2024 King Charles III Stakes Result and Replay - Asfoora hands Australia another sprint win at Ascot

The King was in attendance at Royal Ascot to watch the inaugural running of the race named in his honour, the King Charles III Stakes.

Mick Appleby's three-year-old, Big Evs topped the market for the race formerly known as the King's Stand Stakes. Australian raider, Asfoora was backed into second-favouritism before the off, ahead of Regional and Believing.

Clive Cox ran both Kerdos and Diligent Harry, with Rogue Lightning and Twilight Calls also featuring in the field. Valiant Force and Crimson Advocate won juvenile races at last year's meeting, and they bolstered the three-year-old challenge.

Big Evs broke smartly and led the group on the inside of the track. Sprint Cup hero Regional was another who got out of the stalls quickly, and Ed Bethell's sprinter led the smaller group on the near side.

At the two-furlong pole, the groups merged together. Big Evs was the first to set off for home, with Believing in hot-pursuit.

Asfoora had been positioned on the tail of Regional on the near side. Oisin Murphy was the first to jump groups, dragging Asfoora over to the near side and she soon had Big Evs in her sights.

The market leaders settled down for a set-to. Asfoora gained the upper hand, seeing off the favourite to help Australia claim another big victory at Royal Ascot.

Regional kept on well towards the finish to pip Big Evs for second, with Believing back in fourth. Both Regional and Believing are entered in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on day five, so we could be seeing more of them later in the week.