Horse racing Docklands wins dramatic opening race at sunny Royal Ascot

ASCOT, England - Docklands claimed victory in a thrilling battle with favourite Rosallion in the opening race at a gloriously sunny Royal Ascot on Tuesday, the start of five days of high-class racing, fashion and big-stakes betting at the famous English course.

Catching the leaders after missing the initial break, Docklands drove to the front to press Rosallion all the way to the line, with the judges ruling in his favour, despite jockey Mark Zahra dropping his whip.

The Harry Eustace-trained victor, second in this race last year, gave the trainer his third Royal Ascot winner.

I just crept as much as I could and just got room at the right time, said Zahra. He burst through and just kept responding. Its one of the top moments of my career for sure.

Horses will compete in 35 races across the Royal meeting hoping to net a share of 10 million pounds ($13.5 million) of prize money. As well as eight Group 1 races with prizes worth a minimum of 650,000 pounds, the card features several handicaps attracting big fields of hopefuls.

The opening day features two other Group 1 contests including the King Charles III Stakes which will see Australian raider and last years winner Asfoora take on in-foal mare and Group 1 winner Believing.

In Tuesdays feature race, the 650,000-pound St Jamess Palace Stakes, the years best three-year-old colt milers including Irish, French and British 2,000 Guineas winners Field Of Gold, Ruling Court and Henri Matisse, will race over the round mile.

The prestige of Royal Ascot attracts trainers from all over the world and this year sees contenders from nine countries including Japan, Australia, France, Ireland and the United States.

Leading U.S. trainer Wesley Ward will miss the meeting for the first time since 2012 but Frances Lazzat,