On a mission from Mongolia to Newmarket

Even by Royal Ascot fashion standards, last month's Tuesday card offered an unusually exotic scene in the parade ring before the King's Stand Stakes when connections of top sprinter Mongolian Saturday turned up in full national regalia.

The six-year-old may well have the letters USA next to his name in the racecard for Saturday's Darley July Cup, because he is indeed trained in the States, where he was also bred. However, apart from that, and his jockey Luke Morris, he might as well be draped in the Mongolian flag, because plainly he is representing the land of Genghis Khan and the steppes.

Royal Enclosure dress-code regulations dictate morning dress or national costume. Trainer Enebish Ganbat, owner Ganbaatar Dagvadorj and their entourage followed the edict to the letter, which meant full Mongolian national dress: brightly coloured one-piece kaftan-style 'dil' tunics, elaborate belts, distinctive brocade headwear and shoes not far off a pair of wellies designed to be worn on either foot.