Latest horse racing news from UK, Ireland, and around the world.

Bell backing Spicy Marg to pack Ascot punch

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Michael Bell is confident Spicy Marg can do herself justice when she steps up to Group company in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Starspangledbanner filly sparkled on her racecourse debut, coming home two and three-quarter lengths clear at Newmarket on Guineas weekend and Bell is delighted with preparations and the draw in Berkshire.

Spicy Marg will be partnered by Kieran Shoemark, and Bell said: “She’s all locked and loaded and we’re very happy with her well-being.

“It (the draw) looks good, we’ve got Staya on our inside and all the major players seem to be drawn between eight and 15, so I think they’re all in our sights so I’m very happy with the draw.

“It is a step up but the clock seems to say that she deserves to be in the race and she looks smart at home, so we’ll see what happens on the day.”

The Karl Burke-trained Zelaina is another who made an impressive debut when scooting home by the same winning margin as Spicy Marg at Nottingham.

Richard Brown, racing adviser to owners Wathnan, said: “We were delighted with Nottingham and we were excited the day we bought her, we were excited when we heard the reports from Karl, but she had had an interrupted prep going into Nottingham.

“She had banged a knee and she had missed 10 days so was definitely undercooked going there.

“We definitely think there is more improvement to come and she was very impressive. You have to be really excited about her and she’s definitely one of the big hopes of the week.

“It’s a Queen Mary and lots of people are thinking they have a big hope, but we think we do and we just need that bit of luck. They will be spread across the track and it will be a big field and fingers crossed she can do the job as she’s a filly we’re really excited about.”

American runner Lennilu puts her unbeaten record on the line after winning on the dirt at Keeneland and following it up with a turf victory at Gulfstream Park.

Trainer Patrick Biancone, who began his career in France when he sent out back-to-back Arc winners in All Along and Sagace, is happy with preparations and reported his filly was unfazed by the trip from America.

He said: “She won her maiden easily. We then decided to train her hopefully for the Queen Mary and we won the prep race that was sponsored by Gulfstream. She won that easily too. We were expecting her to run well there, but expecting it is one thing, doing it is another.

“She travelled very well. She’s walking around well now, she slept really well. We knew she’d travel well because when she ran in Keeneland she had to go 17 hours there and 17 more to come back and she took it very well.

“Ascot is a special place for every trainer in the world, especially the Royal meeting. I’ve been lucky in my life to have good horses and she’s one of them. We’re very happy.”

Aidan O’Brien will be represented by True Love, while other major players include Ralph Beckett’s Society Kiss and George Scott’s Staya in a field of 25.

No negatives for Los Angeles in Prince of Wales’s Stakes

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For many the Prince of Wales’s Stakes is the highlight of Royal Ascot and with Los Angeles a worthy favourite this year, the race looks well up to standard.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge won the Irish Derby last season and went on to be a meritorious third to Bluestocking in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, when attempting to make all the running.

Already a Group One winner this season, when he had the reopposing Anmaat behind him in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, he looks to have a rock-solid chance.

“He’s just as happy over 10 or 12 furlongs, that’s what we’ve always thought with him. He’s only run over 10 this year and he’s been happy,” said O’Brien.

“In the first half of the season this race was always the plan and he seems in good form since the last day, everything has gone well up to now.

“He’s run on all types of ground, it all comes alike to him

“He’s very happy to have competition for the lead, there’ll be pace on, everybody knows that. He needs a strong run mile and a quarter, we all know that, and he loves a battle.”

Owen Burrows’ Anmaat is now seven but last year’s Champion Stakes winner proved at the Curragh he is still as good as ever. Connections would not want the ground to be too fast, however.

“We will be keeping an eye on the ground. We’ve declared with a view to running but if the lads came in and said it was riding very quick, we’d have to talk about it,” said Angus Gold, of owners Shadwell.

Anmaat was something of a surprise winner of the Champion Stakes
Anmaat was something of a surprise winner of the Champion Stakes (Nigel French/PA)

“He is our star of the year and we have to do the right thing, we need him for the end of the year as well as now but he’s second favourite for one of the biggest races at Royal Ascot, so we want to run while he’s in good form. I very much hope we’ll be there.

“I don’t want to be seen to be making a fuss, I’m a great believer in fast-ground horses being able to have their ground, it’s just he’s had his issues and we don’t want to do anything to jeopardise him – but we’re hoping to run.”

Reflecting on his previous issues, Gold said: “He’s a testament to a lot of people and the horse himself. What he had two years ago would have finished a lot of horses, so the fact that not only was he able but also willing to come back from it is a huge credit to him. He’s been a star for us.”

John and Thady Gosden’s Ombusdman lost his unbeaten record in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes to Almaqam but enhanced his reputation and goes up in class again.

“He got a little bit tired in the ground and the winner is a very smart horse who was getting 3lb from our horse and got the run of the race,” said John Gosden of the Godolphin runner.

“Our horse had to come from off the pace, but Ryan (Moore) was very pleased with him. We had the question of whether we go to the Wolferton or the Prince of Wales’s, but the owner was pretty keen on this race.

“You are basically looking at the Tattersalls Gold Cup form for a guide to the race and then there’s a nice French horse (Map Of Stars), so we’ll see how we get on.”

The aforementioned French horse is Wathnan Racing’s Map Of Stars, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and only beaten a neck by the high-class Sosie last time out.

“He’s a colt we’ve held in high regard the whole way along and both times he has been beaten it has probably been through no fault of his own,” said Wathnan’s Richard Brown.

“He will probably go on the ground and James (Doyle) said when he won the Prix d’Harcourt, it was pretty quick that day and he showed a good turn of foot so that’s what we hope we’ll see again.

“The Sosie form from the Ganay looks red hot and he has since come out and won the Prix d’Ispahan and is one of the favourites for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. It’s high level form, but he will need to improve again to win a Prince of Wales’s.”

Illinois leads eight chasing Gold Cup glory

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Ante-post favourite Illinois headlines eight declarations for Thursday’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

His trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the two-and-a-half-mile highlight a record nine times, with four-time winner Yeats and dual hero Kyprios among those to fly the Ballydoyle flag.

Kyprios was expected to bid for a hat-trick this year before suffering a career-ending injury last month, leaving St Leger runner-up Illinois to step into the staying breach.

Godolphin will be double-handed with the John and Thady Gosden-trained Trawlerman, who is ridden by William Buick, and Saeed bin Suroor’s Dubai Future who will be partnered by James McDonald.

The latter finished last behind Candelari in a ParisLongchamp Group One last time out and that Francis-Henri Graffard-trained rival is among the leading candidates here as he bids to become the first French-trained winner of the race since Westerner 20 years ago.

Sagaro Stakes first and second, Yashin and Coltrane renew rivalries, while Sweet William is a second Gosden-trained contender and completes the line up along with Wonder Legend.

Trueshan and Jan Brueghel were the only two horses not declared.

Musidora Stakes second Serenity Prayer heads 11 contenders for the Ribblesdale Stakes, having seen the York form boosted when winner Whirl ran a close second in the Oaks at Epsom.

Paddy Twomey fields Catalina Delcarpio, Garden Of Eden is one of three for O’Brien, with the Gosden team also triple-handed with Life Is Beautiful, Go Go Boots and Understudy.

O’Brien’s Charles Darwin leads 16 chasing Norfolk Stakes glory and French Derby third Detain drops down in class as one of 14 runners in the Hampton Court Stakes.

The King George V Stakes, the Britannia and the closing Buckingham Palace Stakes have all drawn full fields of 19, 30 and 29 respectively.

Racing Bulletin for 17/06/2025

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Ghostwriter makes £2million Amo Racing transfer

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Amo Racing strengthened their potential Royal Ascot hand when paying £2million to add Hardwicke Stakes entry Ghostwriter to their team.

The four-year-old won the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes as a juvenile and while he failed to get his head in front for owner Jeff Smith and trainer Clive Cox last term, he turned in a string of fine efforts in top company, including third-placed runs in the both the Eclipse and Juddmonte International.

Ghostwriter finished fourth in the Dubai Turf back in April and could step up to a mile and a half for the first time in Saturday’s Group Two in the colours of Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing outfit after changing hands at the Goffs London Sale.

Speaking at Kensington Palace Gardens, where the sale was held, Joorabchian told Nick Luck Daily: “To be honest, my son picked him out a little while ago and he was like ‘we’ve got to buy this’. He’s third favourite for the Hardwicke and I think he’s got a chance to go up to Group One level, so we’ll see.”

When asked if the Invincible Spirit colt will stay in training with Cox, Joorabchian added: “I don’t know Clive Cox but I’m sure we will meet him and we’ll see.

“At the moment I’m not buying horses to stay, I’m buying them to hopefully go into our own yard but this one, I don’t know yet because he’s done a good job with him so we will have a chat, Alex (Elliott, bloodstock agent) knows him a little bit better so I’ll get to meet him and see what we do after that.”

Amo’s name also appeared in conjunction with Nick Bell after Tycoon sold for £600,000. The three-year-old has won one of his three starts for John and Thady Gosden, most recently placing third in Listed company, and he is entered in Thursday’s Hampton Court Stakes.

The Andrew Balding-trained Tropical Storm, winner of the Westow Stakes last time and declared for Tuesday’s King Charles III Stakes, sold to Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock for £500,000, while Resolute Bloodstock paid £625,000 for Jersey Stakes contender Woodshauna, who was a Group Three winner last time out for Francis-Henri Graffard.

Guineas heroes poised for Palace rematch

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A St James’s Palace Stakes to savour after the Derby was robbed of arguably its star attraction is the reward for everyone with even a remote interest in racing, as Ruling Court and Field Of Gold take each other on in a rematch of the 2000 Guineas at Royal Ascot.

Field Of Gold might have been even closer than he was to Ruling Court at Newmarket had things played out in his favour, but he showed his worth in the Irish Guineas. The Ruling Court team opted to wait for Epsom, but he was a late absentee as the ground was deemed too soft. As if round two is not enough on its own, Aidan O’Brien’s French Guineas winner Henri Matisse joins the battle.

“We took Ruling Court out of the Derby due to the ground, and we can have no excuses with conditions at Ascot,” trainer Charlie Appleby told the Godolphin website.

“It’s a very good renewal of the race and the track and trip will suit. We are looking at stepping up in trip at some point, but he has done very little wrong over a mile so far.”

The inquest into Field Of Gold’s reverse led to Kieran Shoemark being replaced by Colin Keane on the John and Thady Gosden-trained grey at the Curragh, a relationship further solidified with Keane being appointed retained rider for the Juddmonte operation.

“It’s going to be a huge race with some huge names and could be the race of the week, but we’re happy with Field Of Gold and looking forward to having another crack at the English Guineas winner and seeing how we get on,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“We won’t know if Field Of Gold is a better horse than the one that went to Newmarket until after the race, but he is a horse who should keep improving through the year.

“We had to go to Ireland which was a bit of a diversion, but I think as the year progresses he will keep getting stronger. Whether we will see the difference on Tuesday I’m not sure, but we’re happy with him and he’s taking a step forward with every start this year and hopefully he can take another step again.

“John has always mentioned the Eclipse for him which is very much still a possibility or we could even give him a break after this and wait for Goodwood, but we will decide all this after the race.”

Henri Matisse won at the Breeders’ Cup last year for O’Brien and the handler expects both the course and quick ground will suit his charge.

“We always thought he liked fast ground and he proved in America he could handle a bend, so that was one of the reasons he went to France,” said O’Brien.

“I took the blame for him getting beaten in France last year, just the way we rode him, then he went and left that run well behind him next time in America.”

Boughey backing Believing to make Royal Ascot mark

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George Boughey is confident Believing is firing on all cylinders following a “faultless preparation” for the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

After several near-misses at the highest level, the five-year-old finally claimed the Group One win she had long promised in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in late March and having since kept his powder dry for the Royal meeting, Boughey is anticipating another big effort.

“We’ve been very happy with her since Meydan and it’s very hard not to be positive on her – she’s had a faultless preparation,” said the Newmarket handler.

“It’s quite strange to have a filly of that quality run so consistently to form. I always think you can’t count your chickens, but she’s fit and ready to go and we’d be very happy with her.”

Believing ran twice at Royal Ascot in 2024, finishing a close fourth behind the reopposing Asfoora in the King Charles before occupying the same position in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Jubilee Stakes four days later.

The five-year-old, who is in foal to Frankel, has again been left in Saturday’s six-furlong Group One, but is deemed “unlikely” to line up this time around.

Boughey added: “It (King Charles III Stakes) looks a similar renewal to last year, so hopefully she can give a good account of herself.

“I think because it’s such an open race it’s attracted a bigger field. We’re drawn in one and possibly a little bit away from some of the others, but I spoke to Ryan (Moore) yesterday and we said it makes our decision pretty clear – we know which way we’re going and that’s in a straight line towards home.

“A stiff five is probably what she wants now, I think a stiff six is possibly too far. That’s why the six in Meydan was so tailor-made for her and anything now is a bonus.”

Regional (left) winning the 2023 Sprint Cup at Haydock
Regional (left) winning the 2023 Sprint Cup at Haydock (Tim Goode/PA)

The Ed Bethell-trained Regional was second to Asfoora 12 months ago and was beaten just three-quarters of a length by Believing when they last clashed in Dubai.

Bethell said: “Everything has gone smoothly, so we’ll keep everything crossed. There’s some familiar names in there and we all know each other’s positives and negatives. We’re all there and fingers crossed it’s a good spectacle.

“I’ve been really pleased with our horse, he’s come to himself really well and is training really good.

“We’re looking forward to it but it’s going to be a tough task and hopefully we’re drawn in the right place (stall 17), as I think the draw will be the key thing in this race. Who knows how it will work out? Hopefully we’re in the right place but we might not be and that’s just horseracing, I guess.”

Karl Burke’s talented Night Raider has his first attempt at five furlongs, having been snapped up by the Wathnan Racing operation following what was a promising third at York last month.

“He’s very fast and set some blistering fractions in the Duke of York into a strong headwind that day,” said Richard Brown, Wathnan’s racing adviser.

“He’s won over seven furlongs and was a Guineas horse last year, but I just can’t wait to see him over five furlongs as he’s blisteringly fast. James (Doyle) rode him up at Karl Burke’s the other day and was seriously impressed by how quick he was and I’m really looking forward to seeing him.

“When those sprinters are absolutely flying at Ascot, it’s one of the great sights in racing and I think he’s going to be one winging along.”

Asfoora is fitted with first-time blinkers for the defence of her title, having finished seventh on her most recent appearance in her native Australia.

Asfoora and Oisin Murphy after winning the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last year
Asfoora and Oisin Murphy after winning the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last year (David Davies/PA)

Trainer Henry Dwyer said: “We went right through the summer to York last year and I thought when she got to York (fourth in Nunthorpe) she was a bit flat. She had a really big preparation and I went there really confident she would win and the five furlongs on a flat track would suit her.

“Watching the race back, I just felt she was flat and showing the effects of a long preparation and travelling so we sent her home. She took an age to re-acclimatise and we backed right off her and took stock before giving her two runs in Adelaide.

“She won the first which showed she still wanted to be there, which we were a little apprehensive about, and then we went to the Sangster Stakes which was six furlongs not five but it was just a matter of having a run before coming here.

“There doesn’t seem to be many different (runners) to last year and the likes of Big Evs and Bradsell are both at stud now so it’s kind of just the old guard of us, Believing and Regional.

“I think she’s going as well as she was last year and I think that’s all we need to do based on the opposition – get her there in good order and hopefully the form is there.”

Carl Spackler adds truly international flavour to Queen Anne cracker

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North American and Australian horses have undoubtedly helped make Royal Ascot the spectacle it is over the last few years. Now it is almost a case of the best of both worlds with Carl Spackler an attention-grabbing runner in the opening race, the Queen Anne Stakes.

Three times a Grade One winner for Chad Brown in the States, the Lope De Vega five-year-old is now owned by Yulong Investments and with a new trainer in Ciaron Maher, meaning he will be a first Australian runner in a race superstar American mare Tepin won in 2016.

Connections feel they have the right type of horse to be competitive, with William Bourne, Maher’s bloodstock manager, saying: “The sample size (of international runners in the Queen Anne) isn’t huge, but his times really stacked up and just his temperament and attitude, he’s the perfect horse to travel – he’s an absolute dude and I think he’s going to run a big race.

“He’s a very straightforward horse, there’s not much to know – what you see is what you get. He’s got a great temperament, he’s like a kid’s pony, he’s made it so easy to bring him here, get him into the rhythm and train him. He’s definitely made life easy for the boss.

“It’s a red-hot race, there’s no hiding, you’re at Royal Ascot in a Group One so you’re under no impression you’re going to get an easy field. It is what it is, we think he’s a pretty good horse and hopefully he can show up on Tuesday.

“When you speak to English owners and trainers at the Melbourne Cup, the buzz is the whole week and this is very similar – great weather, a lot of people, a lot of hype. It’s a very international raceday and world class so just to even be here as a spectator or have a horse here, it’s a privilege and to have Yulong entrust us with the horse is just amazing.”

Lead Artist, Dancing Gemini, Rosallion and Notable Speech set a high standard for Carl Spackler to aim at, having filled the first four places in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

With Sardinian Warrior a non-runner due to being off colour, John and Thady Gosden will rely on Lead Artist in Berkshire.

Lead Artist (pink cap) just got the better of Dancing Gemini in the Lockinge
Lead Artist (pink cap) just got the better of Dancing Gemini in the Lockinge (Steven Paston/PA)

John Gosden said: “I think the stiff mile at Ascot will suit him well rather than a slick mile and it’s a wonderful race.

“You have the first four in the Lockinge all turning up and will they finish in the same order, that will be the question.

“He got stuck in the ground at Sandown and he doesn’t like that. He likes what we got at Newbury in the Lockinge and what we’re hopefully going to get at Ascot on Tuesday.

“He was in need of the race at Sandown and he came there travelling nicely, it was just on that ground he struggled to get home. He turned that round and it wasn’t a huge surprise. Did I think he would win? Probably not, but I did think he would run a huge race.”

Notable Speech won last year’s 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes and Charlie Appleby expects him to take a good step forward from his Lockinge reappearance.

He told the Godolphin website: “Notable Speech comes into this in great order and we are looking forward to seeing him on the straight track at Ascot.

“The Lockinge was his first start of the year and he has definitely come forward for the run. Conditions are there to suit him and it looks a fantastic race to kick off the meeting.”

Gstaad leads Aidan O’Brien’s dual Coventry challenge

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No trainer has won the Coventry Stakes more than Aidan O’Brien and he sends two unbeaten colts for this year’s race in Gstaad and Warsaw.

The Ballydoyle handler has won the premier Royal Ascot juvenile race on 10 occasions and appears to hold an incredibly strong hand yet again.

Gstaad is the choice of Ryan Moore after he triumphed over five furlongs on his debut, beating a stablemate who had finished second in Listed company previously.

“We always though Gstaad was a very nice horse. He obviously won first time when he beat one of our others (True Love) in Navan and we always thought he was a smart colt,” said O’Brien.

“Warsaw ran at Navan and he was one of three (from the stable) because we were just trying to get those who could be possible Ascot horses out and he was obviously on that list.

“He won very nicely there and he obviously hasn’t done much since but he’s in good form. We liked him before he ran and thought he was a possible for Ascot but sometimes when you run them, they are very green and Ascot would come too quick but he wasn’t. You just don’t know until they run, we did always like him.

“Gstaad won nicely and we always thought he was a quality horse and he won’t mind an extra furlong.

“I don’t think it was a hard decision for Ryan.”

Postmodern has the Wathnan Racing team excited at what might be to come.

A son of Too Darn Hot, he was sent to Yarmouth for his one and only run to date and could hardly have been more impressive in victory.

Wathnan also have Underwriter in the field, but retained rider James Doyle has plumped for the Hamad Al Jehani-trained contender.

“I think James is very happy with his decision to ride Postmodern and we’ve been very happy with him since Yarmouth,” said Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown.

“Hamad Al Jehani and his team have done a great job with this colt and he was obviously very impressive that day.

“He’s only run once and it’s a huge ask, but that is what this race is all about and there’s a lot of colts in the same bracket having run once and won well once. We’ll find out how good he is, but he’s certainly a colt we’re all excited about.”

Despite Doyle electing to partner Postmodern, Brown warned the Archie Watson-trained Underwriter (James McDonald) should not be overlooked. Like Postmodern, he is unbeaten after his sole racecourse appearance to date.

“He was very impressive at Ayr and has done everything right since,” continued Brown.

“He’s not to be forgotten, let me tell you, and we’re very lucky we start the week with two big bullets to fire.”

Charlie Appleby’s Military Code has done nothing wrong to date, winning both of his outings, most recently gaining course experience at Ascot when beating Fitzella, who is well fancied for the Albany later in the week.

Appleby told the Godolphin website: “Military Code’s form is rock solid and we are looking forward to stepping him up to six furlongs. He has put up two strong performances to date, including one under a penalty, and should hopefully be very competitive at this level.”

Los Angeles and Anmaat to cross swords again in Prince of Wales’s Stakes

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Los Angeles and Anmaat will meet again in an eagerly anticipated renewal of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes on Wednesday – but White Birch is an absentee.

The three classy older horses all met in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last month and there was not much between them.

It was hoped another clash would light up day two at Royal Ascot, but the quick conditions have ruled out John Joseph Murphy’s White Birch.

George Murphy, assistant to his father, said: “It looks like it’s going to be a dry week, so we’ve decided to give it a swerve.

“We were looking forward to it, but it looks like it’s going to be a proper quick ground and we’ve got put him first.”

On the next plan of attack with the top-class grey, he added: “The Eclipse at Sandown will probably be more than likely.

“He’s in super form, we’re really happy with him.”

See The Fire dominated her rivals in the Middleton Stakes at York
See The Fire dominated her rivals in the Middleton Stakes at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Andrew Balding’s filly See The Fire adds a new layer of interest to the Prince of Wales’s Stakes after being supplemented on the back of a runaway success in York’s Middleton Stakes.

John and Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman has only lost once in his career and steps into Group One company for the first time while Francis-Henri Graffard’s Map Of Stars was only beaten a neck by the high-class Sosie in the Prix Ganay.

Certain Lad, Continuous, Facteur Cheval and Royal Champion complete a field of nine.

A field of 25 have been declared for the opening Queen Mary, headed by Karl Burke’s Zelaina after her impressive Nottingham debut.

Burke is looking for a third win in four years in the Group Two having won with Dramatised in 2022 and Leovanni last year for the same Wathnan ownership as Zelaina.

Karl Burke has a fine record in the Queen Mary
Karl Burke has a fine record in the Queen Mary (Mike Egerton/PA)

Lennilu adds American interest for trainer Patrick Biancone while Spicy Marg will have her followers based on her impressive debut success at Newmarket.

Burke also holds leading claims in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes with Fallen Angel, winner of the Irish 1000 Guineas last season.

She is among eight fillies that also includes Roger Varian’s Elmalka, successful in the Newmarket equivalent last year.

Cinderella’s Dream, Crimson Advocate and Paddy Twomey’s One Look also run.

A total of 11 go to post for the Queen’s Vase, won by this year’s Gold Cup favourite Illinois last year.

Shackleton heads for the Queen's Vase
Shackleton heads for the Queen’s Vase (Niall Carson/PA)

Aidan O’Brien runs two, Scandinavia and Shackleton, while Twomey’s unbeaten Carmers has also been declared.

One of the leading ante-post fancies, Ralph Beckett’s Amiloc, does not run but he also has the option of the King Edward VII later in the week.

Graffard’s Asmarani will attempt to become the first French-trained winner of the race since Andre Fabre’s Infrasonic in 1993.

A maximum field has been declared for the Royal Hunt Cup with the list headed by Charlie Appleby’s Arabian Light.

Rainbows Edge, trained by the Gosdens and owned by the King and Queen, tops the weights in the Kensington Palace Stakes while 24 will line up in the Windsor Castle.

Loughnane raring to get going at Royal Ascot again

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Billy Loughnane has reflected on his phenomenal Royal Ascot breakthrough 12 months ago – and is banking on an old friend to replicate last year’s success this time around.

There were emotional scenes in the winner’s enclosure when the 19-year-old, adorned in the famous Sangster silks that have been a staple of Ascot, opened his account at the summer showpiece in the second race of the meeting by steering Brian Meehan’s Rashabar to Coventry Stakes glory at 80-1.

Loughnane’s week would get better when his Newmarket training ally George Boughey legged him up aboard Soprano in the Sandringham Stakes, completing a double on the biggest stage and a week he will always remember fondly.

Billy Loughnane after riding Rashabar to victory in the Coventry Stakes
Billy Loughnane after riding Rashabar to victory in the Coventry Stakes (John Walton/PA)

“It was a good Ascot last year and I’m excited to get back there, said Loughnane.

“It was a brilliant feeling winning the Coventry and ticking it off so early in the week was great. It was a special day and it was great to be there on the big stage. To also win on Soprano later in the week really was the icing on the cake.”

The young jockey has big ambitions of another dream week in Berkshire and is already busy amassing a stacked book of rides for five of the biggest days of the Flat season.

And it is last year’s Ascot heroine Soprano who Loughnane is pinning his hopes on once again as she returns to the Royal meeting for the Duke of Cambridgeshire Stakes, along with stablemate Bountiful who could provide a Sandringham double for not only Loughnane and Boughey but also owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

Loughnane continued: “I’ve hopefully got a good book of rides and some good teams behind me. I’ve got some nice ones for George and Jane Chapple-Hyam and some other connections as well.

“Royal Ascot is the peak of our whole season so it’s important to go there with chances of winning. I’m hoping for a big week and will be disappointed to shoot a blank.

“Soprano will probably be my standout of the week and was a winner there for me last year. She’s going to run again and is in great nick. I’ve been riding her at home, she likes Ascot and loves quick ground and providing we get that I think she seems really well and will be going there with a good squeak.

“Bountiful can also run well for Highclere and George. She’s going to run in the Sandringham and her work has been good and I think stepping up to a mile will help her. I think she could be a bit of a sleeper.”

Racing Bulletin for 16/06/2025

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Click on course names to view our course guides. Click on race times to access that racecard. Times highlighted in yellow are free races of the day.

Carlisle

Soft

 14:15 14:45 15:15 15:45 16:15 16:50 17:25
Chepstow

Good

 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:05
Kilbeggan

Good to Yielding

 16:38 17:13 17:48 18:18 18:48 19:18 19:48 20:18
Windsor

Good to Firm

 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00
Wolverhampton

Standard

 18:10 18:40 19:10 19:40 20:10 20:40

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Gezora takes Prix de Diane honours at Chantilly from Bedtime Story

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Gezora edged out Bedtime Story to win the Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, with Shes Perfect unable to gain Classic compensation after controversially losing the French 1000 Guineas in the stewards’ room.

Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Gezora raced in the pack through the 10-furlong contest before switched out to launch her challenge with around a furlong and a half to run.

She kept finding for pressure all the way to the line, having enough in reserve to hold off the Aidan O’Brien-trained Bedtime Story, who only narrowly failed to come from last to first under Ryan Moore.

The Charlie Fellowes-trained Shes Perfect turned for home and momentarily looked she would again be involved at the business end, but while she was in front with two furlongs to run, she had raced keenly in second and was ultimately eased by Kieran Shoemark when her chance had gone.

Gezora was beaten by stablemate Mandanaba on her initial start in April, but the Almanzor filly landed the Prix Saint-Alary last time – a performance which gave Graffard plenty of confidence.

He said: “She ran a nice race at Longchamp, she showed something new to me. She’s improving all time and I saw after the race she really improved again, she was so happy, so confident in herself.”

Bookmaker reaction was positive to a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe bid, with Coral introducing Gezora at 14-1, and Graffard added: “It’s great to have the Arc ‘win and you’re in races’ and we know she loves the soft ground and we close no doors.”

Soumillon praised the winner’s heart for a battle, saying: “When they started to quicken in the straight I was following them really easily, I knew she’d be able to change gear and that’s exactly what she did. The pace was on and she was ready to react at the right time.

“I saw Ryan coming on my outside and thought ‘here comes Aidan again!’, but she had a great heart and we won it.”

Asked about the Arc, the rider said: “She can do a mile and a half, I think, we’ll see what she can do in the Vermeille. We know she likes soft ground and the form from the Prix de Conde (last year) was great, the winner (Lazy Griff) was second in the Derby at Epsom and here (she is) the winner of the Prix de Diane, so sometimes you never know.”

For owner Peter Brant, the victory in his White Birch Farm colours was the realisation of a long-held ambition to win the French fillies’ Classic.

Brant purchased Gezora after she won two of her four juvenile starts and was thrilled to see her better Sistercharlie, who was beaten just a length in the 2017 renewal before going on to a stellar American career.

He said: “I think it’s probably one of the three or four races I’ve dreamt of winning. I think it’s the greatest three-year-old filly race – it’s always stiff competition.

“We were second with Sistercharlie, a great filly who won seven Grade Ones and she couldn’t even win this race because she got into trouble. It’s a very difficult race to predict.”

O’Brien said of the runner-up: “We’re delighted with Bedtime Story’s performance. She ran a magnificent race. Her improvement is clear. I’ve consistently run her in good races, and she’s now showing her true form.

“This result, over this distance, opens a lot of doors. I’m not sure yet what we’ll do next. We need to see how she comes out of it.”

Meanwhile, Fellowes will now drop back in distance with Shes Perfect, who finished ninth, and could also dip in class in search of what would a deserved Group-race win.

He said: “I think it’s clear she just didn’t really stay. I always thought 10 furlongs would be in her range, but then she did a really sparkling piece of work earlier in the week and I thought maybe she had more speed than I gave her credit for.

“She won a Pouliches so we have a very, very good filly, it was the right thing to roll the dice here over 10 furlongs and we have learned a lot.

“The Falmouth would be the obvious race for her, but we might even think about dropping back in grade to try to get her head in front, give her a bit of a confidence boost and get that stakes win.

“I have a slight niggle in the back of my head that she might prefer a bit of ease underfoot, even though she ran so well in the Pouliches, maybe she was just saving herself a bit today as I walked the course and it was fast enough.

“If it turned up quick for her next run, I wouldn’t shy away, but I think we’ll let the dust settle a bit before making a firm plan.”

James Doyle ‘pretty pleased’ with imposing Royal Ascot hand

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Twelve months on from his excellent four-timer at Royal Ascot, the excitement is mounting for James Doyle ahead of the latest instalment of the summer highlight.

Having ridden for some of the biggest names in the sport throughout his glittering career in the saddle, the Wathnan Racing number one is no stranger to the pressure the Flat season’s premier meeting brings.

And after excelling in his first season donning the old gold and peacock blue silks of the Wathnan operation who cherish Royal Ascot success above all else, Doyle is relishing this year’s action at the Berkshire track with some talented youngsters and high-class acquisitions to look forward to.

Leovanni (right) landed the Queen Mary Stakes 12 months ago
Leovanni (right) landed the Queen Mary Stakes 12 months ago (David Davies/PA)

“We look like we’ve got a nice team and there has been a few welcome additions,” said Doyle.

“Last year was great and I wouldn’t say there is more pressure this year, as there is always great pressure to perform and get winners at Royal Ascot and every year it is huge pressure.

“We’ve had a couple of two-year-olds step up to the plate and obviously Zelaina won nicely at Nottingham and there’s Postmodern for Hamad (Al Jehani) and Underwriter for Archie (Watson), so we’ve a decent group of youngsters.

“We’re all well aware how difficult it is to win at Royal Ascot, everyone knows how tough it can be, but we’re looking forward to it, quietly hopeful and would be pretty pleased with the team we have going there.”

Shareholder won last year's Norfolk Stakes
Shareholder won last year’s Norfolk Stakes (John Walton/PA)

Last year’s Ascot quadruple for the 37-year-old took his Royal meeting tally to 22, with Karl Burke proving the right man to have on side in the juvenile contests in 2024.

The Spigot Lodge handler gave Doyle the leg-up on both Shareholder (Norfolk Stakes) and Leovanni (Queen Mary Stakes) and the duo could be poised to repeat the dose with the aforementioned Zelaina, who is the shortest-priced of all the owner’s candidates in Berkshire.

The daughter of Mehmas has already followed in the footsteps of Leovanni by winning the same Nottingham maiden in impressive fashion and if Doyle’s smile upon returning to the Colwick Park paddock was not a big enough clue, Zelaina’s Queen Mary odds of 7-4 suggest the filly – whose name has Greek origins and means the moon or brightness – could shine for Doyle on the grandest stage.

Doyle said: “Leovanni won the exact same race before going on to win the Queen Mary and I think this filly clocked a marginally quicker time on what I felt was slower ground than what Leovanni won on at Nottingham, so that has to give you a bit of confidence.

“She’s quite hot so we have a bit of work to do with her in the prelims just to keep the lid on her but if she can turn up there nice and relaxed, you would be hopeful she could run a big race. It’s always difficult to compare yours to what you might be up against but I don’t think I would be swapping this filly, that’s for sure.”

Fallen Angel, seen here in her previous colours, is a big Ascot hope for Doyle
Fallen Angel, seen here in her previous colours, is a big Ascot hope for Doyle (John Walton/PA)

Away from the juveniles, Doyle has plenty of big names to enjoy, with the likes of last year’s Jersey Stakes winner Haatem back for more in the Wolferton Stakes and Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Fallen Angel a short price for Duke of Cambridge glory.

However, it could be the French contingent which provides Doyle with a couple of aces in his pack, as the rider is eagerly anticipating the chance to partner Map Of Stars (Francis-Henri Graffard, Prince of Wales’s Stakes) and new Wathnan recruit Lazzat (Jerome Reynier, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes) in their respective Ascot assignments.

“Lazzat is a hell of an addition to the squad and we’re lucky to get our hands on him,” said Doyle.

“He looks pretty good doesn’t he? He hasn’t done much wrong in his career and was just touched off in Australia and then bolted up in his prep run for Ascot.

“Then Map Of Stars, he is a horse I really like and I know his wins in the first two runs of the season weren’t particularly strong races, but his last run in the Ganay he was unfortunate not to beat Sosie and he is obviously a very good horse who has since come out and won the Prix d’Ispahan.

“That was a nice form boost for him and I think Map Of Stars is a really exciting horse, who I think will keep progressing and whose best days are still to come.”

Dwyer not feeling the pressure as Asfoora defends Ascot title

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A 40-hour journey, nerves, excitement, jubilation and an audience with the King. That is how Australia’s Henry Dwyer remembers the “biggest day of my racing life” ahead of his return to Royal Ascot with his sprint ace Asfoora, ready to create more memories to treasure.

Some in Dwyer’s homeland had scoffed at his ambition to join compatriots like Paul Perry, Chris Waller and Peter Moody on the Royal Ascot roll of honour.

However, Dwyer had spotted a vacancy at the top of the European sprinting scene and he was not let down by his horse of a lifetime, who provided the Ballarat handler with the ultimate thrill when storming to King Charles III Stakes glory.

Asfoora stormed to victory in 2024
Asfoora stormed to victory in 2024 (David Davies/PA)

“It was completely bonkers, just madness and I was very nervous before the race as it was the biggest day of my racing life,” said Dwyer.

“I train horses in Australia, I’ve got 40-odd horses and won a couple of Group Ones, but that whole thing about travelling a horse and the risk and reward factor brought a lot of pressure.

“A lot of people in Australia thought we were ill-founded coming over here and it was more relief when she won. I didn’t care if she won, lost or drew as long as she didn’t embarrass herself and it was just important she ran well.

“As they walked into the gates I was, for want of a better phrase, s******* myself. Thankfully she ran well and at the 200-metre mark when she ran past us in the grandstand, she was clearly going to win and that’s the last I saw of the race.

“I had 30 people jumping on top of me cheering and I didn’t get chance to even see the last part of the race until half an hour after when I watched the replay and it was just an extraordinary moment.”

After embarking on a mammoth 40-hour return journey to the UK encompassing Hong Kong, Doha and the glamorous end destination of Stansted, Asfoora and her charismatic handler are embracing being back in their second home at Southgate Stables on Newmarket’s Hamilton Road.

And if Asfoora were to become the first horse trained outside Europe to win the same race at consecutive Royal meetings, then it would give Dwyer the opportunity to meet the King again after his crash course in royal protocol last year.

Dwyer explained: “I had a chat with the King before the race which was completely unscripted and I had no etiquette lessons beforehand, so it was very unannounced and I was very unaware. I would have loved an etiquette lesson as I had no idea what to call him and the rest, but we had a good chat.

“He asked me about the horse and I said ‘this is an amazing experience meeting you Sir, but I would love to be speaking to you again after the race picking up the trophy’. He said ‘let’s see if we can make that happen’ and then afterwards he had a big smile as he said ‘I told you I could make this happen’ and it was an amazing life experience.

“Racing takes you all round the world and introduces you to so many new people and that’s one of the amazing things about the sport. It’s not all about winning, it’s about the memories and meeting new people along the way and I guess the King is not someone I expected to meet, but there we are!”

Asfoora is on course for an Ascot repeat
Asfoora is on course for an Ascot repeat (Adam Morgan/PA)

It is 22 years since Paul Perry and Choisir opened the floodgates for raiders from the southern hemisphere and although Dwyer joined some of Australia’s most decorated names when striking at Europe’s showpiece meeting, it is his stock in the northern hemisphere that has risen rather than at home.

“I’ve met a lot of great people over here and I’ve got a number of owners from Europe now,” explained Dwyer.

“I think people over here have seen me have one runner and one winner at Royal Ascot and have me down as a John Gosden, but at home it’s a one swallow doesn’t make a summer scenario.

“I train 45 horses and it is what it is. We don’t really want many more than that and we enjoy having a nice, boutique stable without driving ourselves mad and Asfoora is obviously the flagbearer.”

With preparations complete, Dwyer can now embrace his star performer’s bid for Ascot immortality safe in the knowledge no one can erase the memories of 12 months ago.

“I feel like there is less pressure this year as she has been there and done it,” said Dwyer.

“It’s an expensive trip and there’s huge costs involved, but she was able to repay us last year and the money is in the bank now. This year is a bonus, she owes us nothing and we’re just here for the experience and the fun of it.

“The novelty may have worn off a little bit, but there’s still a job to be done and she seems well. We’re happy with with her and hopefully she runs well.”

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