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ABC News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- ABC News
The voices inside Iran the regime doesn't want you to hear
In a country where dissidents face arrest or even execution, 10 Iranians put themselves at risk to document the war. It's 2am in Iran when a message pops up on my phone. "They are bombing us now. I can hear it. I'm at my mum's. There is no shelter. I'm terrified. Pray for us. We may die." The text is from Zahra, a young woman who lives in Tehran, and she is risking her life to send it. It's difficult to get a sense of how ordinary Iranians have been feeling during the past fortnight. Foreign journalists are rarely allowed into Iran, and media in the country is tightly controlled by the regime. People who speak out face arrest, even execution, and rolling internet blackouts help authorities tighten their grip on information. One of my contacts was arrested and held in jail just last year. But throughout the war, several Iranians — including a teacher, a mother, and a labourer — have been sending me information as the war unfolded. They want the outside world to know what's happening in their country. Here are their stories. 'It felt like an earthquake': The war begins People described the first attacks as feeling "like an earthquake". ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) Under the cover of darkness, Israel begins Operation Rising Lion on June 13. People wake to explosions and bright clouds of light in the sky. Panic and confusion sweep the streets. ZAHRA: It felt like an earthquake happened. I was terrified, it was almost close to my house. It was 2:30am and suddenly I saw a yellow-orange light … I brought my head up and heard booooooooooom. It all happened in a second. FARAH: My mum heard the booms at about 3am. And she started screaming. They attack our neighbourhood, behind my house, and everything is shattered and destroyed. ZAHRA: I called my mum and begged her to go to the basement. I was running the steps down, calling the neighbours to come down … my dog was following me. You have no idea how I was shaking, no idea! My spine was shaking, my whole body, my legs were shaking so much that I couldn't stand on them. Then it kept going, the night after and the night after. FARAH: In the streets, it is heart-wrenching. I feel so heartbroken to see the kids and young people, ordinary ones who are not in the army, are all killed. And near my house, there is a girl who is killed, she was 20-something, and I keep thinking about her because I remember that I had so many dreams when I was 20. Anyway, that's war. 'No-one is in the streets': Thousands flee Tehran People were told to evacuate Tehran, but several residents told the ABC it was difficult. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) Hours after the attack, Iran's leaders declare war and fire barrages of missiles back at Israel. Israel's military continues to bomb nuclear sites and assassinate senior military leaders and nuclear scientists. Civilians are also killed. People are told to evacuate Tehran — but not everyone can leave. FARAH: We left our city Tehran yesterday. Usually it takes four to five hours to reach to the north part of Iran and yesterday it took us 11 hours. It was very crowded, all the roads and the highways. And I just drive 500 metres in 10 minutes. It's horrible. ZAHRA: I am still in Tehran, it is almost empty. Shops are closed, no-one is in the streets. Some people spend more than 12 hours in traffic getting out of Tehran. In other cities, food and fuel is already scarce. FARAH: I just went to the petrol station here [in northern Iran] and they told me that I can just take the 30 litres, no more. And I heard from my friends in Tehran that you can just get 15 litres for your car per day and not more. So petrol is like a crisis. 'There is no place to hide': Fear intensifies People told the ABC they felt like "nothing" was in their control. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) Five days into the war, Israel's bombing campaign continues. The official death toll in Iran has climbed past 200. It's unclear how many are civilians. People fear the war will continue for years. FARAH: It's been less than a week that they started the war and in just few days everything collapsed and destroyed. And we lost so many beautiful lives and minds. YASMIN: Nothing is in our control. It's not in the hands of the people here either. But we've gotta keep our spirit strong. We've been through so much through the years — and it's made us thick skinned … really thick. FARAH: Innocent people, they are killed, they stay in their home, and there is no alarm, there is no place to hide, there is not shelter, there's no food. I don't know what are we doing? ZAHRA: It's war. It's Israel. It's scary. 'They will kill us': Some hope war will topple regime Some people said they hoped the war would lead to the end of the regime. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) There's talk that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei could be assassinated. Hundreds of men from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — the military group that protects the theocratic regime — have also been killed. Amongst the fear, there is hope among people who despise the regime that it could fall. ZAHRA: I hate these paradoxical feelings. On one hand, I am glad that those [in the IRGC] who killed our children, blinded them, imprisoned us are dead. On the other hand, our national pride has been attacked and I/we feel humiliated. Some are angry with the regime and feel happy about eliminating the leaders. Some are not happy with the war and they think it's encroaching our country. KAMRAN: It's this strange feeling, like people were relieved the war started, just because they thought maybe everything else — all this madness — would finally end. ALI: If foreign attacks shatter the regime's grandeur and that fear shatters, it will definitely lead to regime change. ZAHRA: I just woke up, we're still at war. We want it all gone. The regime must go. If they stay after this war, they will kill us all. And we know it. Israel must end up eliminating the regime's men. If not, they will arrest us, they will kill us. 'This might be the last chance': Panic as US bombs Iran People were afraid of what the US joining the war could lead to. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) Just after 2am on June 22, nine days after the first strikes, America joins the war. US forces drop massive "bunker-busting" bombs on several nuclear sites. People inside Iran fear this means real war — not just with Israel, but the start of something that could destroy all of their country. ZAHRA: They bombed Fordow and other sites. It was like an earthquake. Fordow was a place that Israel couldn't bomb so Trump did it instead. But Israel won't stop now. They will finish the Islamic Republic. LENA: State media is telling us that the enriched uranium was moved elsewhere and that nothing has happened. Right now, we don't even have satellite access. Many people don't know what actually happened. For example, I didn't know myself. I went out this morning [and] found out there that the US had struck. FARAH: Nobody knows what's going on and what will happen next. The nuclear leaks, maybe. Maybe we won't be like alive in the next few hours? Who knows? Now this American attack … I can't stop my tears. LENA: The regime doesn't let us access the news or talk to each other. They've shut everything down on us. ZAHRA: This might be the last chance for us. FINISH them. America will finish them. 'I am full of anger': Mixed feelings over sudden ceasefire Iranians had mixed feelings after the ceasefire was announced. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) A day after the US bombs Iran, Donald Trump announces a ceasefire. There's shock and disbelief inside Iran. Could the war really be over？ There's also a growing anger, at what some see as a missed opportunity to topple the regime. FARAH: For now I am full of anger … this mullah's regime is still here and our country is destroyed, many people have been killed for nothing!!!!!! This morning I was crying when I heard the news. They promised us to change the regime. They said that they're going to kill Khamenei, they're going to bring better days but it's all lies, empty promises. YASMIN: Nothing is in our control. It's not in the hands of the people here either. My brain is throbbing. I don't want to give this s*** anymore energy I'm done for today, I'm done with it all. With those f***ers, with politics. FARHAD: I would have preferred Israel to destruct and weaken the regime led by Khamenei even more. If they continue the war, they [Iran's regime] might get weaker, their economy might further weaken and the people could have greater courage to start an uprising. KAMRAN: If they go ahead and announce a permanent ceasefire, after all the damage that's been done to the Islamic Republic's infrastructure, our lives will only get worse. Much worse. 'I still have hope': People disappointed regime remains The Iranian regime, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has tight control over the media. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) Anger quickly turns to fear with the realisation the war is over, but the regime remains. Some predict the weakened regime will crack down even harder — especially on those who oppose the regime — as it fights for its survival. FARAH: Right now the regime will have a lot of excuses — that if [you] don't behave like they what they want, according to them, based on Islamic rule, then it's enough for them to label you a spy — you are working for Israel, you are American spy. Then they kill you easily. AVA: I'm disappointed … I thought maybe this could be it. I still have hope that it [the ceasefire] won't last — because otherwise, the people will have to pay for this war. KAMRAN: If I'm being real, I've kind of lost faith, I'm disappointed. Maybe it's all just some psychological game they're playing, I don't know. FARAH: We went to do some shopping yesterday. On the way there, there were more than 10 checkpoints with lots and lots of young policemen with huge guns. I saw they stopped many young men and all kind of lorries and big cars. We came back in the evening, there were lots of checkpoints too with policemen but different types of uniform which I didn't recognise and we've never seen them before. Scary. 'Twelve days of horror': Iranians question what the war achieved Several people told the ABC the cost of food and fuel is already soaring. ( ABC News: Sharon Gordon ) The war is over, but it's not time to celebrate. People in Tehran report massive damage and say the city will need extensive repairs. They say the regime and its henchmen are already jacking up the prices of petrol, oil, and food — likely to raise money to pay for the reconstruction. Some feel like the war was for nothing. KAMRAN: We're going to be the ones expected to pay for the damage — in every sense of the word. Any loss, any destruction — they'll find a way to get people to make up for it. They'll squeeze us. They'll justify it by saying, "We gave you peace. We gave you stability." In every possible sense — especially economically, we'll be crushed. We'll be struggling just to stay afloat, nothing more. BIJAN: We have been notified that for three or four days now, no imports are coming into Iran. Iran's stock exchange has been closed for a week. That affects the economy. FARAH: We don't know how to be happy. What did they achieve from this kind of war? It's just 12 days of horror and shocks and stress. They destroyed all the buildings. They destroyed our homes. They killed innocent, ordinary people … I feel like my heart is bleeding. ZAHRA: Yes we are tired … yes we are disappointed. But, change takes time. You should know the history of Saddam and Gaddafi? The same thing happened. So we will be patient. Change will happen. Credits: Reporting: Middle East correspondent Allyson Horn Additional reporting: Kaveh Akbari, Fariba Sahraei and Nassim Khadem Illustrations: Sharon Gordon Digital production and editing: Leonie Thorne and Toby Mann
Sky News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Iranian woman describes how she learned of US strikes the moment she woke up
"The moment I opened my eyes I knew it had happened," an Iranian woman living in Dubai says, explaining how she learned the US had become involved in the Israeli attacks on Iran. "I tell my friends and family in Iran, whenever they get internet access, to just send me even one word to let me know they're OK." This morning, the internet blackout temporarily lifted in Iran, she received the message "Fordow Hit". This was an instant signal the US had got involved in this war. The Fordow enrichment plant in Iran is buried deep inside a mountain and it was widely understood Israel needed America's unique bunker buster bombs to strike the facility. I'm not identifying the Iranian woman who spoke to me as she returns to Iran frequently and fears for the safety of her family who still live there. For the purposes of this article, I'll call her Zahra. When I ask how worried she is, she breaks down in tears. "A lot" are the words she manages to get out. "I'm so attached to my country," she says. "I'm worried because I know the regime in Iran is not going to leave this without retaliation. I'm worried about the region in general. Because things will escalate. "You cannot get rid of them like this. The US is saying, 'Let's make peace you bullies'. The Iranian regime is not going to do this. They're going to hit back." Zahra came to the United Arab Emirates more than 10 years ago to study and, along with around half a million Iranians, has made it her home. The close proximity to Iran and the freedom and stability of the UAE were reasons she chose to stay in Dubai. The conflict has created a highly volatile travel environment across the Middle East with many airlines suspending all flights to Iran, Iraq and Israel. Among them, Singapore Airlines cancelled scheduled flights from Singapore to Dubai on Sunday and British Airways are cancelling flights to and from Dubai and Doha. Many Iranian visitors to the UAE have been unable to fly home since Israel began its strikes on the country. The response here in Dubai to that disruption has been heartwarming. Iranian restaurants are offering free food to those stranded, hotels have offered accommodation at no cost and the UAE government has waived any visa overstay fines. How Iran will react to American involvement in this war is not clear but it's causing profound concern. Around 40,000 American personnel are based in the Middle East and no country here wants to see this become a wider regional conflict, with the threat US assets could be targeted in host nations. The UAE is stressing the need for immediate de-escalation and calling for diplomacy and dialogue. Many Iranians don't welcome this intervention either. "The Iranian people deserve to live in peace and be free and be happy," says Zahra "We are not happy for the US and Israel to strike our country in the name of peace, no matter how much we hate our government. Just leave us alone and let us decide our own future as a country."
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
A Leh bike trip with Zahra was on my wish list: Manav Gohil
Manav Gohil with his daughter Zahra When I did a solo bike trip in Leh a couple of years ago, I fell in love with the place. So, I wanted Zahra (his daughter) to experience it one day. India has such beautiful destinations to explore! Zahra loves adventure and a daddy-daughter bike trip through Leh with her was on my wish list. I am glad that we have finally done this,' says Manav Gohil , who was in Leh recently with Zahra. 'I had been planning this for a month' The actor informed Zahra about the plan a couple of days before the trip. He shares, 'I had been planning this for a month. I felt she would be keen, and it would be a good experience, something different from the so-called cushioned life in Mumbai. Two days before the trip, I told her about it so that she was mentally prepared. I told her that there will be simple food, limited internet connectivity and we won't be carrying a tablet, but she could look forward to spending quality time in nature. ' Zahra, who is 13 now, tells us, 'I love the mountains and it has been a wonderful experience. The colours, the nice and cool weather, the food-I loved everything about this trip.' ' Stargazing in Hanle was a magical experience' Sharing details about the trip, Manav says, 'We reached Leh on June 13 and the next day, we visited the Alchi Monastery, which is one of the oldest monasteries. It was an amazing bike ride. On Father's Day (June 15), we hired a vehicle and visited Hanle. Stargazing there was an unforgettable, magical experience.' He adds, 'On June 16, we explored Umling La Pass, which is the world's highest motorable road. We also did a bit of off-roading. While travelling from Hanle to Leh, soldiers at one of the Army checkposts recognised me and we halted there for a while. In Mumbai, I never like eating noodles but when you visit the mountains, there's something about it which makes you love noodles all of a sudden! I loved having authentic Ladakhi cuisine during this trip, although it's a bit spicy. ' 'It wasn't an easy trip, but we managed things well' Talking about the challenges, Manav shares, 'It wasn't an easy trip because there are locations where you experience a sudden drop in oxygen levels. We experienced extreme heat, cold and even rains in a span of three-four days. However, we managed things well and I am proud of Zahra for being so enthusiastic. This has been one of the best experiences of our lives. During this trip, we opted for basic homestays and it's so refreshingly different from staying in five-star hotels. We met a lot of bikers from different cities and while the food was very basic-dal, chawal, sabji-roti, it was very fresh and organic.' 'Mountains help you bond in a very different way' When you are in the mountains, in sync with nature, it helps you bond in a very different way as compared to when you are in the city. It may not be immediately visible, but this trip has helped our bond take a different trajectory. It has made our bond even stronger. After every 100 metres, Zahra would get excited and shout in joy. To see her so happy and excited made the trip totally worth it. She was enchanted by the mountains. Highlights from Manav's itinerary: June 13: Reached Leh June 14: A trip to Alchi Monastery June 15: Stargazing in Hanle (hired a vehicle) June 16: Umling La Pass, world's highest motorable road
Scroll.in
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Caught in Iran crossfire, Kashmiri students wait for a passage home
In a few weeks, Syed Aiman Zahra, 24, was supposed to be flying home to Kashmir after completing her medical studies in Iran. A final-year undergraduate medical student at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran's southwestern city of Shiraz, Zahra has spent nearly six years studying in Iran. Her final examination was scheduled for June 19 and her father was expected to join her five days later. Instead, on Tuesday afternoon, Zahra was among the 200 Indian students relocated to the city of Yazd, more than 450 km north of Shiraz. Four days earlier, Israel had launched a surprise attack on Iran's top military leadership, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites and ballistic missile programme. Around 1,500 Indian students, most of them from Jammu and Kashmir, are studying medicine, engineering and religious studies among other subjects in Iran. 'We are in a hotel right now,' Zahra told Scroll in an interview over text messages. Following Israel's attacks on Friday, the internet speed in Iran has gone abysmally slow. 'My family is under a lot of stress because of all this. But I am trying to convince them that everything is alright.' Indian students say there is little clarity on whether they will be moved out of Iran. Indian Embassy authorities in Iran have relocated most of the students from the capital city of Tehran and other cities targeted by Israeli bombardment that began on June 13. But so far, the Indian government has not ordered a complete evacuation of its citizens from the country. Calling it a 'fluid situation', the Ministry of External Affairs said on June 17 that the Indian Embassy remains 'continuously in touch with the community' and that further advisories may be issued. 'It was terrifying' Zahra, who is in the final month of her degree, said till a few days ago everything was normal. 'I was regularly going to the hospital for rounds and night shifts. Everything was going fine but suddenly all of this happened.' According to Zahra, Iran's Ministry of Education on June 15 cancelled all examinations after the Israeli attack. Though upset about her delayed examination, Zahra felt safe as most of the Israeli strikes were aimed at Tehran. 'Over the past two-three days, there were a few incidents in some parts of Shiraz, but nothing major,' Zahra wrote. But that changed dramatically late on Monday. 'Around 8 pm, our warden told us to come downstairs. Our study room is in the basement, so we went there, and she stayed with us. The strike was going on, there were interceptions, and everyone was really worried. We turned off the lights and sat there quietly, waiting for things to settle down,' Zahra said. By 10 pm, just as they had moved back to their rooms, another round of airstrikes began. 'It lasted until around 11 pm. So again, we rushed to the basement. Lights off, everyone tense, just waiting for it to be over,' she wrote. Once the second strike ended, Zahra went back upstairs and began packing. Two days earlier, Zahra said Indian Embassy officials in Tehran had told nearly 200 Indian students at the campus that they would be relocated. 'I went to sleep around 2.15 am but around 2.40 am my juniors came to my room saying they were hearing noises outside,' she said. 'I stepped into the hallway and suddenly, another round of strikes began.' This round of strikes, Zahra said, felt nearer. 'We immediately sat on the floor and turned off the lights. It was terrifying,' she said. 'Everything finally calmed down around 4.15 am. By 5 am, we left the hostel.' She said she is positive about her safety and getting home soon. The facilities in Yazd are good and Indian Embassy officials are helpful, she said. 'We will come back, Inshallah. We are safe, Alhamdulillah [All thanks to Almighty].' After Arak University, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has now requested Shiraz University to facilitate evacuation of Indian students including those Kashmiri students amid escalating tensions. The Embassy has assured full responsibility for their safe and planned movement and has… — Nasir Khuehami (ناصر کہویہامی) (@NasirKhuehami) June 16, 2025 Uncertainty about ceasefire Back home in Kashmir, the families of the students in Iran have been urging the Indian government to rescue them. On Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he had spoken to External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar. In a post on X, Abdullah said Jaishankar had assured him that the ministry was in close contact with their counterparts in Iran and that they would take 'all necessary steps to safeguard all Indian students in Iran'. On June 14, Iran retaliated by targeting several cities in Israel, including capital Tel Aviv, by launching nearly 400 missiles and hundreds of drones. At least 250 have been killed in the four-five days of hostilities, with Iran suffering at least 90% of the casualties. Two Kashmiri students suffered minor injuries after an Israeli strike near Tehran University of Medical Sciences on June 15 shattered a hostel building. But so far, all Indians in Iran are safe. It is unclear when the military attacks between the two long-hostile countries in West Asia will end. On June 16, United States President Donald Trump said Tehran should be evacuated. 'IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,' Trump wrote on social media platform X. 'Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!' As a parent I assure all the concerned parents of my government's close & continuous attention to this important developing situation. — Office of Chief Minister, J&K (@CM_JnK) June 15, 2025 The next day, the Ministry of External Affairs on June 17 said that 'Indian students in Tehran have been moved out of the city for reasons of safety, through arrangements made by the Embassy'. It also said that the Indian Embassy in Iran has advised Indian residents who have their own transport 'to move out of the city in view of the developing situation'. The embassy, however, did not say which areas or cities it had suggested Indian citizens go to. Without specifying any number, the ministry also said that 'some Indians have been facilitated to leave Iran through the border with Armenia'. Some Indian students in Urmia, in northwestern Iran, were shifted to the neighbouring country of Armenia on Monday evening. 'We have been asked to wait and there's a word going around that they may take us to India tomorrow [Wednesday],' said Mushabir Reyan, a fourth-year Kashmiri MBBS student at Urmia university. Reyan is among the 110 Indian students who reached the Armenian capital Yerevan on Tuesday morning. 'Urmia was not directly targeted by Israeli strikes,' he said. 'There were some reports of attacks in Jolfa city which is some 220 km from Urmia.' Nasir Kheuhami, National Convener of Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, said on Wednesday that 110 Indian students in Armenia would be flying to Doha on Wednesday morning and then to New Delhi. 'We have been informed by the office of the External Affairs Minister that all tickets have been arranged free of cost by the Government of India,' Kheuhami said. 'Evacuate us too' So far, Israeli strikes have targeted only parts of Iran, primarily Tehran, but the panic among Indian students has spread across the length and breadth of the country. Sadia Wani, 20, from North Kashmir's Kupwara district, is a first-year MBBS student at Golestan University of Iran's Gorgan city, more than 400 km northeast of Tehran. Wani is among the 60 Indian students at the university. Fifty of these Indian students are from Kashmir. 'We are safe for now but given the war, no place is safe,' said Wani, adding that the university has cancelled examinations. '[Indian] students have been evacuated from the universities of Tehran and Shiraz as the situation there is really bad.' Though they are relatively safe with no concerns about food and medical supplies, Wani said they do not want to be left behind in case the Indian government wants to evacuate citizens from Iran. 'If there's an evacuation, then we should also be evacuated,' said Wani. 'Our safety is paramount.' Amid the uncertainty, Wani said she does not anticipate the situation returning to normal soon. 'The Indian Embassy is in touch with us and they have informed us that the next 24 hours are crucial as there is a possibility of a ceasefire,' said Wani. 'In case there is a ceasefire, then it would be great. If not, then we should be taken home.' 'Media needs to be careful' Some say the panic is being aggravated by false media reporting and sensationalism. Waseem Reza, a Kashmiri religious scholar in Qom, one of Iran's holiest cities known for its revered shrines and a centre of learning for Shiite Muslim clerics, said the situation is far from what is being portrayed in the media. 'Definitely, it's a war-like situation but it has remained confined only to certain parts of Tehran. Rest of the things are normal,' Reza told Scroll on Tuesday over the phone from Qom. 'People are going to offices, shopping malls and cinemas are open, traffic is running smoothly.' The Iranian government has advised locals to avoid venturing closer to military and security infrastructure sites, said Reza. Reza is among 100-150 Kashmiri students pursuing religious education in Qom. While students of medicine or engineering live in hostels or shared apartments with their classmates, those pursuing religious education in Iran's seminaries live with their families, including children. On Tuesday, Reza said, he also appeared for his university examination. 'It's not that the entire country has come to a halt as the media back home is projecting,' he said.
The Advertiser
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Let the party begin: Early Aussie joy at Royal Ascot
There was no winner for King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the opening day of Royal Ascot, but there was for Australian jockey Mark Zahra riding Australian-owned Docklands. The double Melbourne Cup-winning rider triumphed despite losing the whip in the closing stages. Piloting the 14-1 shot Zahra managed to hold off Rosallion in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes as the 5-2 favourite tried to make a late run for the winning post. Zahra, who won the Melbourne Cup on Gold Trip in 2022 and on Without A Fight in 2023, said his ride was merely planned as a working stopover on his way to the Spanish party island of Ibiza - where tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz took a break after his French Open success earlier this month. "This just started as a stop-off on the way to a trip to Ibiza, so to turn into a massive win like this is very special," the 42-year-old said. "It was a very slow, slow speed and I just crept as much as I could, we got room at the right time and he just kept responding, it was such a tough win. "Hearing all the Aussies over the fence, even though the horse is English, you'd have thought he was Aussie by all the screams. It was amazing." As for dropping the whip, he joked: "Everyone kept scaring me about the whip rules, I thought it was just easier to throw it away at the 200m." The well-travelled Docklands, trained by England's Harry Eustace, is owned by Australian group OTI Racing and was previously unplaced in the Champions Stakes at Flemington and the Hong Kong Mile. Cairo, a 100-1 shot, came home third in the traditional Royal Ascot curtain-raiser. Australian horse Asfoora, trained by Victorian Henry Dwyer, was unable to back up her victory in last year's King Charles III Stakes, coming fifth behind American Affair. Asfoora flagged late on, which was not a surprise as Dwyer had said she did not have the preparation in England she had last year. August's Nunthorpe Stakes at York are seen as more fertile ground. "There's not much for us at home so it will be Goodwood, York and beyond hopefully," said Dwyer. There was also no joy for the King and Queen as their horse, Reaching High, failed to back up his status as 3-1 favourite in the Ascot Stakes, finishing ninth under jockey Ryan Moore. Hours earlier, the monarchs arrived at the course at the head of the traditional carriage procession in front of tens of thousands of racegoers. The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, with the tradition beginning during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington. There was no winner for King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the opening day of Royal Ascot, but there was for Australian jockey Mark Zahra riding Australian-owned Docklands. The double Melbourne Cup-winning rider triumphed despite losing the whip in the closing stages. Piloting the 14-1 shot Zahra managed to hold off Rosallion in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes as the 5-2 favourite tried to make a late run for the winning post. Zahra, who won the Melbourne Cup on Gold Trip in 2022 and on Without A Fight in 2023, said his ride was merely planned as a working stopover on his way to the Spanish party island of Ibiza - where tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz took a break after his French Open success earlier this month. "This just started as a stop-off on the way to a trip to Ibiza, so to turn into a massive win like this is very special," the 42-year-old said. "It was a very slow, slow speed and I just crept as much as I could, we got room at the right time and he just kept responding, it was such a tough win. "Hearing all the Aussies over the fence, even though the horse is English, you'd have thought he was Aussie by all the screams. It was amazing." As for dropping the whip, he joked: "Everyone kept scaring me about the whip rules, I thought it was just easier to throw it away at the 200m." The well-travelled Docklands, trained by England's Harry Eustace, is owned by Australian group OTI Racing and was previously unplaced in the Champions Stakes at Flemington and the Hong Kong Mile. Cairo, a 100-1 shot, came home third in the traditional Royal Ascot curtain-raiser. Australian horse Asfoora, trained by Victorian Henry Dwyer, was unable to back up her victory in last year's King Charles III Stakes, coming fifth behind American Affair. Asfoora flagged late on, which was not a surprise as Dwyer had said she did not have the preparation in England she had last year. August's Nunthorpe Stakes at York are seen as more fertile ground. "There's not much for us at home so it will be Goodwood, York and beyond hopefully," said Dwyer. There was also no joy for the King and Queen as their horse, Reaching High, failed to back up his status as 3-1 favourite in the Ascot Stakes, finishing ninth under jockey Ryan Moore. Hours earlier, the monarchs arrived at the course at the head of the traditional carriage procession in front of tens of thousands of racegoers. The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, with the tradition beginning during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington. There was no winner for King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the opening day of Royal Ascot, but there was for Australian jockey Mark Zahra riding Australian-owned Docklands. The double Melbourne Cup-winning rider triumphed despite losing the whip in the closing stages. Piloting the 14-1 shot Zahra managed to hold off Rosallion in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes as the 5-2 favourite tried to make a late run for the winning post. Zahra, who won the Melbourne Cup on Gold Trip in 2022 and on Without A Fight in 2023, said his ride was merely planned as a working stopover on his way to the Spanish party island of Ibiza - where tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz took a break after his French Open success earlier this month. "This just started as a stop-off on the way to a trip to Ibiza, so to turn into a massive win like this is very special," the 42-year-old said. "It was a very slow, slow speed and I just crept as much as I could, we got room at the right time and he just kept responding, it was such a tough win. "Hearing all the Aussies over the fence, even though the horse is English, you'd have thought he was Aussie by all the screams. It was amazing." As for dropping the whip, he joked: "Everyone kept scaring me about the whip rules, I thought it was just easier to throw it away at the 200m." The well-travelled Docklands, trained by England's Harry Eustace, is owned by Australian group OTI Racing and was previously unplaced in the Champions Stakes at Flemington and the Hong Kong Mile. Cairo, a 100-1 shot, came home third in the traditional Royal Ascot curtain-raiser. Australian horse Asfoora, trained by Victorian Henry Dwyer, was unable to back up her victory in last year's King Charles III Stakes, coming fifth behind American Affair. Asfoora flagged late on, which was not a surprise as Dwyer had said she did not have the preparation in England she had last year. August's Nunthorpe Stakes at York are seen as more fertile ground. "There's not much for us at home so it will be Goodwood, York and beyond hopefully," said Dwyer. There was also no joy for the King and Queen as their horse, Reaching High, failed to back up his status as 3-1 favourite in the Ascot Stakes, finishing ninth under jockey Ryan Moore. Hours earlier, the monarchs arrived at the course at the head of the traditional carriage procession in front of tens of thousands of racegoers. The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, with the tradition beginning during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington. There was no winner for King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the opening day of Royal Ascot, but there was for Australian jockey Mark Zahra riding Australian-owned Docklands. The double Melbourne Cup-winning rider triumphed despite losing the whip in the closing stages. Piloting the 14-1 shot Zahra managed to hold off Rosallion in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes as the 5-2 favourite tried to make a late run for the winning post. Zahra, who won the Melbourne Cup on Gold Trip in 2022 and on Without A Fight in 2023, said his ride was merely planned as a working stopover on his way to the Spanish party island of Ibiza - where tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz took a break after his French Open success earlier this month. "This just started as a stop-off on the way to a trip to Ibiza, so to turn into a massive win like this is very special," the 42-year-old said. "It was a very slow, slow speed and I just crept as much as I could, we got room at the right time and he just kept responding, it was such a tough win. "Hearing all the Aussies over the fence, even though the horse is English, you'd have thought he was Aussie by all the screams. It was amazing." As for dropping the whip, he joked: "Everyone kept scaring me about the whip rules, I thought it was just easier to throw it away at the 200m." The well-travelled Docklands, trained by England's Harry Eustace, is owned by Australian group OTI Racing and was previously unplaced in the Champions Stakes at Flemington and the Hong Kong Mile. Cairo, a 100-1 shot, came home third in the traditional Royal Ascot curtain-raiser. Australian horse Asfoora, trained by Victorian Henry Dwyer, was unable to back up her victory in last year's King Charles III Stakes, coming fifth behind American Affair. Asfoora flagged late on, which was not a surprise as Dwyer had said she did not have the preparation in England she had last year. August's Nunthorpe Stakes at York are seen as more fertile ground. "There's not much for us at home so it will be Goodwood, York and beyond hopefully," said Dwyer. There was also no joy for the King and Queen as their horse, Reaching High, failed to back up his status as 3-1 favourite in the Ascot Stakes, finishing ninth under jockey Ryan Moore. Hours earlier, the monarchs arrived at the course at the head of the traditional carriage procession in front of tens of thousands of racegoers. The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, with the tradition beginning during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington.
