IT will be a sporting quiz question for years to come.

Which North Yorkshire trained horse was the first past the post at Royal Ascot at York? The answer - Imperial Servant, trained by David Barron at Thirsk.

Sadly, the few backers of the 100-1 outsider didn't win a bean as Imperial Servant had unseated jockey Seb Sanders before the off and galloped the full six furlongs of the Coventry Stakes in not-so splendid isolation to the cheers of the Knavesmire crowd.

Minutes later the decibel levels went up several notches as Red Clubs stormed to victory over Pacific Pride.

After a false start, Royal Ascot at York was up and running. Sheriff Hutton jockey Kevin Darley was another big North Yorkshire loser.

He had been booked to don the blue silks of Goldolphin on Shamardal after Kerrin McEvoy switched to Dubawi following Frankie Detorri's ban.

But Dubawi was withdrawn and McEvoy took the ride on Shamardal who proceeded to destroy the St James' Palace Stakes field.

It was a top-class performance, but could not match the drama of the defeat of Rakti in the Queen Anne Stakes. The red-hot favourite got in a real fluster on his way down to the start and Philip Robinson had to wrestle the reins to keep him under control.

Although Rakti set the early pace, he had used up too much gas before the start and French-trained Valixir hunted him down, jockey Christophe Soumillon throwing away his whip in delight. It was stirring stuff fought out before a 35,982 crowd dressed as though they were attending one huge wedding.

The marriage of Royal Ascot and York may not be quite made in heaven in many eyes - but it worked. It was unlike a York meeting and no doubt didn't feel like the true Royal Ascot to many well-heeled regulars. But it did ooze class, particularly on the track.

However, not all the class in the stands was of the upper variety as top-hatted and feather bedecked visitors jostled cheek-by-jowl with their north country cousins. But you don't have to be posh to be privileged. Seeing so many equine thoroughbreds on Knavesmire is indeed a privilege.

Updated: 10:36 Wednesday, June 15, 2005