It was inevitable that with a rather unique start to the 2020 flat season, Royal Ascot was going to throw up some surprises. However, a surprise as big as a 150/1 winner in a Group 2 contest? Nop, probably not. But that's exactly what it did.
A field of 15 went to post in the Coventry Stakes with the usual pair of AP O'Brien and Ryan Moore heading the market with Kingman colt Admiral Nelson but for once, it wasn't them who stole the show, or Frankie and Gosden, it was instead the highly respected Clive Cox and Adam Kirby partnership who teamed up with 150/1 shot Nando Parrado.
A five lengths fifth on debut at Newmarket at the start of the month, it was easy to see why the Kodiac colt was sent off big odds. The form from that race wasn't anything special with the winner Bright Devil finishing well back in the pack in Thursdays Chesham Stakes and 6th and 11th winning a couple of minor Novice Stakes.
However, that was until Nando Parrado turned the tables massively.
After breaking well, Kirby got him in a nice position right in the middle of the track and rode him prominently throughout the race until just after the three furlong marker and then it was all down to that vintage 'Kirby Drive' which people refer to as one of the finest in the sport.
Then before you knew it, he was a length clear and Adam Kirby and Clive Cox had just made history. It was that much of an outsider that Oddschecker confirmed that just 0.4% of bets they took through their website on the race went on Nando Parrado. Fair play to anyone who picked that one out!
150/1! Nando Parrado causes a massive upset in the Coventry! #RoyalAscot @Ascot pic.twitter.com/ytPJxVyhMI
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2020