Horse Racing - Royal Ascot: Pasquier Propels Manduro to Victory

French jockey Stephane Pasquier produced a classy performance to score his first-ever win at Royal Ascot today when he guided the 15-8 favourite Manduro to victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, the feature race on the second day of the meeting.

Manduro, third in the race behind Ouija Board 12 months ago, held off the determined challenge of 2-1 shot Dylan Thomas as the two pulled clear in the closing stages of the one-and-a-quarter-mile race. Last year's Derby winner, Sir Percy, was the early pace-setter but was swamped as soon as the runners turned into the straight. Notnowcato briefly hit the front but once Dylan Thomas and Manduro were asked to quicken it was Manduro who found the greater turn of foot and the pair pulled well clear. Notnowcato finished third at 13-2.

Pasquier has now ridden the five-year-old Manduro on four occasions and the combination remains unbeaten. "He's improving every time he runs, said Pasquier. "He proved today he's a very good horse. He finished well. I had a lot of confidence in my horse because I ride him every time and I know everything he can do."

Manduro's French trainer André Fabre added: "He got boxed in last year and is a horse who needs space. I don't want to blame jockeys before but Stephane had a clear run this time. He's a top-class miler and pace is not a problem for him. I was a little worried with the distance last year but I'm convinced he'll get a mile and a half. He's entered in King George and the Arc in the obvious target."

The winning owner, Baron Georg von Ullmann, was full of praise for his jockey. "It is amazing, we've been here a few times but a winner had never come our way," he said. "It's a dream. Pasquier fits the horse very well and they are a marriage made in heaven."

Earlier in the day, Jimmy Fortune notched up an impressive double in the first two races, storming to easy victories in the Jersey Stakes on board Tariq and the Windsor Forest Stakes on Nannina.

The French-trained US Ranger was a short-priced favourite in the Jersey Stakes and when he hit the front a furlong out it looked like it was just a matter of by how much he would win. However, Fortune always had the move covered on board the Peter Chapple-Hyam trained Tariq, the 15-2 second favourite, and he left US Ranger trailing in his wake, running out an impressive two-and-a-half-length winner, with Jeremy Noseda's Arabian Gleam claiming third. "They went a good gallop and he relaxed for most of the race," said Fortune. "When this horse does it he's very good."

There were a trio of 3-1 co-favourites in the Windsor Forest Stakes but Fortune again had the edge, guiding Nannina to victory with a stunning performance. After landing the Coronation Stakes at Ascot 12 months ago Nannina's career had stalled somewhat but she bounced back to her best in emphatic fashion, hitting the front over two furlongs out and was never challenged. Satwa Queen, another of the co-favourites, chased her home but was three lengths in arrears, with compatriot Sabana Perdida third.

"She is back to her best and she ran great," said Nannina's trainer, John Gosden. "At Epsom last time it was too soft for her, but she couldn't have done that any better. She likes good ground and good to firm - she just doesn't like it soft. The Nassau [Stakes, at Goodwood] is a huge target for us and it was the best race of her life last year [third behind Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun]."