Triple Time narrowly denied Frankie Dettori a dream start to his final appearance at Royal Ascot in the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes.
Dettori, who announced in December that he will bring his glittering riding career to an end later this year, has a strong book rides at a meeting he has dominated and looked to have an excellent chance of getting the week off to a winning start aboard top-class filly Inspiral.
After riding a patient race, Dettori delivered the 11-4 chance with what looked a perfectly-timed challenge, but she was came off second best after a tussle with the widely-unconsidered Triple Time.
The Kevin Ryan-trained winner had been off the track since finishing down the field in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp in October and was a 33-1 shot in the hands of Neil Callan.
The son of Frankel raced keenly for much of the one-mile contest and having pulled his way to the front end he looked sure to be claimed by Inspiral, but found plenty once challenged to prevail by a neck.
Light Infantry, who raced prominently, held on beat 7-4 favourite Modern Games to third.
Ryan said: “He got stomach cramp just before the Lockinge and we had to take him out, he’s only had one ordinary run and that was in France in deep ground. Apart from that, when he came back from his little injury at Haydock he was 80 per cent fit, we had to run him because we were running out of time.
“Hopefully we’ll now have a full season with him, he’s got his Group One and it’s great. I’m delighted for all my team and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, he’s a big supporter of us. He’s so patient and I’m delighted to get a big one for him, especially here.”
