'Irad said he almost fell off' - stalls drama costs favourite Golden Pal

Confusion over the starting procedure in Britain led to favourite Golden Pal fluffing his lines at the start of the King's Stand according to trainer Wesley Ward.

Golden Pal's jockey Irad Ortiz was looking back to outsider Mondammej, who was withdrawn just before the off having refused to enter the stalls, and did not anticipate the gates opening, causing last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner to start sluggishly.

The 15-8 favourite was awkwardly away from stall 13, taking an almost sidewards trajectory for a split second and finding himself last after a few strides.

Ward said: "Irad was looking back at the horse that wouldn't load. He didn't realise they scratch horses over here. He said he almost fell off."

Ortiz rushed his mount through the field to try to gain his favoured prominent position and Golden Pal was right up with the pace by the 4f marker.

Those early exertions soon told though with the star four-year-old retreating sharply through the field with two furlongs to run. He ultimately finished last of the 16 runners beaten just over 20 lengths.

Golden Pal's slow start was not the only drama in the stalls in the King's Stand, with outsider Khaadem declared a non-runner by stewards having left the gates riderless.

The Charlie Hills-trained Khaadem reared up seconds before the off, leaving jockey Jamie Spencer in the stalls as the gates opened.

A note from the stewards' inquiry read: "An inquiry was held into the start and the possible withdrawal of Khaadem, ridden by Jamie Spencer. The rider and the starter were interviewed and shown recordings of the start.

"It was found Khaadem was deemed not to have started as the gelding had sat down on his haunches fractionally before the start, causing Spencer to have to sit on the back gate. As such, as Spencer was not mounted as the start was effected, Khaadem was withdrawn."

Jamie Spencer is forced to lean on the stalls as Khaadem rears just as the gates openCredit: ITV Racing

The top-level sprint went to the Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip for Australia who defeated Twilight Calls by four and a half lengths, with the Nigel Tinkler-trained Acklam Express defying odds of 200-1 to finish a head back in third, becoming the highest-placed 200-1 chance at Royal Ascot since Racing Post records began in 1988.

Tinkler said: "We thought he'd finish in the first half but we didn't expect him to finish that close, so we're absolutely delighted. He's just a lovely, lovely horse. We'll go to York and obviously Goodwood. He's very, very quick.

"He was ridden to win rather than run well, so that makes the run better. We'd have liked to have been a little bit further back early but he was really travelling. The winner is obviously very, very good.

"The owners all backed him to finish in the first half at 40-1. He's been to Dubai before and the Breeders' Cup will be very high on the agenda. We went with Ubettabelieveit and we can't wait to go back."

Watch an action-packed King's Stand Stakes

How it happened . . .

Khaadem (circled): leaves the stalls riderless having reared seconds before the off

Irad Ortiz rushes Golden Pal (circled) through the field after a slow start

A furlong has been run and Golden Pal (circled) has made up plenty of ground to gain a prominent position

Golden Pal's early exertions start to tell as Nature Strip hits the front

Golden Pal (circled) drops right out as the field approach the final furlong

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Australian 'freak' Nature Strip powers to electric King's Stand triumph

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