Aidan O'Brien's Meditate (5-2) led almost from start to finish to land the opener, the Albany Stakes, in good style on the fourth day of Royal Ascot 2022.
The No Nay Never filly had impressed when winning both her starts at the Curragh and in a Group Three at Naas and she remained unbeaten, bringing up the hat-trick in the Group Three contest.
Under Ryan Moore – landing his fourth winner of the week to stay in front in the chase to be leading jockey – Meditate broke well in the six-furlong contest and dictated the race from the front. Then coming to the final couple of furlongs, Meditate and Moore moved clear of their rivals and went on to score by a comfortable length-and-three-quarters from Godolphin's 2-1 favourite Mawj and jockey Ray Dawson. Ivory Madonna (66-1) was a further neck back in third, with Queen Olly (8-1) fourth another three-quarters-of-a-length adrift.
Meditate is now a best-priced 12-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair for next year's QIPCO 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
O'Brien, who was grabbing a third winner of the week following Little Big Bear and Kyprios, said: "She'd put in a lovely run first time and again second time, and everything went really lovely for her today. She looks to have all the attributes, she's a big physical specimen, mature and with a lovely mind. She looks like a miler and will head for the Fillies' Mile with one run in between.
"We didn't want to run Statuette against her and she will head for a fillies' race at the Curragh next week."
Moore, who was landing his 70th Royal Ascot winner, said: "Meditate is professional. Aidan could not have had her any better today. She did everything beautifully. She was out ahead of everything else and we didn't expect to be in front as she was waiting for something every time she was there. She kept finding a bit more. She has a lovely relaxed way of going. She is a lovely filly who has a bit of class. You need class when you are making the running here over six furlongs.
"Meditate can carry on improving. She did that professionally and comfortably. She has a nice attitude."
Part-owner Michael Tabor said: “We did expect that, very much so. I spoke to Aidan a couple of times and he said Meditate had improved from her first couple of runs. Everybody in the yard seemed to fancy her, so I wasn't surprised at all. She is obviously a very easy filly to ride. You saw her leave the gates – she strode out well and really, it’s easy to say it after the race, but she never looked in danger.
"For me – I can only speak for myself – I still get an enormous thrill [from winning races like this]. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here.”
Runner-up Mawj’s jockey Dawson said: “I tracked the winner, but she had just a little more natural speed and a bit more experience. My filly is still learning and could probably do with stepping up a furlong or two. She has run well.”
Later in the day Changingoftheguard (11-10 favourite) provided Aidan O'Brien with an 80th Royal Ascot winner with victory in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes.
Under Ryan Moore, Changingoftheguard led from start to finish to win the 'Ascot Derby' having been fifth to Desert Crown in the Cazoo-sponsored real thing at Epsom just 13 days ago. The son of Galileo had won the Chester Vase in style on the Roodee last month, and put up a fine effort in the Derby.
Changingoftheguard was sent straight into the lead by Moore at Ascot and had them on the stretch on the turn for home. The Charlie Fellowes-trained Grand Alliance (10-1) was the one horse to challenge, but as he came widest and late, he drifted across the track. And although there was only a short head in it at the line, O'Brien's favourite just prevailed.
O'Brien's 80th winner at Royal Ascot means he is now just two behind Sir Michael Stoute's current record of 82.
O'Brien said: "He's a very tough, hardy horse and Ryan gave him a brilliant ride. He has an incredible constitution and will never surrender. I will be happy going the Leger trip with him. It's been a big week,, but I take nothing for granted and every winner is a big bonus."
Moore, who was landing his 71st Royal Ascot winner and a fifth of the week, said: "Changingoftheguard was not at his best today. Even round the track, he was having a look and wasn't focused. He kept going and the runner-up has run across the track, but I needed a bit of help really. He is a very honest horse, but he just gallops. He could have done with a bit of company and a bit of help. He wasn't getting a lot of it and we were sitting ducks, but he does have that bit of class."
On runner-up Grand Alliance, trainer Fellowes said: "To have a really good one for the Roys (owners) is fantastic – they have been supporters of mine for quite a long time now, and the lads have done such a great job with the horse.
"He's not straightforward. He has his own ideas about the game, but he's very talented and he's a pleasure to have around the place. It's just nice to train good horses. He'll have his day – it's not today, but he'll have his day.
"I didn't think the visor was going to make any difference for the first half of the race, and then, a bit like at Epsom, he sort of clocked on a bit earlier this time and cruised round the corner, and I thought, all right! Then when he's in the straight he veers further and further across – maybe the ground didn't help.
"The St Leger has been mentioned. Whether he'll stay that far, I don't know. I think Danny (Tudhope) was more worried about how knackered he'd be at the end of the Leger, pushing him round that far! We'll see."
Willie Haggas' Candleford (11-2) ran out a fine winner of the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes, under a fine ride under Tom Marquand.
Initially settled in rear during the 1m4f handicap, Marquand brought Candleford around the outside and then on the turn for home made his challenge. And once he hit the front he quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals, eventually coming home by an impressive six lengths from Ajero (17-2). Contact (15-2) was a further length-and-a-quarter back in third with Brilliant Light (20-1) a neck back in fourth.
The Queen continues to be winner-less in her Platinum Jubilee year as the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Just Fine – sent off the 4-1 joint-favourite – never got into the race and was well beaten nack in eighth.
Haggas said: "He loves going right handed and won a nice race in the autumn. I thought going a mile and a half on fast ground would prove right up his street.
"I actually thought all through the winter I would win the Duke Of Edinburgh, but not with him. I didn't think he would get in, but I was wrong.
"One person I'm thinking of right now is Alison Samuel, who rides him every day. She will be in tears for a week."
The winner is owned by former England cricketer Craig Kieswetter's Barnane Stud.
The well-backed Heredia justified 7-2 favouritism with a length victory in the Sandringham Stakes.
The Richard Hannon-trained Dark Angel filly has won three in a row with the latest at York Last month.
And under Sean Levey, who was landing a first Royal Ascot winner, she make it four in a row. Although having drifted left late on and bumped eventual runner-up Zanbaq, she had to survive a stewards' inquiry before being confirmed the winner after.
Trainer Hannon is now looking at moving out of handicap company for a crack at the Group One Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket next month.
The Newmarket handler said: "It's been a great week with loads of owners trainers and jockeys having winners. It takes a Group horse to win a handicap at Royal Ascot and as she's in the Falmouth we will take a look at it."
On his first Royal Ascot winner Levey added: "It's absolutely huge for me. That's my first Royal Ascot winner and I've been here a long time now. I needed to go off favourite in a race like this. A lot could have gone wrong, but she is a good filly and has done it well."
