Ryan Moore was forced to wait until the last race on the card but he finally secured a record-breaking ninth success at a single Royal meeting when Aloft, the 5-2 favourite, produced a strong finishing run to win the Queen’s Vase.

Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery are the only other riders in the modern era to have reached eight winners at one Royal Ascot, although Fred Archer managed a dozen in 1878.

Moore, who was due to ride at Newmarket’s evening fixture, had already changed into a suit by the time he was presented with the rider’s prize for his success.

“It was a very messy race,” Moore said. “I was slowly away and in a bad position and having to pick my way. He was a bit rusty all the way round. He’s open to all sort of improvement. It’s his first run of the year and you wouldn’t know where he could end up. I’m very lucky, I get to ride the best horses and that makes a big difference.”

Aidan O’Brien, Aloft’s trainer, was successful in the same race two years ago with the subsequent St Leger-winner Leading Light and Aloft may now be aimed at the Doncaster Classic.

Moore, meanwhile, will have a full book of rides on the final day of the meeting as he attempts to equal, or even surpass, Archer’s remarkable record. Three of his mounts – Ballydoyle in the Chesham Stakes, Telescope in the Hardwicke Stakes and Wicklow Brave in the concluding Queen Alexandra Stakes – are expected to head the market.