Ascot delivered drama and quality racing on 6 December, with close finishes, standout performances, and a Group 1 highlight. From Trio’s upset in the opener to Cosmic Crusader’s gritty Northerly Stakes triumph, the day had it all.

Here's how it unfolded:

Endowed with a strong hand across the afternoon, Grant and Alana Williams commenced their day with a two-pronged hit on the first event, preparing both Royal Toronado ($1.80f) and Trio ($4).

But it would be the less fancied of the two getting the verdict, with Nash Rawiller critically occupying a position ahead of Royal Toronado when partnering Trio.

Correct Choice ($6) gave a kick from his forward role, but he was gathered in by Trio 50m out and the Maschino gelding came away to win by a short neck, with Royal Toronado the same distance behind Correct Choice.

Red Lark ($6) hinted at promise with his Crystal Slipper sixth and, appearing for his second race start, was well handled by Keshaw Dhurun to identify a ground-saving midfield position.

Produced into clear running around the home turn, the Awesome Rock colt quickly chased down new front-runner Properata ($4.40) and dismissed the challenge of Ace Queen Suited ($3.50f) to salute by a short neck.

On trial back up to 2200m, Summer's Legacy ($3.70f) was anchored back to last on the rail and second fancy Fame ($5.50) was caught three wide without cover throughout in the third event.

Meanwhile, Chris Parnham found a glorious spot behind the leaders aboard Grand Reserve ($8) and the Maschino five-year-old moved menacingly as he found open air around the final bend.

Fame burst to the front, but the effort began to take its toll and Grand Reserve stormed to the lead 75m out, eventually blasting away to score by a length from the game Fame.

Summer's Legacy was ultimately disappointed for running and finished an unlucky fifth.

Despite mixing it with the State's premier three-year-olds in the Max Simmonds Classic and Belgravia Stakes in October, Storm Away ($2.75f) was dropped back to a Belmont maiden for his first success on November 12.

Appearing for his first run since and with blinkers equipped for the first time, the Lucky Vega gelding slingshot out of the gates but soon drifted back to third last with cover.

Peeling from his three wide cover on the turn, Storm Away blitzed to the front with a run that carried him two lengths clear of the pursuing Monte Tremezzo ($18).

His chaser could make little inroads, with the favourite and Holly Watson scoring by a length and a half.

With two runs under his belt, including a meritorious effort behind Cosmic Crusader at his last run, Without Reg ($7) attracted some interest in the fifth contest.

Racing in fifth position and in the clear, Watson brought the seven-year-old to the outside of Shmoov Moova ($2.15f) upon cornering and shot to the front with 150m to go.

With half the straight still to cover, the gelding was left a sitting shot for Angel Undercover ($6.50), who began to warm into her work and eroded the deficit.

In a desperate, frenzied finish, the two drew to the line as one, with the judge poring over the print to find a nose margin in favour of Without Reg.

Consistent four-year-old Auto Cruise ($2.70f) was one of the last runners into stride in the sixth race but importantly mustered good dash to be only a handful of lengths from the front-running Bartime ($11) and against the inside.

With a strung-out field, Clint Johnston-Porter was able to squeeze his way into clear air around the home bend, allowing the mare to find her stride.

She hit top gear at the 150m and drilled past the early pacesetters before comfortably brushing off Desert Dancing ($4) to win by three-quarters of a length.

Despite appearing fresh and drawing wide, Chris Parnham pressed on with Redback Flyer ($12) to occupy the position outside the leader over 1400m.

Winding up the big son of Playing God, Chris Parnham sent the four-year-old on at the 200m and the gelding responded manfully defying all challengers to salute by three-quarters of a length.

It was the Michael Lane-trained galloper's first run since July when a solid fourth in the Aquanita Stakes (2019m) at Bunbury.

In a call-back to the first event, Grant and Alana Williams were armed with a strong representation, featuring Buckets Ridge ($6), Captain Pluto ($6.50) and Simply ($19).

This time, it would be the Amelia Park silks who won the day, with Buckets Ridge extricating from his three wide cover nearing the turn and bounding to the top.

Left in the lead a long way from home, Billy Egan had to will the five-year-old home, and Forever Boy ($4f) gave hot and persistent pursuit.

Closing in to within a half-length at the 75m, Forever Boy could get no closer, with Egan sending the son of Pride Of Dubai home.

Forever Boy fired in a protest, but it was promptly dismissed, with Buckets Ridge lifting the Listed $125,000 G A Towton Cup (2200m) en route to the Perth Cup on New Year's Day.

In both the first and eighth events, the cerise-and-white Peters Investments silks had been left second best behind Grant and Alana Williams-trained gallopers.

So, when the Peters' Cosmic Crusader ($6.50) and the Williams' Watch Me Rock ($15) squared off over the final furlong of the Group 1 $1.5 million TABtouch Northerly Stakes (1800m), there was a certain sense of déjà vu.

Despite initially being behind Nash Rawiller and Watch Me Rock, Clint Johnston-Porter sent Cosmic Crusader forward three wide at the 1000m and got past that runner in a sliding doors moment.

Rounding the turn, Johnston-Porter committed Cosmic Crusader for home, with Watch Me Rock now tailing him and hooking from his coattails.

Just when Watch Me Rock loomed to poke his nose in front with 50m to go, Cosmic Crusader fought with tigerish determination and competitive will, battling on to succeed by a head.

The victory was Bob Peters' eighth in the event and provided 'new' trainer Michael Grantham with a maiden Group 1 glory.

When the chips are down, rely on Pike.

In a rare winless afternoon for The Wizard, he was handsomely supported to end the day on the right note for his legion of fans aboard Black Ora ($3.20f).

Drifting back worse than midfield, Pike began to slide his way through the pack approaching the turn and had only a handful of rivals ahead on straightening.

Then, The Wizard speared his way back to the fence and thrust Black Ora through, dashing the Playing God mare to the front 100m from home.

The pair screeched away from the fast-finishing Keep Ita Mystery ($21) to win by two lengths in a popular result.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

Cosmic Crusader's complete redemption. The ante-post favourite for the Railway Stakes a fortnight ago, the gelding missed a run in the race due to two lead-up defeats that meant his rating was too low. Johnston-Porter blamed himself and his wild jubilation upon crossing the line can only be interpreted as sheer relief and a deserved reward for effort. For trainer Michael Grantham, a maiden Group 1 glory seemed inevitable for a young man who continues to improve his lot. Grantham pays particular credit to his mother, Kellie, saying she is just as important in his success as himself.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

Charino (Race 10)

After settling last, he found traffic trouble in the home straight and went to the line virtually untested. That was his first run in three weeks, so it wouldn't surprise if he reappears even next week (or the week after) and goes bang.

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