Tag Archive for: Royal Ascot Festival

Field Of Gold sparkles with decisive St James’s Palace strike

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Field Of Gold lit up the first day of Royal Ascot with a dominant display in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

John and Thady Gosden’s colt had been a fast-finishing second behind Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas before easily winning the Irish equivalent, while the French Guineas winner Henri Matisse was also running.

There was no doubt who emerged as the best of the three though, as Colin Keane breezed through on the 8-11 favourite before bursting clear to beat Henri Matisse by three and a half lengths, with Ruling Court back in third.

Field Of Gold has now charted the same route as his sire Kingman, who also suffered defeat at Newmarket before gaining Irish redemption and adding Royal Ascot glory when trained by John Gosden.

Field Of Gold returns to the Ascot winner's enclosure
Field Of Gold returns to the Ascot winner’s enclosure (John Walton/PA)

“Like father, like son,” said Gosden, in reference to Kingman’s win in 2014. “The nerves may have got to the trainer beforehand but thankfully not to the horse or the jockey.

“It was great, a great performance and Oisin (Murphy) did a nice job on Windlord setting an even pace and he came to the head of the straight and he had a lot of horse.

“For a moment I was thinking ‘whoops, this is Ascot and it climbs and have we gone a bit soon’. I wasn’t watching him, I was looking back as you always have to do here, but fortunately none of the dangers were coming to get him.

“He always impressed as a two-year-old but he was a big boy and slightly outgrew himself. We ran him in France which was a mistake in itself and I should have run him in the Dewhurst and I regret that. But this year he has been exemplary in everything he has done and he’s a pleasure to train because he is a pretty relaxed character.”

Gosden admitted the Irish 2,000 Guineas had not originally been part of Field Of Gold’s intended campaign, which could influence where the colt heads next.

He added: “It was never the plan to go to Ireland and he’s had a trial and two Guineas and now this which is a lot of racing and we’re not even halfway through the season yet.

“Maybe (we’ll) freshen him up now and go to the Sussex, but we will see. If we hadn’t gone to Ireland, I would have been keen to go to the Eclipse.

“When they win like that and make it look easy they do take a lot out of themselves and I don’t want to be someone seen running him back quick in an Eclipse straight off the back of this.”

Colin Keane celebrates after Field Of Gold's breathtaking win
Colin Keane celebrates after Field Of Gold’s breathtaking win (David Davies/PA)

For Juddmonte’s new retained rider it capped a fine first week in the hot seat for the Abdullah family, with the six-time Irish champion in no doubt he is in a privileged position, handed the reins to an exceptional talent.

Keane said: “He’s a special horse and I’m lucky enough to join this team and to have a horse like him early on is amazing. I’ve had nothing compared to this and it’s very special.

“He just proved what he did at the Curragh wasn’t a mistake and it’s similar to revving a motorbike, when you ask him it’s instant.

“Without a doubt he’s the best I’ve ridden. The next best would be Siskin who was in the same colours, but this lad is a level above, he’s very special.

“I’m in a very privileged position to be in these colours and getting a horse like him is unbelievable.

“I wasn’t nervous, but there was plenty of anticipation and it was a very good renewal of the race. It was three Guineas winners taking each other on, but he’s won like a very good horse.

“Ideally I would have liked to have been carried further into the race as he will only do so much once he got there. I didn’t want to be a sitting duck there for them to catch me, but once he quickened up I thought they will do well to catch me.

“I couldn’t wish for a better start, but when you’re riding for this operation and this is the quality of horse you get, these are the opportunities you get and it’s very special but also a bit of relief.

“He’s following in the right footsteps and he just seems to be a horse who is getting better with racing and you can see the way he relaxes now. I’m just the man fortunate enough to be stepping in on him at the right time.”

The writing was on the wall early for Ruling Court who never looked likely to confirm form with Field Of Gold.

“William (Buick) said he was never really travelling comfortably and at this level you need to be able to get up there and travel on the bridle to give your horse a breather,” said Charlie Appleby.

“It might be a bit too soon to say we’ll be looking at an Eclipse but working back from the Juddmonte will be the most likely target.”

Aidan O’Brien indicated Henri Matisse would likely stick at a mile.

American Affair takes ‘magical’ King Charles sprint glory for Scotland

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Scottish challenger American Affair finished best to land the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot for Jim Goldie and Paul Mulrennan.

Successful in valuable handicaps at Musselburgh and York, the five-year-old was perhaps unfortunate not to finish closer than he did when fifth in the Temple Stakes at Haydock and was an 11-1 chance for this Group One debut.

Settled in midfield as the likes of Regional and Night Raider blazed a trail, American Affair was produced with his challenge inside the final two furlongs and found plenty for pressure to get the better of a protracted duel with Frost At Dawn by a neck.

Lanarkshire-based Goldie said: “I’ve trained the family for two generations, so it’s very sweet.

“He’s just getting faster, we went seven furlongs at Wetherby in his maiden, we’ve learnt to run him over the right trip, we took him back to five and he’s just getting better and better.

“I was quite confident he could do it today, he had the talent, we got it wrong at Haydock. I knew he was probably one of the fastest horses in the race, but it’s how you control that. We’ve come down a day early and got him relaxed and it all fell into place. It means a lot.

“You’re never sure, but I could see he was travelling well. He’s just getting faster and faster, we trained his family and they were the same – they just got quicker.

“We brought him here yesterday to settle him in and it’s all worked out perfectly. It’s just terrific.

“Paul really believed in this horse and we knew he had it in him. It’s magical, he’s a very good horse.

“We’re living the dream, so to speak. To win here is probably a career highlight. Well, it’s not ‘probably’, is it? It’s definitely a career highlight.”

Mulrennan added: “I was just saying there, at this stage of my career I’ve probably got more years behind me than I have in front of me, it’s extra special.

“It’s hard enough to get rides here, it’s nice to come down here and have a ride, to win a Group One here is very special and Jim’s been very good to me the last few years.

“He’s a master trainer at tweaking around with these horses and he can really, with the ammunition he has, he can get the best out of them on the big day.”

John McGrandles, breeder and part-owner, said: “He’s probably the only horse here with a Glasgow postcode in his passport!

“I’ve been involved with horses since I was six. My wife is a veterinary surgeon – and we’re off to the Highland Show tomorrow with sheep!

“This horse is the biggest winner we’ve had, yes. And the horse’s stable name is Charlie and he’s won the King Charles!”

Dettori to ride at Ascot again in the future? ‘Never say never’

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Frankie Dettori has not ruled out riding at Royal Ascot again at some point in the future, as he attended the opening day of the 2025 meeting as a spectator.

The 54-year-old left the UK riding ranks in 2023 when he initially announced his retirement only to reverse that decision and begin a new life in America.

Speaking to ITV Racing, the Italian said: “I’m good, I flew here on Sunday after riding in Kentucky, it’s my daughter’s birthday, you know I love Royal Ascot.

“I still have the little devil in my ear saying ‘one more time’. When I was driving here I was thinking how I missed it so much.

“Never say never, at the moment I didn’t think it was appropriate to do it but who knows in the future. It’s nice to be here and it’s amazing racing through the week.

“I’ve got a different vibe today as I’m usually stressed out thinking about the racing but I’m seeing it from the other side of the fence.

“I’m all good at the moment, but there’s a little tear in my eye that I’m not riding. Never say never!

“America is a new challenge to me, it’s all new and at this stage of my career I’m having to prove myself again, it’s a new experience”

Ascot heartbreak for Hannon as Rosallion just eclipsed

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Richard Hannon was left to reflect on a “horrible” nose defeat for stable star Rosallion in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A narrow winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes on this day 12 months ago, the son of Blue Point finished a promising third on his return from almost a year off the track in the Lockinge at Newbury last month and was a 5-2 favourite to claim his fourth career Group One win under Sean Levey.

Rosallion quickened up smartly down the outside of the field to ensure he reversed the form with the two that finished in front of him at Newbury – Lead Artist and Dancing Gemini – but having looked likely to pick up Docklands late on, the latter battled back to claim the narrowest of victories.

Hannon said: “It hurts, it does and it should. But he’s beaten an awful lot of champions and hit the front and just got done on the line.

“It’s horrible, but no one has died and he’s run a great race. He’s still a top-class miler and I really thought he had it.

“It was an unbelievable race and he’s done everything bar win, he’s done us proud and we’re delighted.”

Considering plans for later in the summer, the trainer added: “He could go to the Sussex or all of those mile races and that might be a sweeter day. Goodwood could be next and a mile is still his distance.

“All went fine and he’s ran a fantastic race. He beat all those horses that were in the Lockinge Stakes, but just found one too good. But we’re very pleased.”

Cairo finished third in the Queen Anne at 100-1
Cairo finished third in the Queen Anne at 100-1 (Adam Morgan/PA)

Just under two lengths behind Rosallion in third place was Cairo, who was sent off a 100-1 shot for Alice Haynes.

Haynes said: “That was absolutely fantastic and three furlongs out I started to get really interested. He’s been in fantastic form at home and maybe he won’t win a Group One, but he deserves to win a nice race as he keeps knocking on the door.

“He’s ran the race of his life there and he will probably head off to America. We’ll go to (the) Arlington (Million at Colonial Downs in August) and do a bit of a tour and he can run in the Grade Ones out there.

“A mile or 10 furlongs on quick ground is what he loves and there’s plenty of money he can be picking up.”

Charlie Appleby bemoaned the lack of a clear run for last season’s 2000 Guineas and Sussex hero Notable Speech, whose rider William Buick dropped his whip after switching to the far side of the track on his way to a fourth-placed finish.

“It was a bit of a messy race, but fair play to the winner, well done to them,” said the Moulton Paddocks handler.

“For ourselves, I think it was clear for all to see what happened. We would all love to sit there and say what jockeys should and shouldn’t do, but it’s easy for us to say that from a bird’s eye view.

“He’s ran a great race, could I say he’s unlucky? I can say he’s unlucky in the way the race has panned out and in the end he couldn’t get there, but you could see it developing in that way.”

Notable Speech could drop back in trip later in the season, with his trainer adding: “William said sometimes is he really a true miler? He travels for fun and he could easily come back to seven furlongs. The race that is tailor-made for him is the City Of York Stakes now that is a Group One.

“We’ve got that and the Sussex Stakes which he won last year as options and a easier run mile there would suit him as well.”

Gstaad records sizzling Coventry Stakes success

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Gstaad blew the Coventry Stakes field apart to give Aidan O’Brien an 11th win in the Royal Ascot feature.

Sent off the 7-2 favourite and drawn on the near side, his group appeared to be behind for much of the way before Ryan Moore sent him towards the centre of the track with two furlongs to run.

It never really looked in doubt from there and he came home three lengths clear of 80-1 outsider Do Or Do Not on the far side, with Coppull third at 66-1.

O’Brien said: “I’m absolutely delighted and he looks a very good horse, doesn’t he – you don’t win the Coventry like that often and he was visually very good.

“We’ve always loved him and he’s only had the one run, obviously, but has always worked like a good horse. This was the first horse Ryan rode when he came over in January or February time and he was highly thought of then.

“He’s big, he’s scopey and goes with his head down and is very genuine and he looks like he will get further than six. He has all the attributes.

“I’d imagine we would go for a Group One now and the Prix Morny is what they usually do after winning this.”

The long-time favourite for this race was Gstaad’s stablemate Albert Einstein before he suffered a setback earlier this month, ruling him out of the meeting.”

Comparing his winner to the potential star confined to barracks at Ballydoyle, O’Brien added: “Albert Einstein was always something very different and a very quick horse, incredibly quick from the day we worked him.

“Gstaad is a big horse who travels well and with lots of speed. We always thought this was a top-tier horse alongside Albert, but your man was just so fast it was different.”

Of Do Or Do Not, Ed Walker said: “I’m quite surprised, to be honest! The Coventry is not a race I thought I’d be winning anytime soon, but fair play to Simon (Sadler, owner) he felt like rolling the dice.

“I was quite happy to go and find a forty grand novice at Carlisle, but he ran an absolute blinder and I’m really proud of him. He’s a tough horse.”

Docklands denies Rosallion in Queen Anne thriller

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Docklands narrowly got the better of Rosallion in a thrilling climax to the Queen Anne Stakes.

A strong field of 10 runners went to post for the traditional Royal Ascot curtain-raiser, with the market dominated by the first four home in last month’s Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Rosallion, who finished third at Newbury, was the 5-2 favourite to get back on the winning trail and looked set to oblige after being produced with a well-timed run by Sean Levey, but having been last out of the starting stalls before fighting his way to the front, Harry Eustace’s 14-1 shot Docklands refused to bend under Australian jockey Mark Zahra and clung on by a nose.

Cairo, who was sent off a 100-1 shot, was a further length and three-quarters back in third.

Docklands boasts a fine record at Ascot having won twice and placed four times, including when chasing home Charyn in this event 12 months ago – a run which persuaded Eustace to have another crack at the prize this year.

The trainer said: “I know everyone says this but I don’t know if it will sink in for a bit! There were a lot of nerve-wracking moments during the race, I have to say.

“I wasn’t happy with the pace early on, he did his usual thing and was a step slow and I kept cursing him. But he’s an absolute star, he loves this racetrack and because they went slow, they probably got racing a bit further out.

“It’s very special. When he was second here, we knew we were coming back for another go.

“At the furlong marker I thought Rosallion was really coming to us, but he was so brave in that last furlong. He has been frustrating, but only because I’ve felt he maybe deserved to win the odd race that he should have done, but luckily he loves this track.”

Docklands returns to the Ascot winner's enclosure
Docklands returns to the Ascot winner’s enclosure (PA)

Docklands is owned by the Australian group OTI Racing and had previously been ridden by Zahra when unplaced in last year’s Hong Kong Mile, with Richard Kingscote partnering him in two British starts this term.

Explaining Zahra’s booking, Eustace added: “It’s just all come together, as racing does, it all happened well. I feel for Richard Kingscote who has been on him the last couple of times – there’s no drama there, it’s just that Mark has had this lined up for a little while.

“In a curious way, he got trapped in a pocket at Epsom and didn’t have a hard race, and came here spot on. I’m glad he got beat at Epsom and won at Ascot.

“There were multiple Group One winners in there, the Guineas winners from last year, we were the most exposed horse probably, but he loves the track. That’s a big, big plus – and he tries bloody hard!”

Zahra admitted his Royal Ascot ride was a stop-off en route to a planned holiday in Ibiza, but the Australian pilot was delighted to make his mark at the world-famous fixture.

He said: “He just kept finding, he’s a very tough horse and he obviously loves this track. Harry’s done a great job and no better feeling in the world.

“Hearing all the Aussies over the fence, even though the horse is English you’d have thought he was Aussie by all the screams. What an amazing experience for unbelievable people.

“He’s (Harry Eustace) been pumping me up the whole way. I just started this meeting for a trip on the way to Ibiza, so for it to turn into a massive win like this is just very special. The closer we got the more he filled me with confidence and he was right.

“Both his runs this season have been really good. I rode him in Hong Kong and just looking at him in the field, he’s a completely different horse today.”

Fallen Angel aiming to get back on right path in Cambridge

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Fallen Angel is expected to take a big leap forward from her comeback run in the Lockinge when she returns to fillies-only company in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes on Wednesday.

The Too Darn Hot filly was sixth of eight runners at Newbury as a route towards the Royal meeting was plotted by trainer Karl Burke.

Richard Brown, racing adviser to owners Wathnan Racing, believes the four-year-old will benefit from that outing and said: “This has been the plan for a long time with her and she ran a very nice comeback race in the Lockinge, so we were delighted with that.

“We don’t really think she is a spring filly and Karl says she just takes time to come to herself, she is not a great work filly at home so it can be hard to judge her. But he seems very happy with her now.

“Her last piece of work was good and she has come fully in her coat now, which wasn’t the case at Newbury, and last year we saw she got beat in the English Guineas before bouncing back to win in Ireland.

“I think she will definitely have improved for the run and she is a gorgeous filly who we can’t wait to see run.”

Wathnan also own the John and Thady Gosden-trained Crimson Advocate who has improved since stepping up in trip and Brown said: “She will also go and won the Queen Mary at the meeting two years ago. She’s been very good and consistent since stepped up to a mile and I’m sure she will run an admirable race as well, she never lets us down.”

Elmalka was second behind Cinderella’s Dream in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket last month and trainer Roger Varian will drop her back in trip having taken in the Prix d’Ispahan last time out.

Varian told Sky Sports Racing: “I thought she ran really well in the Dahlia Stakes, it was a good renewal. I then ran her in the d’Ispahan against the colts and in hindsight maybe that was the wrong thing to do but the winner (Sosie) was supplemented at the last minute, none of us had an idea he’d be running.

“She wasn’t quite good enough against strong colts but she still ran well and it made my mind up that she’s a miler, so we’re taking the positives.

“It will be quite tough to turn the form around with Cinderella’s Dream as she was impressive that day but Elmalka is a good filly in her own right.”

Varian has had to bide his time with My Cloud but is confident he can take another step forward in the Royal Hunt Cup.

He said: “He’s a lovely horse, he’s always been a nice horse but he’s been late-developing, so we’ve had to be patient. He’s won some nice races this year, in fairness it probably wasn’t much of a race at Ascot that he won but he did well to win at Newbury on Lockinge day.”

Michael Bell will be double handed with Greek Order and Tony Montana and believes both horses can give a good account of themselves.

Bell said: “Greek Order is an interesting horse having just come over from America.

“He looks as if he is on a very competitive mark and I think the draw (30) looks all right given that the principles in the betting are drawn next to him.

“Tony Montana is a very, very consistent, likeable horse.”

Paddy Twomey’s Carmers will put his unbeaten record on the line as he steps up to Group Two company in the Queen’s Vase.

Twomey said: “Carmers is a nice horse, he made his debut at the start of May and he won nicely at Ballinrobe and stepped up markedly a week later in the Listed Yeats Stakes at Navan.

“We’ve had this race in mind for a while. I don’t think any of the other horses in the race have won at a mile and six and I think he will handle the trip.”

Old Is Gold impressed in winning at Beverley for Andrew Balding before being acquired by Wathnan and Brown is not worried about the step up in grade in the Windsor Castle Stakes.

He said: “I liked his run at Ascot and I like that he has course form.

“He was then impressive at Beverley and of course with our Naval Light (runs in the Norfolk), who we hold in high regard in second, it made sense to take that run very seriously.”

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.

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.”