There is a strong undercurrent of sadness as I type this report. S N Harish's passing came as a shock and in the past three years, I had come to know him well. As untimely as his death is, it is an event that will have an impact of immense proportions on Indian racing. Harish was a great commentator. He was an unparalleled 'documentary' maker. His writing skills were second to none. His knowledge of racing, a game he loved with all the passion at his command, won the admiration of the entire racing fraternity. I marveled at his ability to come up with 'off the cuff' expressions. Harish had so much to give that I cannot find the words to describe the 'sense of loss' that I feel at his passing. My condolences to his wife and to his family.

A spell of rain in the early hours of Wednesday morning did a lot of good. May be, in places here and there, the going was 'good.' The playing field provided no special favors to anyone.

Peter Chapple-Hyam, Authorized's trainer, saddled the winner of the seven-furlong Jersey Stakes, the first event on Wednesday. His ward, Tariq, in the hands of Jimmy Fortune, administered a sound defeat to US Ranger, the 5-4 public choice. Tariq made his move with a little over two furlongs left, engaged US Ranger to a duel, saw the latter off inside the final furlong and drew away to win by 2 1/2 lengths. He was 15-2. The time was 1-26.7 seconds. The race was worth 36,900 to the winner. Peter Chapple-Hyam said, "Jimmy (Fortune) is riding well. He let Tariq relax and moved right."

The Group 2 Windsor Forest over a mile went to the John Gosden-trained Nannina. Nannina, third to Echelon in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom on Oaks day, was reversing the result. Jimmy Fortune and Nannina were three lengths in front of Satwa Queen who, after a tardy start, ran on well. The time was 1 40.97 and the winner's share of the purse was 73,800 to the winner.Nannina won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2006. "She likes it here," said John Gosden. "She needed the run at Epsom."

"She was brilliant," exulted Jimmy Fortune. "There was a bump and I had to move sooner than I wanted to but I was never in doubt. She shows her best form at Ascot,"

In the Prince of Wales Stakes, a Group I race over 1 1/4 miles, money flowed in the direction of Manduro, the French contender. It was hard to find 15-8 on Manduro as post time approached. The others began to drift. Stephen Pasquier, the French jockey, was making his Royal Ascot debut. In the six-horse field,. Pasquier had Manduro in third as Sir Percy set out on a strong gallop. Manduro was on the move as they turned for home and was in front at the quarter pole and looking for challenges. Dylan Thomas and Christophe Soumillon delivered their bid. All Pasquier did was to shake Manduro up and the issue was settled. It was a 1 1/4-length verdict and the time was 2:5:91 seconds. Manduro earned 211,207 pounds.

Notnowcato sat second and had no response in the lane. Red Rocks was held up by Frankie Dettori and produced little or nothing.

Manduro is by Monsun out of Mandellicht, a Be My Guest mare. Shirocco, the 2005 Breeders' Cup Turf winner, is by Monsun. Stephen Pasquier is now four for four with Manduro. Now five, Manduro is trained by Andre Fabre, France's perennial leading trainer.

Andre Fabre said, "he (Manduro) had problems last year in the Prince of Wales. He needs daylight and Stephen gave it. The Arc is a target. There's an entry for the King George VI. The Breeders' Cup is a possibility."

The winning owner, Baron Von Ullman was delighted. "The match between Manduro and Pasquier is made in heaven. They understand each other so well."

Twenty six ran in the Royal Hunt Cup. Royal Oath, at 9 to 1, ran away with the race. It was Jimmy Fortune's third winner of the day. He has four winners in two days and is the piping hot favorite to win the Ascot jockeys' title. Royal Oath earned 62,420 pounds. The mile was traveled in 1 39.78 and the winning margin was four lengths. Royal Oath gave trainer John Gosden a double.

Elletelle won the Queen Mary Stakes with Johnny Murtagh. Twenty one ran in the five-furlong Group II event. The time was 1:0:64 seconds. Elletelle's winning purse was 39,746 pounds. It was a victory for Ireland. Elletelle was 20 to 1.

Richard Quinn steered Young Mick to victory last year at Royal Ascot and retired. He returned to action and won the Sandringham Handicap, a Listed race, with Barshiba. Dismissed at 16-1, Barshiba won by 1 1/4 lengths and covered the mile in 1 40.22 seconds. The winning purse was 21,229 pounds.

Yeats, Mick Kinane up, is a short-priced favorite in the Ascot Gold Cup, Thursday's main event. It is traditional Ladies' Day. Yeats won the Gold Cup last year. He was a decisive winner in a prep recently in Ireland.