Under-fire Irad Ortiz handed five-day careless riding ban by Ascot stewards

The wait for a first Royal Ascot winner goes on for Irad Ortiz after his week went from bad to worse when he was suspended for five days for careless riding after finishing fourth in the Queen Mary Stakes.

Ortiz replaced Frankie Dettori aboard Wesley Ward-trained runners this week but endured a nightmare start to his first Royal Ascot when 15-8 favourite Golden Pal fluffed his lines in the King's Stand Stakes.

The jockey did not anticipate the gates opening while looking back to outsider Mondammej, who was withdrawn just before the off, which caused last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner to start slowly.

Dramatised (left) wins the Queen Mary, in which Irad Ortiz finished fourth on Love ReignsCredit: Edward Whitaker

There was no such issue in the Queen Mary as Love Reigns broke quickly and took the advantage but was headed with a furlong to travel before being narrowly denied for third by Maria Branwell.

However, stewards suspended Ortiz for five days for careless riding after he was deemed to have allowed Love Reigns to drift left shortly after the start, forcing Katey Kontent to move from her intended line.

"She ran big," said Ortiz. "She ran brilliantly. I was in a good position and when I asked her she kept responding. The winner was really good today and I just got beaten for third on the wire. The winner was much the best but Love Reigns gave a great performance."

His afternoon did not get any better on when finishing 23rd of 24 runners on the Ward-trained Seismic Spirit in the Windsor Castle Stakes.

Chances to come for Ortiz

Ortiz, who won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, has two more chances to get off the mark, beginning with Ruthin, who was seventh behind Chipotle in the Windsor Castle Stakes last year, in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes on Friday.

He is then set to partner Campanelle, who won last year's Commonwealth Cup under Dettori, in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes on Saturday.

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