The Sunday Telegraph

Queen savours success of homegrown winner 500 miles from Ascot

- By Patrick Sawer

AFTER missing the first four days of the meeting, the Queen returned to her beloved Royal Ascot yesterday.

But although she was enthusiast­ically welcomed by the crowds, she enjoyed greater success 500 miles north of the racecourse.

While her horses had mixed results at Ascot, at Balmoral another one of her animals won something truly special.

Gusgurlach of Balmoral, a two-yearold homebred bull, was judged both male and overall champion at the Royal Highland Show Showcase 2021. It is one of eight bulls in the Queen’s fold of Highland cattle, which contains 65 breeding cows and 30 young females.

Another of her bulls, Uachdaran of Balmoral, won the junior section. The Queen has been raising Highland cattle at her Balmoral estate since 1953 and has won prizes across the country for the quality quali of her livestock. Her animals have commanded premium p prices, fetching fe more than £7,000 £7,0 at auction. Royal Roya Ascot was held behind closed doors last year but bu was being staged this time round as part of the reop reopening of society following the Covid lockdowns. So there was delight when the Queen arrived at 2pm. She was w welcomed with waves, cheers che and applause by the crowd, crow overjoyed to see her. At around 1.30pm, announcers had let it be known that the Queen was on her way, drawing a large section of the crowd to the paddock to watch her entrance.

She was driven around the paddock as the band played the national anthem, with the crowd joining in.

The Queen, who was not wearing a face mask as the meeting is a government test event, was then introduced to fellow guests and dignitarie­s.

One of her horses, Reach For The Moon, was riding in the first race, the Chesham Stakes, and the Queen, wearing an Angela Kelly outfit, including a pleated mint coat and matching hat, with a pink and mint floral dress, was seen talking Frankie Dettori, the jockey, ahead of the start.

Reach For The Moon, the first of four running in her colours, finished a close second.

Another of the Queen’s horses, Tactical, failed to make the top three in the 3.05 Jersey Stakes. A third, King’s Lynn, came third in the Wokingham Stakes.

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? The Queen at the racecourse yesterday; Gusgurlach of Balmoral, left, the double champion at the Royal Highland Show Showcase
The Queen at the racecourse yesterday; Gusgurlach of Balmoral, left, the double champion at the Royal Highland Show Showcase

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom