Hayley Turner and Charlie Fellowes strike with another 33-1 Sandringham shock

Hayley Turner and Charlie Fellowes made it back-to-back wins in the Sandringham Stakes when Onassis caused a 33-1 upset from stall one in the concluding handicap on day three of the royal meeting.

The improving three-year-old, owned by Triermore Stud and The Hon P Stanley, denied Roger Varian an incredible four-timer on the day as his well-backed 4-1 chance Waliyak stuck to the task well in second.

Royal Ascot Thursday results

The winning trainer and rider enjoyed a memorable success in the same race 12 months ago with Thanks Be, who also returned at 33-1.

Speaking after the daughter of former disqualified 1,000 Guineas winner Jacqueline Quest's dominant display, Fellowes said: "I begged the owners to have a crack at this as this was the perfect race for her.

"She's a very good traveller and the stiff mile suited her – she loves being ridden patiently."

Hayley Turner with the thumbs-up after Onassis posted a 33-1 shock in the SandringhamCredit: Edward Whitaker

He added: "The ground was a concern but I shouldn't have [worried], Dubawis go on and anything and he's an outstanding stallion."

Hayley Turner had been out of luck on her previous 45 rides since racing resumed earlier this month but relished the big-race success, having last year became the first female jockey to ride a winner at Royal Ascot since 1987.

"I rode a very similar race to winning on Thanks Be on a similar draw last year," explained the delighted 37-year-old.

"She cruised through the race and did it very well. The ear-cupping celebration was for the crowd at home! I hope everyone was cheering even though they were not here."

Frankie Dettori hit the frame on his first ride for Saeed bin Suroor in eight years aboard topweight Dubai Love, who was just touched off for second spot late on.

Hugo Palmer's Tiritomba produced an admirable display as a 100-1 outsider under Jimmy Quinn, finishing with a flourish to claim fourth.

Electric! Khaloosy powers home to beat well-fancied Finest Sound in Britannia

Khaloosy produced an electric turn of foot to give Jim Crowley his sixth winner of the week in the Britannia Stakes.

Held up in the early stages, the 9-2 shot surged through the pack to master 11-4 favourite Finest Sound inside the final furlong and pulled clear.

It was a fourth Royal Ascot winner of 2020 for trainer Roger Varian, and Khaloosy looks the proverbial Group horse in waiting.

The manner in which Khaloosy sluiced through the field to seize control from Finest Sound, who had himself travelled into the race like a very well-handicapped horse, was hugely impressive.

Ryan Moore holds the record with nine for the most winners ridden during Royal Ascot in 2015 and, Crowley, who has more fancied rides to come over the last two days, could well have that in his sights now.

Khaloosy storms home in Thursday's Britannia Stakes for Roger Varian and Jim CrowleyCredit: Julian Finney (Getty Images)

"Six winners at Royal Ascot is the stuff of dreams," he said. "It's great for my boss [Hamdan Al Maktoum]. It's just a shame he can' be here this week.

"Khaloosy ran really well. It was his first run of the year, and Roger has done a great job with him.

"He loved the ground, and is clearly well handicapped at present. Is he a Group horse? We'll have to see.

"He's always been held in high regard. He clocked a very good time when he won at Wolverhampton."

Varian said: "We've always liked this horse, but he's not flashy at home. I have to credit his work-rider John Lowe. He had a little setback a month ago which prevented us giving him a prep run but maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

"We were a little worried about the soft ground but he got through it okay and won well. He won in the style of a horse with a big future. He has a great pedigree and we’ll have to look at Pattern company now."

On three winners on the day, Varian added: "It's right up there in the best days of my career.

"It's a hard place to have one winner and being a big stable with a few chances we dread going through the week without a winner. You're happy with one winner at places like this, but to get three in the day is fantastic.

"We've got some nice horses to run for the rest of the meeting and the string are obviously healthy and in good form."

'Proud moment' for the Coles as 20-1 Highland Chief bags Golden Gates Handicap

A long layoff, top weight and testing ground did not stop smart prospect Highland Chief, who stormed down the straight to land Thursday's opening Golden Gates Handicap for jockey Rossa Ryan and co-trainers Paul and Oliver Cole.

The win means Paul Cole joins an elite group of trainers to have saddled a Royal Ascot winner in six decades, a run started off by Calibina in the Wokingham in 1977.

The three-year-old son of Gleneagles finished third at Royal Ascot last season behind Pinatubo and here the 20-1 chance was held up towards the rear before taken wide in the straight. He burst into the lead and held off a game Tritonic. Favourite Global Storm ran on to finish third.

The victory gave Ryan a first success at Royal Ascot, and the Coles are the first to have a Royal Ascot winner with a dual licence.

"It hasn't sunk in yet, I'm shocked," said Ryan. "I can't thank everyone enough who has supported me. I was a long way back but the plan was to get him to relax and ride him to come home. He travelled lovely and he was picking up. At the two-pole I thought the bird might have flown but it's the longest two furlongs here and it helped."

Of the conditions, he added: "It's lovely loose ground, it's soft but it's loose so they're getting through it."

Highland Chief (far right for Rossa Ryan) wins Thursday's opener at Royal Ascot at 20-1Credit: Julian Finney (Getty Images)

Oliver, with father Paul not present and at the funeral of Ben Leigh, said: "It's an amazing occasion and a great race they've put on. Highland Chief's always been very good, he showed nothing at Newmarket and left us scratching our heads. He won on soft at Newbury and I think he really likes soft ground."

On the joint licence, he added: "I really respect him [Paul] and he gives me a bit of rein, he can apply a mature logic and it's a huge bonus having him around. I've spoken to him, he's over the moon and it's a very proud moment."

A crack at an even bigger prize is in the offing, with the Jim and Fitri Hay-owned colt now likely to be targeted at the Investec Derby on July 4, for which bet365 quote him at 50-1.

The ground was adjusted to soft this afternoon and the time reflected those conditions. Highland Chief won the race in a time of 2m 11.20s, which was slow by 7.20s on RPRs.

Reporting by Mark Boylan, Richard Birch and James Stevens

What the winners said

Wolferton Stakes

Roger Varian, trainer of winner Mountain Angel, said: "He had everything in his favour today, he goes well fresh, gets the trip well, appreciates some dig in the ground and had been training well. He ran well in the race last year when shuffled back early, it was probably a stronger race last year, and he's done it well in the end.

"He doesn't need over-racing, I think we'll bide our time with him. He ran well in Group races in France last autumn, and I think it'll be a similar campaign. When he gets his conditions he's up to winning good races."

Jersey Stakes

Roger Varian, trainer of winner Molatham, said: "We had concerns coming in as he didn't get home in the Autumn Stakes. Perhaps that was too much of a stamina test at that point in his development. He's always had an attitude and temperament to die for. To see him fight back and tough it out on the track shows he's a fighter. He doesn't lack for pace, he travelled beautifully into it. He's got plenty of gears and looks like he'l stretch out to a mile so he has lots of options."

Jim Crowley, winning jockey: "He had one run on soft ground last year and didn't fire, but his form before that was very strong. He beat Wichita and we were thinking of the Guineas for him. He stuck it out well, he got headed but in fairness to him he came back. I probably got there too soon but he arrived and was going so well. On this ground it's hard to sit and expect to quicken.

"The reason we came back to seven furlongs is we weren't sure he'd get a mile. On that run you'd say he would, but if we'll go ten furlongs I'm not sure."

Chesham Stakes

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of winner Battleground, said: "He finished a good fifth at Naas and Wayne Lordan loved him. He had a good clear run, there was no hard luck story but he learnt a lot from it. We were worried about the ground. He's by War Front, but Found handled soft ground when she won the Breeders' Cup Turf.

"He's an exciting horse - he could be anything. He could be one for the July Meeting or the National Stakes. I would imagine he would stay well and probably a mile will be his trip. Found got a mile and a half, but War Front is a big influence for speed.

"We're hoping that he could progress into a very good miler. Found was an unbelievable, magic mare. She was one of the very special ones and everyone remembers her. Battleground is an unbelievable specimen really."

Gold Cup

John Gosden, trainer of winner Stradivarius, said: "I'm very proud of his achievements and delighted for his owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen. He's been passionate about his breeding and broodmares for years. He's been trying to breed a Derby winner but he's got a very good Cup horse. It's as proudly fulfilling for him as it is us and it's a pity he can't be here today.

"He's beaten some good horses in his time and he's put them all away with his turn of foot and even done it in that ground. He has a hell of a personality. He was having a little shout and playing up beforehand. He thinks life is a bit of fun and when you win races like that I suppose it is.

"We might just look towards the Goodwood Cup and then take a pull. There's talk of wanting to run him in the Arc and he ran brilliantly in the Coronation the other day so maybe the Arc in autumn ground isn't out of the question."

Frankie Dettori, winning jockey, said: "That was tremendous. I was worried about the rain but he really surprised me as he went through them like a hot knife through butter. I had everybody covered at the four-furlong marker. There's always that scary moment when you get to the furlong marker and wonder whether he'll pick up but he did. He stretched away by ten and it was amazing. I'm so proud of the horse and he'll go down as one of the great stayers like Yeats and Sagaro. Maybe we'll try and go for four next year!"

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