Royal first for Hammer Hansen as Coeur De Lion strikes in Ascot Stakes

Apprentice Thore Hammer Hansen registered a landmark first Royal Ascot success when producing Coeur De Lion with an exquisitely-timed run to land the 2m4f Ascot Stakes.

It looked as though Joe Fanning aboard Summer Moon had stolen the race when taking command six furlongs out, but the picture changed halfway up the straight.

Ryan Moore delivered 4-1 joint-favourite Verdana Blue with what seemed a decisive challenge at the furlong pole, but the mare was run down close home by another best known for his hurdling exploits, the 16-1 shot Coeur De Lion. Summer Moon kept on for third.

Watch Hammer Hansen strike aboard Coeur De Lion in the Ascot Stakes

Alan King was sending out his first winner of the Ascot Stakes, but the spotlight understandably shone on Hammer Hansen, who caught the eye as an apprentice going places on many occasions last season, and has kicked off the 2020 Flat campaign in fantastic style.

"It's unbelievable to come here as a claimer and ride a winner. It's sad there's no crowds but I still got an unbelievable buzz,” Hammer Hansen said.

“There's so many top jockeys who haven't yet had a winner here so it's amazing. I won on him last year at Chester and he took me to some big meetings, including here when he was fifth. We were confident he'd run a big race but possibly only dreamed that he'd win.

"My Dad has ridden a Group 1 winner, but he never rode a Royal Ascot winner so that's something I can wind him up about."

The winning jockey's dad, Lennart Hammer-Hansen, rode his Group 1 winner in the 2000 edition of the Premio Vittorio Du Capua, on Faberger.

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