Bred to be a champion, the John and Thady Gosden-trained five-year-old has far more placings than victories to his name, but under a confident Jim Crowley, he was hard on the bridle turning for home. He took advantage of a widening gap that emerged on the rail soon after and burst clear to win by three-and-a-quarter lengths.

The Wathnan Racing-owned pair of Haunted Dream – a first Royal Ascot runner for Newmarket-based Qatari trainer Hamad Al-Jehani – and Torito, a stable-mate of the winner, finished second and third.

A son of the brilliant racemare Taghrooda, Israr was sent off the 11/4 joint-favourite with Botanical, who finished last of the 15 runners.

Gosden said: “I think that at the jockey’s surprise, they went a good clip and opened it up – he was surprised that the Red Sea opened and sort of got there way too soon, but he went away and won comfortably. Israr is a grand horse and is a well-bred horse too, so hopefully we can find a stallion job for him one day. It’s great of Sheikha Hissa to keep him in training.”

High grade

On the decision to aim him for the Wolferton, he said: “It used to be a handicap – now it is a very high grade Listed race and you get good horses in there. It made every sense to give him some confidence and go and win a race. He was second to Passenger and ran a superb race at Chester, so I think that probably says a lot about the horse that beat him at Chester. He deserved to come here and win a lovely race on the first day of Ascot. He is a good looking dude as well.”

Crowley said: "I was slightly worried that I was going to get there too soon. I had a nice pitch in the race and was happy to be down the rail. I was hoping to work my way through horses and then all of a sudden, two furlongs out it opens up like the Red Sea. It never happens normally when you need it.

"In fairness to the horse, he got there, he didn't stop, put his head down and yeah, it's great. He loves fast ground they went a nice even tempo. He was faultless today. Hopefully we can add to this during the week."