ROYAL ASCOT 2020: Local hero Crowley continues his winning streak

Local lad Jim Crowley is ripping it up in his own backyard at Royal Ascot, riding two further winners on Thursday to take his tally to six for the meeting, writes Tom Harle.

The Ascot-born jockey’s fairytale would have garnered roars galore if the hordes had been allowed to pour through the gates of the famous course this year.

Backing up his opening day treble, the jump jockey turned flat phenomenon rode winners in the Jersey and Britannia Stakes to make it six of the best.

“Six winners is the stuff of dreams, and it is great they are all for my boss,” said Crowley, whose winners have all come for owner and employer Hamdan Al Maktoum.

“It is a shame he can’t be here, but hopefully he is watching on the telly.

“When you are a jockey, you take one for the meeting, so to get six is great. I am very lucky to ride such nice horses and for such a big operation.

“You can’t do it without the horses, and I have come here many times. It is the hardest place to ride winners and I am very grateful to be riding horses capable of winning.”

The 34-year-old, who switched codes from jumps aged 27, has eclipsed his career tally of six Royal Ascot winners in a matter of hours.

Molatham, a 9-1 shot, stayed on strongly to earn Crowley victory in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes and Khaloosy delivered on his 9-2 price to win by nearly five lengths in the Britannia Stakes.

And Crowley isn’t finished there, now just three short of Ryan Moore’s post-war record of winners in a single meeting with two days still to go.

Crowley is fast bearing down on the leading jockey award and his fine form has helped propelled Roger Varian to the top of the leading trainer chart with four.

The man of the moment feels he has further chances to trot into the winners' enclosure before the week is out.

“Passing Ryan's record it isn’t impossible,” he added.

“Obviously, Elarqam’s form is working out really well, and he has run well on good to soft, although he wouldn’t want it too testing (in Friday's Group Two Hardwicke Stakes).

“Khaadem [runs in Saturday’s Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes] is a very good horse in his own right, and hopefully he can step up to being a top-quality horse.”