With a star-studded field assembled at Ascot on Saturday, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1) promised to be the race of the season so far – and likely one of the finest editions in the race’s richly embroidered history. A titanic tussle down the straight only enhanced the idea.

The feature event on Day 2 of Royal Ascot produced a surprising upset as 12-1 longshot Mostahdaf beat a bevy of top-level winners in the Prince of Wales’s (G1).

Before Panthalassa capped the day in the Saudi Cup (G1), Japan scored two lucrative wins on turf with Bathrat Leon and Silver Sonic, and British raider Mostahdaf romped in the Neom Turf Cup (G3).

Following up on an impressive debut over the July Course, Commissioning was similarly convincing on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile in Friday’s Rockfel (G2).

Star power was on full display when the five-day Royal Ascot meeting opened in England on Tuesday. Baaeed and Nature Strip were among the first to shine.

French champion Sealiway upstaged the principals in Saturday’s Champion S. (G1) at Ascot, and Baaeed toppled Palace Pier on an epic Champions Day for Shadwell.

The five-day Royal Ascot meet kicked off on Tuesday with a stellar slate of seven races, none of them more exciting than the featured Queen Anne (G1), which saw the improving Circus Maximus dig deep to prevail in in a thrilling finish.