thoughts on his plan when finding himself boxed in as the race headed to its conclusion. "I had two options, I could have come back a stride and gone around him which I was prepared to do," he added. "In the straight I had no option to go when I did and I got a lovely run through."

Coroebus, who was the favourite ahead of the race, notched his first victory away from Newmarket. Happy trainer Charlie Appleby said: "We knew coming into today it would be a different style of a race. I just wish the pace had been stronger."

Earlier, the world's top-rated horse Baaeed got Royal Ascot off to a brilliant start with a classy win in the Queen Anne Stakes. The four-year-old, with Jim Crowley riding for trainer William Haggas, beat Real World by one and three quarter lengths. Baaeed, running in Dubai's Shadwell colours, was the 1-6 favourite.

"It doesn't get any easier than that. Everything went like clockwork," said Crowley.