Itnab wins Ascot opener

Itnab gave the Maktoum family a winning start to Diamond Day at Ascot after landing the opening race.

The three-year-old filly, running in the colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum, won the Trilogy Diamond Rated Stakes.

Itnab, ridden by Richard Hills, appeared an unlikely winner at halfway as she was well off the pace set by leader King's Thought.

However, the picture changed dramatically in the closing stages, as Silence Is Golden gradually reeled in the escapee in the last furlong before herself being pounced on in the last eight strides by Itnab, who won going away by three-quarters of a length.

King's Thought was a further half a length away in third.

"As I told Sheikh Hamdan, this is the appetiser," said successful trainer Ben Hanbury, who had also looked after Itnab's dam, Midway Lady, winner of the 1000 Guineas and Oaks in 1986.

"The mother only ran six times, and she won five, and three of them Group Ones. But she was very unsound, she had very crooked legs.

"This is a very correct filly. She is very nervous in the box, like her mother, but she has the same heart.

"She seemed to me to want a little further, but when I saw her pushing so far out I feared the worst. But she's like that at home, she's very lazy, but when you pull her out she really goes. She's a deceptive filly."