Which was the first Royal Ascot winner owned by Queen Elizabeth II?

Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953 but, just four days later, Her Majesty was at Epsom to see her now familiar purple, gold braid and scarlet colours carried into second place by Aureole in the ‘Coronation’ Derby. Less than two weeks later, on June 17, the Queen celebrated her first ever Royal Ascot winner, courtesy of Choir Boy, trained by Cecil Boyd-Rochfort and ridden by Doug Smith, in the Royal Hunt Cup.

Sent off at odds of 100/6, the Hyperion colt carried just 7st 8lb made the most of the weight concession from his nearest rival, Brunette, ridden by Gordon Richards, under 8st 5lb, to win in taking style. The four-year-old soon had the 21-strong field well strung out and passed the post two lengths ahead, much to the delight of the Queen, the accompanying members of the Royal Family, who included Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and racegoers alike. Hilltop, ridden by W.H. Carr, finished third, a further length away, under 8st 7lb.