There was drama after the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap that closed Royal Ascot's Friday card, as the impressive winner Bacio (Maclean's Music) looked in danger of losing the contest in an inquiry.Having made all in dynamic fashion to capture the five-furlong test and the imagination of all in attendance, the heavily-supported Wesley Ward-trained colt looked likely to be thrown out as Juan Hernandez initially weighed in light. After some anxious moments, it was discovered that some equipment had been mislaid and Ward, who was winning his first Royal Ascot race since 2021, gave the lowdown. “We were taking some pictures and the horse jumped and the overgirth fell off, so it didn't go through the scales when Juan weighed back in. They found it in the winner's circle, put it back on and we're all good,” he explained.All the rage for this having impressed when making all in an allowance optional claimer at Churchill in April, the 3-1 favourite who was bred by Borrowdale LLC (Andrew Cary), Torie Gladwell, Cincinnati Avenue Equine, Knollwood Farm and Valerie Dailey, was let loose on the front end again racing stands' side and maintained to the line to record an emphatic 3 3/4-length success from compatriot Sandal's Song (Mendelssohn).“This is the greatest place in the world to win a horse race. There is nowhere like it anywhere that I have been,” Ward added. “We keep coming over and more Americans keep coming as that is what Royal Ascot is about, the international competition. It is just so great to finally win a race again here and hopefully we will keep moving forward.”Second in last year's Speakeasy Stakes, Bacio was a steering job for Hernandez who said, “He won the race out of the gate. He looked really strong coming back from a lay-off–I saw him galloping here on Tuesday and he looked amazing. He showed today that he is a really good horse.”“I love it here,” he added. “It is something different in a good way. I am really happy to be here and grateful to the people at Royal Ascot. Hopefully, I can come back and win more races here.”The winner is a son of the Summer Winds Stakes scorer Katie's Kiss (Kantharos). A half to the fellow Stakes winner Stonestreetsong (Songandaprayer), her two-year-old filly Southern Kiss is by Golden Pal while she also has a colt foal by Arabian Knight.7th-Royal Ascot, £120,000, Hcp, 6-19, 3yo, 5fT, :58.36, g/f.BACIO (c, 3, Maclean's Music–Katie's Kiss {SW-US}, by Kantharos) Sales history: $140,000 RNA 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: SP-US, 5-4-1-0, $246,161. O-My Racehorse/Shockley/Hanna/Messenger; B-Torie Gladwell, Cincinnati Avenue Equine, Borrowdale LLC (Andrew Cary), Knollwood Farm & Valerie Dailey (KY); T-Wesley Ward.The post Bacio Survives Inquiry Scare To Put Ward Back In Royal Spotlight appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.