An action-packed opening Tuesday of racing at Royal Ascot yielded a mix of expected and surprising outcomes as the four group stakes churned out rousing finishes befitting the prestigious five-day meet.

A pair of winners on 2023 opening day made world-renowned trainer Aidan O’Brien the winningest trainer in Royal Ascot history.

The 2021 Royal Ascot meeting in England opened with a bang on Tuesday as Palace Pier, Oxted, and Poetic Flare posted Group 1 wins.

Royal Ascot’s glittering five-day stand begins Tuesday. Three Group 1s are on tap, beginning with the Queen Anne S. (G1) that serves as a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), and a couple of American sprinters are taking on defending champ Battaash in the King’s Stand S. (G1).