Al Kazeem is crowned Prince at Royal Ascot

The Prince of Wales presents the trophy to James Doyle after winning the Prince of Waless Stakes on Al Kazeem. Picture: PA

Roger Charlton has championed the cause of the bright young pilot, who has transformed from a slightly unfashionable grafter into one of the sport’s leading names since his accomplished display on the stable’s Cityscape in last year’s Dubai Duty Free.

And the 25-year-old rider was to exploit his winning baptism at the prestigious summer meeting in quite incredible fashion by going on to capture the next two races, the Royal Hunt Cup and Queen Mary Stakes.

Doyle needed his wits about him in the feature, as Paul Hanagan had launched an audacious bid for glory on Mukhadram by stealing an advantage of at least three lengths.

At stages even in the home straight he looked like he might maintain the lead but 11-4 chance Al Kazeem had him in his sights at the furlong-pole and collared him with 50 yards to go.

Charlton had already shown huge skill in coaxing Al Kazeem back from a fractured pelvis to beat Camelot in last month’s Tattersalls Gold Cup and the rest of his season will now be geared around the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Camelot himself, the 5-2 favourite, was one of those apparently caught unawares by Hanagan, whose mount was hardly a no-hoper but would have nonetheless been causing a surprise.

Camelot was only fourth, passed by The Fugue, but the action was developing further up the track as Doyle encouraged Al Kazeem past Mukhadram and a neck ahead at the post.

Doyle said: “I thought Paul gave his horse a fantastic ride, he got his fractions right. He kept filling his horse up got a couple of lengths on me turning in and I had to make them up.

“I was a little concerned on the turn but I’ve won on this horse every time I’ve sat on him and he has filled me with great confidence.

“Royal Ascot is so tough, you go there full of hope and expectation and it can end in disappointment.

“You grow up wanting to ride Royal Ascot winners, so it’s an amazing feeling.”

Charlton insisted that the trust he invested in Doyle is a two-way deal.

“I’d like to compliment James,” he said. “He’s a young jockey who, in the past, had not ridden good horses but I have found him to be sensible, honest, and a very nice person to deal with.

“A lot of owners could say ‘get Johnny Murtagh or whoever’ but they stuck with him. We’ve asked him questions and he has delivered, but you can’t do it without the horse.”

Aidan O’Brien said of Camelot: “He’d had a tough winter [colic] and you’ve got to bear that in mind.

“We’ve always been very conscious of what he’s been through but maybe now is the time to start chasing him. There are a lot of options – the Eclipse and races like that.”

Clearly inspired by his victory aboard Al Kazeem, Doyle went on to secure two more winners.

His accomplishments were even more impressive given he had never tasted success at the Royal meeting.

Forty minutes after Al Kazeem had landed the feature race, the rider then helped rugged handicapper Belgian Bill cause a 33-1 stir in the Royal Hunt Cup.

Doyle manfully resisted the temptation to tack across towards the supposedly favoured stands side and kept fellow outsider Premio Loco at bay by three-quarters of a length.

Trainer George Baker said: “I was a bit nervous when they split into two groups, but about halfway I started to fancy our chances. He’s been a fantastic standard-bearer for the yard and, though it’s a cliche, he deserved to win a big one like this.”

Even better was to come in the next race when the speedy Rizeena (6-1) was delivered with cool precision in the Queen Mary Stakes.

The Clive Brittain-trained filly flashed two lengths clear at the line to deny American runner Sweet Emma Rose.

Duntle, meanwhile, could attempt settle an old score back in Group One company following her plucky success in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

David Wachman’s vastly progressive filly was disqualified and demoted into second place on her sole try at the top level, when she was first past the post in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown last September.

The four-year-old (100-30) has since boosted her profile with a Group Three victory on her return to the fray in May and is to set sail for even greater riches.

Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes and the Prix Jaques le Marois at Deauville in France could now be on the horizon.

Aidan O’Brien was earlier on the scoresheet for the third time this week when Gale Force Ten claimed the Jersey Stakes.

SELECTIONS

Royal Ascot

2.30 Coulsty

3.05 Alive Alive Oh

3.45 Saddler’s Rock (nap)

4.25 Wentworth

5.00 Indian Chief

5.35 Space Ship

Ripon

2.10 Bounty Girl

2.45 Tajneed

3.20 Hawk High

4.00 Ingleby Angel

4.35 Jan Smuts

5.10 Ypres

5.45 Size.

Ffos Las

6.00 Lord Grantham

6.30 Oddjob

7.05 Next Exit

7.40 Donnas Palm

8.15 True Blue

8.45 Lava Lamp

9.20 Macarthur

Leicester

6.20 Boxing Shadows

6.55 Grey Gazelle

7.30 Rocksilla

8.05 Stars Over The Sea

8.35 Perfect Spell

9.10 Gworn

Lingfield

5.40 Mersad

6.10 Poetic Belle

6.40 Great Crested

7.15 Absent Amy

7.50 Gabrial The Duke

8.25 Nafa

8.55 Fossa

Warwick

2.20 Mysterial

2.55 Hasbah

3.30 Blue Twister

4.10 Sunset Shore

4.45 See The Storm

5.20 Italian Riviera

5.50 Greyemkay

5.45 Size.