Frankie's loss is Johnny's gain as fast Lady does it again

Going through customs can be nerve-wracking enough to make the most innocent of travellers feel like a gun runner but sometimes there can be good news at the end of it.

That's how it turned out for Johnny Velazquez when he ran the gauntlet of the security staff at Heathrow after flying in from New York on Tuesday morning.

Top-class international jockey or not, he was not going to risk upsetting officialdom by answering his phone – so it was not until he was safely in the arrivals hall that he discovered Frankie Dettori was injured and he would be riding the brilliantly fast Lady Aurelia in the King's Stand Stakes.

"The phone was ringing and ringing but I didn't want to answer it there," he said. "As soon as I was through customs I picked it up and found out."

So it was Velazquez, without a Royal Ascot winner since a double on Strike The Tiger and Jealous Again, who was on board as Lady Aurelia reminded British racegoers just how good she is.

There was no repeat of last year's seven-length win in the Queen Mary Stakes but that was a Group 3 event for juvenile fillies, this was an all-aged, all-sexes Group 1 event and the turbo-charged mid-race blast that carried her to a three-length success was mighty impressive.

But trainer Wesley Ward's first thought was for an absent friend and he said: "I am happy for Johnny but I am so sad for Frankie.

"He put a lot of time and effort on on this filly this year and really helped me out. I really feel bad. My kids took a picture in front of his statue and sent it to him today so he knows we were there. I am a great buddy of his and I can never thank him enough."

Wesley Ward hopes to aim Lady Aurelia at the NunthorpeCredit: Caroline Norris

Lady Aurelia is evens favourite to land another Group 1 success in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York and that is her likely target.

Ward said: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime horse, I am really excited for her. I'm going to sit down with the owners and the Nunthorpe is where I'd like to go with her next - get her home, get her back right on top of the race and hopefully she runs like she did today.

"I wasn't quite so sure this year with all these tough horses, the best sprinters they have. She had to show us something and she did. She proved today she is really something special."

No disgrace in defeat

Profitable did best of the chasing pack, grabbing second place in a race he had won 12 months ago.

"I’m very proud of that performance," said trainer Clive Cox. "We knew he would come forward from the first run and he clearly has. He’s a class performer.

"If we’d been drawn amongst them a little bit more they might have carried us a small bit but I’m certainly not disappointed; I’m over the moon. He’s top drawer and a proven Group 1 performer."

Palace House Stakes winner Marsha started favourite but Sir Mark Prescott was far from despondent at her third place behind the US speedball.

"We know how fast Marsha is - she can tank - but she was off the bridle the whole way," the trainer said. "It just shows what a great race it was."

The race marked the end of the road for 11-year-old Medicean Man after a long and honourable career. He finished 16th of the 17 runners at 66-1 and has now been retired, with trainer Jeremy Gask saying: "It was not to be but he has pulled up healthy and happy. He didn't need to prove anything."

King's Stand Stakes result and analysis

Read Peter Thomas's interview with Wesley Ward here – and get the lowdown on his team for the rest of the week