Dream debut for Guyon as Byword is toast of Ascot
ROOKIE jockey Maxime Guyon capped a dream British debut by leading Byword to victory in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The 5-2 favourite, trained in France by Andre Fabre, proved just too good for Henry
Cecil’s Twice Over as owner Khalid Abdullah celebrated a one-two in the Group One
contest.
Byword came through the field to win by half a length, with long-term leader Tazeez
holding on for third, a further three-quarters of a length behind.
“I’m absolutely delighted to have been given the opportunity to ride here today by Mr
Fabre, I never thought it would happen,” 21-year-old Guyon said. “Everything went
perfect in the race and I’m delighted.”
Fabre, meanwhile, praised his young jockey, admitting it was gamble which paid off.
“The horse had the ability to win the race, but I was a bit worried about the inexperience
of the jockey,” a delighted Fabre said. “He had a perfect ride without any bumps but I
knew the horse had the ability.”
Of Guyon, he added: “He has nerves and he is young, which I always like. He rides all
the horses at home and knows what they want and he doesn’t use his whip a lot, which I
like.”
Earlier, 8-1 shot Rainfall set a course record to become the first filly since 1991 to win
the Jersey Stakes.
Ridden by champion jockey Ryan Moore, the Mark Johnston-trained three-year-old edged out Red Jazz on the line with Rock Jock coming home third.
Moore then completed back-to-back wins when leading home Strawberrydaiquiri (9-2) to victory following a tough battle with last year’s winner Spacious in the Windsor Forest Stakes.
The grey, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, fought back over the last furlong to win by a head with favourite Antara a further three lengths back.
Frankie Dettori bagged the biggest winner of the day, riding 28-1 shot Invisible Man to a surprise win in the Royal Hunt Cup, while Maqaasid won the Queen Mary Stakes to give jockey Richard Hills a winner for trainer John Gosden.