The first race of Royal Ascot 2023 went the way of jockey Neil Callan, trainer Kevin Ryan, and owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, as Triple Time held off Inspiral, Light Infantry, and Modern Games to land the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes June 20 at Ascot Racecourse.

Royal Ascot coverage courtesy of Racing Post

Triple Time was a surprise 33-1 winner, perhaps facilitated by the slow early pace, and although Triple Time did not look to settle early as the field crawled up the straight mile, he was clearly well placed, with those near the front holding on to finish among the two charging favorites.

Only the 11-4 odds second favorite Inspiral and the 7-4 favorite Modern Games were able to get to Light Infantry and Triple Time, who sat first and second throughout and took advantage of the slow fractions to kick clear from the rest.

"I'm speechless for once, and a bit emotional," said Callan. "It's Royal Ascot."

Callan returned to Britain in 2021 after a seven-year stint in Hong Kong and added: "When I came back from Hong Kong, I didn't know what to expect, you're not guaranteed anything in this game, but I'm lucky Kevin Ryan gave me a bit of support.

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"He was so confident in this horse, he said he's the best he's ever trained, so it's fantastic."

Ryan backed that up and added, "It wasn't a surprise to us, we've always had a lot of faith in [Triple Time]. We had a plan in our head, and Neil delivered it to a tee."

Frankie Dettori responded to the slow early pace by moving out and up earlier than usual aboard Inspiral, but it still was not enough.

For his victory, Triple Time earns an automatic fees-paid "Win and You're In" qualifying position into corresponding FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF at the World Championships to be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. —Stuart Riley/Racing Post

Bradsell Strikes in King’s Stand, Earns ‘Win and You’re In’ Berth for Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

Last year's Group 2 Coventry Stakes winner Bradsell won at Royal Ascot for the second year in a row, holding off the charging favorite Highfield Princess to land the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes under a power-packed ride from Hollie Doyle.

Bradsell. (Shamela Hanley/Eclipse Sportswire)

The duo had to survive a stewards' inquiry after the winner had drifted across the track to his left, appearing to interfere with the runner-up. Bradsell's trainer, Archie Watson, endured heartbreak at Royal Ascot in 2021 when Dragon Symbol was first past the post in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup only to be demoted, and that experience meant he was not counting anything as won until the result was official.

Before the inquiry was resolved, Watson told ITV Racing, "It's a massive sense of deja vu, when Dragon Symbol got thrown out the Commonwealth it was a terrible day for us. You can't really enjoy it until it is all over, but I'm so proud of the horse, I'm so grateful to the owners and Hollie has given him a fantastic ride. I couldn't be prouder of my team."

ITV televised the inquiry with Hollie Doyle and Highfield Princess's jockey Jason Hart making their respective cases, with the stewards concluding the interference did not impact the result.

Bradsell kept the win at 14-1 odds. He won by a length from the favorite Highfield Princess. Michael Appleby's Annaf was third at 50-1, with 20-1 shot Twilight Calls fourth for trainer Henry Candy.

The victory is a fourth at Royal Ascot for Doyle, who said, "All credit to [trainer] Archie [Watson] for supplementing, the step back in trip he's really relished today, and he loves this track. He's turned a real corner over the last few weeks, and you can really tell. The way he traveled was unbelievable and he quickened beautifully. He felt like the horse he was in the Coventry."

Stonestreet Stables' American participant Twilight Gleaming, trained by Wesley Ward, was 16th of 17 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

With the victory in Tuesday's five-furlong Group 1, Bradsell earned an automatic "Win and You're In" berth into the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park.—Stuart Riley/Racing Post

River Tiber Wins Coventry Stakes as Trainer Aidan O'Brien Equals Royal Ascot Record

River Tiber held off the fast-finishing Army Ethos under Ryan Moore to give Aidan O'Brien his 82nd Royal Ascot winner, equaling Sir Michael Stoute's record, in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes.

River Tiber was well backed before the race and the son of Wootton Bassett was strong at the finish to deny Army Ethos, who represented last year's winning connections Hollie Doyle, Archie Watson, and Victorious Racing who combined to win with Bradsell 12 months ago, by a neck.

River Tiber, Ryan Moore, and winning connections. (Shamela Hanley/Eclipse Sportswire)

River Tiber justified his 11-8 favoritism in the six-furlong, Group 2 Coventry, giving O'Brien a record-extending 10th win in the race.

Asked if he could be the best of O'Brien's 10 winners, the Ballydoyle trainer told ITV racing, "We think he is. We always thought he was very good. He was doing his work too easy at home, so he was going to improve from today. Everything he was working with he was treating them with total contempt.

"Ryan gave him a super ride, he relaxed him and produced him when he only really had to. We always thought he would get five, six [furlongs] and then we would be very comfortable going to seven even this year so he's very exciting for us."

There was drama at the start when Buyin Buyin was unruly in the stalls which distracted the Charlie Hills-trained Chief Mankato, who was the subject of significant late support, in the neighboring gate. Both horses were withdrawn.

Givemethebeatboys, who was purchased for £1.1 million at the Goffs London Sale Monday, ran well for a long way under Frankie Dettori before fading to finish fourth. George Boughey's well-fancied Ripon winner Asadna could only manage ninth.—Charlie Huggins/Racing Post

Irish Classic Winner Paddington Bests Chaldean to Win St James’s Palace

Paddington and Ryan Moore surged impressively clear of Two Thousand Guineas winner Chaldean to help Aidan O'Brien become the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history as he recorded his 83rd winner at the prestigious meeting.

O'Brien had earlier leveled Sir Michael Stoute's record of 82 winners when Moore guided River Tiber to win the Group 2 Coventry. Paddington, who was last seen landing the Group 1 Irish Two Thousand Guineas on his first start in Group company, emphatically followed up his win at the Curragh.

Paddington. (Shamela Hanley/Eclipse Sportswire)

Chaldean, sent off the 13-8 favorite, led under Frankie Dettori as they turned for home, but Paddington stayed on powerfully to score by 3 3/4 lengths.

Paddington was fifth in his debut at Ascot in September but is now unbeaten in his last five starts after becoming O'Brien's ninth winner in the St James's Palace Stakes.

"He's an incredible horse," O'Brien told ITV racing. "He came here as a maiden 2-year-old and he was very green. We gave him time and he went back to the Curragh and won very well.

"The lads have given him time through the winter, and he won a handicap very impressively in Naas. Then he went and won the Tetrarch on the way to the Irish Guineas. He's just improving and improving. He's a smart horse, really quick, and handles all types of ground."

"Ryan gave him a beautiful ride because he was out there and he knew it was going to be tactical, and obviously when Frankie's in front it's very dangerous. Ryan gave him a masterful ride because he didn't panic, he produced him. He's able to quicken very well and that's what makes good horses great."

Moore, won the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes for the third time, added, "He's a very good colt, he's improving and I'm very happy with him. He's got a big engine and a lot of class."—Charlie Huggins/Racing Post