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Star Catcher gave Derby-winning owner/breeder Anthony Oppenheimer another major success when taking the G2 £215,000 12f Ribblesdale Stakes by a length and a half from 7/4 favourite Fleeting.
The Sea The Stars filly, a 4/1 chance, was trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, who was scoring his third victory of the day and his fifth of Royal Ascot 2019.
Oppenheimer, also owner and breeder of sixth-placed Frankellina (William Haggas/James Doyle), said: "I'm an extremely happy man. We knew she was very useful - when she ran third at Newbury, Frankie said he made a mistake and he thought she could have won, and so we knew she was pretty smart. Frankellina is also very smart, but I think she didn't quite stay - I'm not sure, I haven't spoken to William Haggas yet.
"Star Catcher 's a nice filly, very useful."
Gosden said: "A great friend of mine Simon [Crisford] trained the winner of the Norfolk, then Stoutey produced his horse beautifully [to win the Hampton Court Stakes - both were ridden by Dettori], and we have planned this since Star Catcher won her maiden in April.
"These have all been plans and now we are expecting Frankie to win the Gold Cup, but this is a funny old game and it probably won't happen. The ground is rather testing for Stradivarius, it's not his scene. Having said that, this 48-year-old kid takes it to another level, a bit like a Wimbledon semi-final or final. He is riding quite beautifully, and is occasionally listening to me but not much!
"Star Catcher broke her maiden at Newbury and Frankie got straight off her and said don't go for the Oaks, go for the Ribblesdale because she hasn't yet got the strength for the Oaks.
"The pace was a bit slow when she ran in that Listed race at Newbury. Frankie said he went too slow, but I told him not to worry because she will stay well and has run a nice trial."
Dettori has now accrued 65 winners at Royal Ascot, including five this week, two yesterday and the first three today - he heads the QIPCO Royal Ascot Top Jockey Award standings.
He now rides Even-money favourite Stradivarius in the G1 Gold Cup for John Gosden.
Dettori said: "It can't get any better than having three winners in the first three races on Gold Cup day.
"It's lovely to have a winner for John Gosden too as we can take a breath of relief as a team now ahead of Stradivarius.
"I wasn't sure Star Catcher would win as we had four in the race, but she did it well.
"I just hope I can the win the next race because the Gold Cup is the most important. I hope I haven't used up all my luck."
Dettori's other two rides also now head the betting in their respective races. Turgenev is the 10/3 favourite for the Britannia Handicap (5.00pm) and Questionnaire is the 3/1 market leader in the concluding King George V Stakes (5.35pm)
Reflecting on the possibility of Dettori riding all six winners, Betfred representative Matt Hulmes said: "Frankie factor is in full swing at Ascot. He has landed a hat-trick already on Gold Cup day and he now rides hot favourite Stradivarius in the next.
"Liabilities are rising all the time and Stradivarius is the one they have all come to back. Frankie has already generated big losses for bookmakers and Stradivarius could hit the right note next up for punters."
