THE first of five days of superlative racing action takes place tomorrow as the customary glitz, glamour and high fashion of Royal Ascot gets underway.

The most colourful and prestigious festival in the Flat-racing calendar, the opening day is highlighted by a brace of £250,000 races; the St James's Palace Stakes, which brings together the best three-year-old milers in Europe, and the Queen Anne Stakes, over the same distance, but for the cream of the older horses.

And when you're talking cream, Hawk Wing rises to the top. Aidan O'Brien's top-notch colt finished second in two Classics last season but still had his share of knockers, especially after being defeated by Where Or When at Ascot in the autumn.

But the four-year-old produced a scintillating performance in the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on his reappearance, pulverising a field which included Where Or When, who reopposes tomorrow with Kevin Darley again in the saddle.

Tomorrow's underfoot conditions will be considerably livelier than at Newbury, but Hawk Wing, a class-act despite his rather high head carriage, is strongly fancied to produce another show of brilliance under Mick Kinane.

In the St James's Palace Stakes, Sir Micheal Stoute's Kalaman is fancied to have the edge over Indian Haven, the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner, and Clodovil, the unbeaten French raider.

Stoute's colt, winner of both his races this season, looks a hugely exciting talent and although he is taking a steep rise in class here, he is confidently expeced to emerge with flying colours in what promises to be another cracking race.

Tim Easterby, after winning the big sprints at York on Friday and Saturday, has an excellent chance of yet another likewise triumph in the five-furlongs Balmoral Handicap with Roman Mistress.

Jimmy Quinn's mount scored at Haydock last time, looks sure to relish this stiff track and is sportingly napped to come out on top.

Hazim, winner of the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar on his seasonal debut, will surely take plenty of beating in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap, while Marcus Tregoning can make his mark at the meeting.

The trainer saddles Dominica in the King's Stand Stakes, the filly having won the corresponding event 12 months ago.

In the opening Coventry Stakes, Botanical, trained by David Loder and a winner at York last month, gets the vote to oblige in the hands of Frankie Dettori.

At Thirsk, the Anthony Fawcett Memorial Fillies' Handicap, the feature race on the card, offers Freya's Dream the chance to open his seasonal account.

Trained by the currently all-conquering Tim Easterby, the four-year-old won over this course and distance last year and has Richard Quinn in the saddle to help her in her follow-up attempt.

Mick Easterby's William's Well (3.25) and the promising Jumhoor (5.45) are also worth noting at the local venue.

Tomorrow's tips:

Royal Ascot

2-30 Mustajed; 3-05 Dominica; 3-45 Kalaman; 4-05 Hawk Wing; 4-55 Hazim; 5-30 Roman Mistress (NAP).

Thirsk

2-15 Philly Dee; 2-50 Whispered Promises; 3-25 Jubilee Street; 4-00 Freya's Dream; 4-35 Espresso Time; 5-10 McGillicuddy Reeks; 5-45 Fatik.

Updated: 14:16 Monday, June 16, 2003