Royal Ascot 2017- 11-1 shot Rajasinghe wins the Coventry Stakes on day one of Royal Ascot
Rajasinghe's performance was even more impressive considering he was hampered at the start by Brother Bear and he just held on to win in a photo finish from Headway
ANOTHER race and another course record as Rajasinghe won the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
After Ribchester broke the record in the opening Queen Anne Stakes, Rajasinghe scorched the turf just half an hour after him.
Richard Spencer’s colt was hampered at the start by hot favourite Brother Bear, but he still managed to win in a photo finish from Headway.
Murillo came home third with Brother Bear dropping out of the places after drifting across the track.
Winning jockey Stevie Donohoe said: “Being drawn nine I thought was a nice draw, but it ended up being a bad draw because I had nothing to aim at.
“He stays well and he came good about a furlong and a half out. He’s done all his work on his own so I think it’s more impressive that it looked.
“He’s a big boy, full of life and we love him to bits, I think he’ll be better at three as well.”
He added: “I dislocated my fingers last night and all night they were giving me trouble. I took the straps off down at the start hoping the adrenaline would get me through.
“We’d been really happy with his home work, the only worry we had was running on turf.
“It’s great for the underdog, to take on the big boys and win is great.”
Spencer said: “He’s an amazing horse and I’ve loved since day one.
“He’s done everything I’ve asked and leading up to Newcastle he was definitely not over-screwed going into that. I knew there’d be improvement and he’s taken that step forward today.”