Mezcala was produced to perfection by Tom Marquand to take the Buckingham Palace Stakes and give trainer Jack Channon his first Royal Ascot success.
Dropping back to seven furlongs, the 9/2 joint-favourite picked his way through the field and burst into contention entering the final furlong, where a late surge took him past Elarak (12/1). A neck separated the duo at the line, with Great Acclaim (12/1) the same distance back in third as the other market leader Blue Brother finished fourth.
Bred by his owners Jon and Julia Aisbitt, Mezcala was securing his second major handicap of the season following a similarly taking display in the Spring Mile at Doncaster.
Channon said: “This is the first time Mezcala has had cover this year and, Jesus, he’s got a good turn of foot. It’s brilliant for everyone at West Ilsley – Allana, my wife and assistant, and the team at home who do an amazing job with these horses. It is a fantastic day.
“Mezcala is a good horse, but Jon and Julia have a good record of breeding these lovely miling horses. It’s been 13 years since West Ilsley had a Royal Ascot winner [Elidor], and they owned and bred the last one too. It is wonderful for them — they’re great breeders and he’s a very good horse.
“He’s a really good, clean-moving horse. A lot of the family do like a bit of juice in the ground, but touch wood, he’s as good a mover as we’ve had from the family. Today was the first time he’s had cover and he’s shown the electric turn of foot he has when he gets it. I think he’s definitely stakes class.”
Marquand said: “Me and Billy [Loughnane], first and second, were drawn right up against the stands’ side fence and Billy had the blessing of being able to ride his lad forward. This fellow takes a little while to get going.
“Jack said to me before, ‘Just make sure you get a clear run,’ and I was thinking it might be a tricky job, but he’s done a fantastic job with this horse. Great for them and fantastic for the Aisbitts – they’re wonderful owner-breeders and they will be absolutely thrilled.
“Jon and Julia are fantastic. I ride a lot for them and they’re super, super-game. When it all goes wrong, they still love it. It is fun riding for people like them and hugely deserved with a lovely horse. I am glad to be aboard.
“Jack and his team are a young team, while they’ve got these horses upwardly mobile – they’re flying. This is a very hard thing to do, to get horses to back up those big handicap wins.”
Billy Loughnane said of Elarak: “Super run. He found a perfect rhythm, picked up and went to go and win his race. He gave an improving sort 9lb and it probably caught him out late on.”