Frankie Dettori's winning run at Royal Ascot came to a halt when Turgenev went down all guns blazing at the hooves of Biometrick in the Britannia Handicap.
With two furlongs to run he was two lengths clear on John Gosden's charge and the crowd was collectively holding its breath as history beckoned. However, Ralph Beckett's Biometric came with a sustained run from the rear under Harry Bentley to spoil the party.
The winner was having just his fourth run and was winning for the third time - providing the bookmakers with huge respite given Turgenev was available at 20-1 in some places this morning and returned 7-2.
Dettori said: "20 years ago I would have won that! He was 16-1 this morning, went off favourite and he gave me a great spin. I've had a good day so I'm not going to cry."
Beckett said: "We were the only people on the racecourse shouting. He was flat out at halfway. He's had a slightly unorthodox prep as he had to have a third run to qualify and the only option I really had was a six-furlong novice at Lingfield. It wasn't the plan to be that far back, but they went hard. It all fell into place and I'm absolutely delighted.
😲 The excitement when Frankie Dettori was two lengths clear going for FIVE in a row...
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) June 20, 2019
...but it wasn't to be as Biometric wins the Britannia Stakes! pic.twitter.com/YZ6hRpOKDD
"At the three pole I thought we were going to be last or they'd gone too hard. He's always been a sleeper, not a flashy worker. He was an immature two-year-old, had a little issue and never ran. It's great and I'm thrilled."
Bentley added: "I've been riding here a long time and have had quite a few rides here over the years, so it's so good to get on the board.
"It's so tough. Any meeting at Ascot - not only the Royal meeting - it's incredibly hard to ride winners here, just because of the competitiveness of the races. It's so special - a day I won't forget. I know I've upset a few people there, so I'm probably not the most popular winner of the day!"
Asked if he knew Dettori was in front, Bentley said: "I did actually. I've probably upset a few people there. I'm probably not the most popular winner of the day."
