Saturday at Ascot had been billed as a clash between two super powers in thoroughbred racing. The Godolphin camp had a contender in all the three big races. The Coolmore team was also represented in strong measure. A matter of added significance was that the QE II Stakes, the Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile and the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes were ‘you win and you’re in’ races and the winners were entitled to a berth in corresponding Breeders’ Cup races. They were all run over the ‘round’ 1600-metre course.

The train for Reading left Waterloo at 12 20 PM. Ascot is, at least, an hour from Waterloo and Reading is the train’s final destination. I began the 500-yard trek from the station to the racecourse. The last part is uphill and it was a serious test of my endurance. Fortunately, it was a glorious day. It is a tree-lined path and that takes away the drudgery of the exercise and after all, it was QE II Stakes day at (Royal) Ascot and Rip Van Winkle, who had played second fiddle to Sea The Stars, was getting his moment in the sun.

A doctor friend and his wife, Rudresh Hannabe and Sandya, had driven from Birmingham and were waiting for me at the ticket office. Karen Smith, the chief media contact, had left a media pass for me with parade ring access and two premier enclosure passes for my friends. There were three official racecards in our package. We walked in with 15 minutes to go before the race.

It was officially reported the next day that there was a 22,000-strong crowd at Ascot on Saturday. It was manageable and considerably less than a typical week day attendance at Royal Ascot.

We made a beeline to the bookmakers’ ring. Friday’s pattern continued in the first race. Ahla Wasahl, ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi, came away a winner at 33-1.

I had a small each-way wager on Frozen Power in the second, the Royal Lodge Stakes. The Dettori-ridden runner was prominent and could not gain when asked in the final 400 metres. High Twelve, a John Gosden trainee, was the 11-4 favourite and raced very poorly and was beaten a long way from home. The ‘second string’ from Aidan O’Brien’s yard, Joshua Tree, Colm O’Donoghue up, raced in mid-division, found daylight halfway down the lane, cut across sharply to the far side rail interfering with three horses and ran on. A 12-1 chance, Joshua Tree, a son of Montjeu, won by a length and a quarter in 1 39.55 on a good and good to firm in places course. The better fancied O’Brien runner, Mikhail Glinka, John Murtagh up, was a disappointment.

There was a stewards’ inquiry and the result stood. Jockey Colm O’Donoghue was a minute late getting to the podium for the presentation. I got a word or two with Colm. We exchanged pleasantries. “I will be at Santa Anita. I knew my colt was coming up to a big race. I look forward to seeing you at the Breeders’ Cup.”

“Hopefully,” was Aidan O’Brien’s response when I asked him if Joshua Tree is Santa Anita-bound. The inquiry consumed a lot of time. However, in a statement, O’Brien said, “Joshua Tree is a lovely colt. He has been coming forward with every run.”

Jockey O’Donoghue was given a five-day ban for careless riding. The winner’s share was 86,100 pounds. With ten percent of the purse going to his account, O’Donoghue should have left Ascot a happy man. He was in action at the Curragh on Sunday. Joshua Tree got a 20-1 quote for the 2010 Epsom Derby.

The next race was the Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile, a Group I event. Nine freshman girls went postward. Four of them had won two races. Four others were good for non-winners of two. There was one maiden. If you guessed that the only maiden won the race, you guessed right. That is why racing is such a heartbreaking game. Conventional theories are put to the test time after time. Yet, those who fancied Hibaayeb, did so with conviction. The Singspiel filly, a Clive Brittain pupil, touched 9-1 but was a general 8-1 in the ring. Don’t you think it was short considering the fact that a maiden was taking on more accomplished adversaries?

Hibaayeb, ridden by Neil Callan, tracked the front horses while saving ground, found room along the rail in the last 200 metres to strike the front and held on despite drifting to the left close home. The margin was three parts of a length in a time of 1 39.78 seconds. Hibaayeb was giving trainer Brittain his first G I win in three years. The Stewards held an inquiry but the placings were unaltered. Jockey Callan was given a three-day suspension.

“There are not many trainers who would try to win this with a maiden, but in my eyes, she ran two races she could have won but did not. She did three bits of work and I saw the light in the third bit. Then, we gradually brought her on. The Breeders’ Cup is not for me. I will let her develop. She is still a little bit of a frame but the Oaks would be on the cards,“ Brittain commented.

Jockey Callan explained the ride. “She went to the front as if she was going to pull away but pricked her ears and shied away into the other horses. I tried to keep her as straight as I could but at the same time, I was trying to win a G I with a filly.”

The fourth race was the 1400-metre Totesport.com Challenge Cup. Advanced, a 33-1 chance, won with Amy Ryan. Her father, Kevin Ryan trains the winner. Advanced held the Dettori-ridden Axiom in a driving finish. Five minutes earlier, trainer Kevin Ryan had won the Lester Piggott Start to Finish Handicap at Haydock Park with Green Manalishi, Darryll Holland up. The Ryan family could not have been happier.

The G I QE II Stakes was next. It was a four-horse field. I had stopped at the Parade Ring restaurant where John Birmingham, a Senior Manage at Totesport I have known for many years, was entertaining his company’s clients. He invited me to join him for tea. He got a word out as I was leaving him. “Tom, Zacinto, now 20-1, is a horse you should consider. It is a huge price.”

It was tempting. Ryan Moore was riding Zacinto from Sir Michael Stoute’s barn. The best I could get was 18-1. I bet a quid. A quid is five pounds. Rip Van Winkle was 8-11 and tightened to 8-13. Delegator touched 11-4. Aqlaam was 7-1. I was trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Did I get a thrill or what? Talk about getting a run for your money. I got it and some more.

Rip Van Winkle showed out early but Aqlaam, Richard Hills up, wanted the lead. Murtagh tracked Aqlaam. The pace was brisk. Delegator sat third and in striking range. Zacinto brought up the rear. Rip Van Winkle took charge as they turned for home and Aqlaam was beating a hasty retreat. Delegator was not making headway. Fans were cheering the favourite home and Zacinto was on the move with 400 metres left. Ryan Moore was getting a response from Zacinto and for a fleeting moment, it looked like the QE II Stakes would have an upset winner. John Murtagh is adept at keeping his mounts going. Rip Van Winkle found another gear and the race had been put to bed.

It was the second G I win for Rip Van Winkle, a Galileo colt. He is California-bound and the Coolmore team is hinting that the Classic is what interests them most. There may be a Sea The Stars-Rip Van Winkle clash in the BC Classic and the former is taking his chances in next Sunday’s Arc de Triomphe, subject to ground being satisfactory.

Trainer O’Brien was ecstatic. “This colt is exceptional. He has had foot problems - hoof infection all along. After the Sussex at Goodwood, he was lame. He started back up two weeks ago. Since then, everything has been smooth. The lads had it in their heads they were not giving my colt an easy lead which was lovely for him. Johnny (Murtagh) was masterful. The lead horse at Goodwood did not gallop fast enough. Rip Van Winkle was breaking stride and Johnny told me that he would go on his own here. We will consider the BC seriously.”

Jockey Murtagh, not given to hyperbole, was, nevertheless, was unstinting in his praise. “I have maintained he is top class. Finally, he is getting it all right. Sitting at home last night, I was wondering if the call would come. He always seems to do something near to a race. Thankfully, everything went well in a good race.”

The Queen, who was not at the course on Saturday, was not left empty-handed. Ryan Moore steered the Queen-owned Golden Stream to an easy win in the sixth. The seventh race went to Kimberly Downs who made it all in the 3200-metre contest. The winning rider was Louis-Phillippe Beuzelin.

Kieren Fallon hurt himself in the opener and took himself off in the later races. Fallon’s mounts are attracting a lot of attention. There was a special sale of a book on jockey Fallon in the Ascot Grandstand.

After the QE II Stakes, my friends and I joined John Birmingham for high tea. It was fascinating. The setting was formal. Tea or coffee is served though the event is called ‘tea.’ Delectable pastry, scones, chocolate and different kinds of finger sandwiches and it was an absolutely delightful experience.

Tomorrow, I will write about the races at the Curragh on Sunday, a note on a Group I race from Cologne, the last day of the festival at Ascot and trainer Mark Johnston’s incredible feat of winning at four different courses in three countries.

The Arc is a week away. Midweek, we will shift our focus to the Longchamp showpiece.