ROYAL ASCOT 2024: Leovanni victory in Queen Mary Stakes gets Wathnan Racing off to a flier, while Auguste Rodin adds another highlight to astonishing CV with Prince of Wales's Stakes win

A burst of electricity, a shockwave through an industry. Leovanni, with a push button change of speed, scampered away with the Group Two contest over five furlongs and, in doing so, gave owners Wathnan Racing its first victory of this year’s meeting. James Doyle-ridden Leovanni stormed to victory in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot The Karl Burke-trained horse earned a significant victory for Qatari-owned Wathnan Racing It is 12 months since they first dipped their toe, spectacularly, into racing when, on the eve of Royal Ascot, they bought Gregory and Courage Mon Ami, who won the Queen’s Vase and Gold Cup, respectively. I don’t know what is going to happen in the future but it’s an extraordinary opportunity to build this team of horses.’ Watching Gregory, trained by John and Thady Gosden, attempt to win them a second Gold Cup this afternoon – he steps into the fray with Courage Mon Ami injured – will be fascinating but to do that, he must find a way past hot-favourite Kyprios. That won’t be easy as Aidan O’Brien’s horses have burst into form spectacularly, the trainer doubling up thanks to Illinois, in the Queen’s Vase, and – crucially – the outstanding Auguste Rodin, who thundered home in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes to add another highlight to his astonishing CV.