Fantastic Light upends Kalanisi at Ascot

ASCOT, England - Teamwork paid off for Godolphin Racing on Wednesday as Fantastic Light powered to a 2 1/2-length victory over 2000 turf champion Kalanisi in the Royal Ascot meeting's premier event, the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

In repeating his win over Kalanisi in last month's Tattersalls Gold Cup, Fantastic Light ($3.30-1) benefited from a perfectly timed ride by Frankie Dettori and a strong pace set by his stablemate Give The Slip to charge past Kalanisi, the 2-1 choice, in the stretch.

His time for the 1-1/4-miles was a quick 2:04.40. After Kalanisi, Hightori was third with Observatory fourth, while the disappointing Endless Hall was sixth.

Godolphin had won the Group 1 Prince of Wales's last year with Dubai Millennium, but owner Sheikh Mohammed was quick to suggest that there is no comparison between the two.

"Fantastic Light is a good horse, but not as good as Dubai Millennium," he said. "But we are ready to meet Galileo," he said in reference to the Epsom Derby winner. "Bring him on!"

Racegoers may have to wait a while for that match, however, as Galileo will be dropped back in distance after the Irish Derby to prepare for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Fantastic Light, though, could meet another Aidan O'Brien trainee, Black Minnaloushe, in the 1 1/2-mile Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 8 before returning to Ascot for the 1 1/2-mile King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes on July 28.

He will renew his rivalry with Hightori in the King George, but trainer Michael Stoute was mum about the next start for Kalanisi, the 2000 Eclipse Award winner who is now 0-for-2 since his victory in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Turf.

Teamwork also came into play earlier in the day when Team Tabor/Magnier/O'Brien captured the seven-furlong Group 3 Jersey Stakes with Mozart, the 7-4 favorite.

Second to stablemate Black Minnaloushe in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Danehill colt's chances looked good after Black Minnaloushe took the St. James's Palace Stakes on Tuesday.

Michael Kinane worked hard to register a neck victory over Aldebaran. Mozart was clocked in 1:27.86, but the style of his victory prompted co-owner Michael Tabor to say that the six-furlong July Cup, and a meeting with Tuesday's King's Stand Stakes winner Cassandra Go, would be next on the agenda.

Queen's Logic rules in Queen Mary

Aidan O'Brien and Co. arguably had the best horse in the Group 3 Queen Mary Stakes, a five-furlong dash for juvenile fillies. But Sophisticat, a daughter of Storm Cat and Serena's Song for whom Tabor shelled out $3.4 million at Keeneland as a yearling, just failed to overcome a wide draw.

She was beaten only a half-length by the 13-2 Queen's Logic, a Grand Lodge filly who had won first time out in a conditions race, but should beat the winner next time.

Royal parade scratched

For the second day in succession, the horsedrawn procession in which the Royal Family parades before the stands as it makes its way into the Royal Enclosure, was cancelled.

The coaches and horses, it seems, were required for the Queen's visit to Westminster, where her majesty's presence is required so that she may officially open the new Parliament.

The queen and her entourage, including the venerable 100-year-old Queen Mother, arrived instead by motorcar.

*A crowd of 53,433 on Wednesday was down by 4.2 percent from 2000.