Byword gave France its second Group 1 triumph at Royal Ascot in as many days on Wednesday when he captured the $666,000 Prince of Wales's Stakes by a half-length. Both Byword, based in France with trainer Andre Fabre, and runner-up Twice Over, an English-based runner with trainer Henry Cecil are owned by Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms.

The victory of 5-2 Byword also paid a huge compliment to Goldikova, Tuesday's Queen Anne Stakes winner who had beaten him last time by a half-length in the 1 1/8-mile, 55-yard, Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan.

Goldikova got Royal Ascot off to a glittering start on Tuesday as she held off the gallant Paco Boy by a neck in the Group 1, $370,000 Queen Anne Stakes. It was the ninth stakes victory at the highest level for Goldikova, who has her sights set firmly on a third Breeders' Cup Mile title in November.

The decidedly French flavor on the first day at Royal Ascot on Tuesday will be tasted again Wednesday when the likely favorite for the Group 1, $663,885 Prince of Wales's Stakes will be the Andre Fabre-trained Byword. He will be accompanied in his cross-channel foray by the Mikel Delzangles-trained Shalanaya, one day after Goldikova and Makfi take dead aim at the Royal Meeting's two big Group 1 miles.

Goldikova can enhance her credentials as arguably the best female racehorse in the world in the first race on opening day at Royal Ascot on Tuesday when she squares off against a top-class field of milers in the $367,000 Queen Anne Stakes. A victory would be her sixth Group 1 triumph over males, compared with three for Rachel Alexandra and one for Zenyatta.

Stacelita got back on the winning track at Longchamp on Monday with a convincing wire-to-wire victory in the Group 3, $98,000 La Coupe. Afterward, her trainer Jean-Claude Rouget said that the entire 4-year-old campaign of the Martin Schwartz-owned filly will be geared toward an appearance in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

The two American hopefuls at Royal Ascot on Tuesday have drawn ideally in their respective races.

Noble's Promise, who will be saddled by Ken McPeek and ridden by Kieren Fallon in the one-mile, Group 1 St. James's Palace Stakes, drew the rail in a nine-runner field of 3-year-olds that includes 2000 Guineas winner Makfi and Irish 2000 Guineas winner Canford Cliffs. The race will be run on the old Ascot mile, the first five furlongs of which are all uphill before a right-handed, 90-degree turn into the 2 1/2-furlong stretch.

Sarafina remained undefeated as she led a one-two in finish for her stable in the $971,000 Prix de Diane at Chantilly on Sunday, giving her owner, the Aga Khan, and trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre their sixth tandem victory in the classic French Oaks.

Sarafina and Deluxe renew their budding rivalry at Chantilly on Sunday in the Group 1, $970,000 Prix de Diane. At 1 5/16 miles, the French Oaks has produced numerous classy winners, among them in recent years Zarkava and Divine Proportions. Either Sarafina or Deluxe would be a worthy addition to the Oaks roll of honor, and they both have the pedigree to prove it despite being very lightly raced.

Inspired by the history-making exploits of Wesley Ward at Royal Ascot last year, two American horses will line up on opening day of the Royal Meeting on Tuesday in the hope that lightning can strike again. Ken McPeek will saddle Noble's Promise in the Group 1, $367,000 St. James's Palace Stakes, and Ward is back with Metropolitan Man in the listed $73,000 Windsor Castle Stakes.

Royal Ascot starts with a bang on Tuesday with a scintillating renewal of the Group 1, $367,000 Queen Anne Stakes. A straight mile for older horses, it has attracted dual Breeders' Cup Mile winner Goldikova, defending champ Paco Boy, two-time Group 1 mile winner Rip Van Winkle, and Dalghar, a late-blooming colt who set a track record at Longchamp last week.