Recent Mayo racecourse winner powers to win at Royal Ascot

It was a proud day for the owners of the racehorse Carmers, who recently made a winning Mayo debut at the Ballinrobe Racecourse, as the horse ridden by Billy Lee powered to a first win at the world-famous Royal Ascot.

Carmers made his Mayo debut a winning one in Ballinrobe in early May, when he was first home by some distance in the West Tyre maiden.

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Now, some five weeks on, he has carried that form onto one of the biggest stages in the horse-racing calendar.

The Paddy Twomey-trained horse was one of the bookies' favourites to get the job done, coming in at 9/2 before the race, and put in an assured performance in the Group Two Queen's Vase.

In the 3.05 pm event, Carmers not only came first with a time of 2 minutes 59.53 seconds, but also broke the record of 3 minutes 0.57 seconds set last year.

After the race, Twomey was ecstatic with the horse, owned by Fiona Carmichael, which he trained to victory.

“I appreciate being sent nice horses, and it’s great that he went and delivered for Fiona today," he stated.

"Carmers is a very important horse for her. I knew he would stay, and I knew turning in that Billy looked comfortable. When the bell rang, I thought that we had a chance because staying is his game."

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Owner Fiona Carmichael was also overjoyed with the achievement.

“It is all fairly new to me, but I am living the dream, and what happened today is amazing," said Carmichael.

"It has made me so nervous today, you have no idea how nervous I have been. It’s fabulous; what dreams are made of."