AS the dust settles on the highlight of the summer racing season in Britain, Aidan O’Brien can once again reflect on what was a truly memorable Royal Ascot for the Ballydoyle trainer.

O’Brien launched an all-out assault on the five-day meeting which yielded six winners and a further 13 top four placings from a total of 36 runners.

Yet again O’Brien produced his team in terrific order for this most revered of fixtures and his sextet of winners supplied several of the week’s most memorable moments.

In recent seasons Royal Ascot has been a successful venue for Irish trainers but this year the challenge from these shores was a decidedly diminished one in terms of the spread of winners and contenders.

Indeed, Wilie Mullins was the only other Irish trainer to register a victory while Jessica Harrington and Joseph O’Brien were the only other trainers from these parts to send out runners that reached the frame.

The one major reversal of the week for Ballydoyle was Churchill’s laboured effort in the St James’s Palace Stakes where he had to settle for fourth behind three colts over whom he had already established his superiority. This can’t have been his true running and he will surely set the record straight next time.

Perhaps the highlight of the week was the victory of Caravaggio in Friday’s Commonwealth Cup. This undefeated colt, who won the Coventry Stakes at last year’s meeting, faced by far the sternest test of his career against Harry Angel and Blue Point. Caravaggio duly rose to the challenge at hand to edge an enthralling finish dominanted by a trio three-year-old sprinters of rare quality.

Winter Wins

On the same afternoon Winter followed up her 1000 Guineas triumphs with a typically dominant display in the Coronation Stakes where she led home a one-two-three for the trainer.

A filly of rare quality, she is unquestionably the dominant figure in the female division and at some stage through the second half of the season it would be fascinating to see her test her mettle against top-class male opposition as it might only be then that we will find out where the summit of her abilities lies.

The globe-trotting marvel that is Highland Reel notched up yet another Group 1 triumph at the meeting.

The class, courage and durability that are his hallmarks make him a truly admirable sort and surely further top-flight victories will be coming his way in the coming months.

For good measure his younger brother Idaho made his mark by winning the Hardwicke Stakes on Saturday.

On the two-year-old front O’Brien’s Sioux Nation turned in a revelatory effort to land the Norfolk Stakes, while stable companion Murillo looked decidedly unlucky in the Coventry Stakes. This pair are the foremost sprinting juveniles in Ballydoyle. Both look strong contenders for the likes of the Phoenix Stakes and the Prix Morny later this season.

September looked Group 1 material in winning the Chesham Stakes, while winning hurdler Thomas Hobson credited Willie Mullins with another winner at the Royal meeting as he claimed the Ascot Stakes.