Tag Archive for: Royal Ascot Festival

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.”

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.”

Keane seeking perfect Ascot start for Juddmonte

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Colin Keane is looking to start Royal Ascot with a headline double when the big meeting gets under way on Tuesday.

Newly-appointed to the role of retained rider for the Juddmonte operation, the six-time Irish champion jockey can expect to be busy all week, not only in the famous colours of the late Khalid Abdullah but also in demand with many other owners and trainers.

And the opening afternoon could prove a huge one, with John and Thady Gosden’s Lockinge winner Lead Artist in action in the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes and stablemate Field Of Gold odds-on for what promises to be an epic renewal of the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Keane will be riding Lead Artist in a race for the first time, after Oisin Murphy did the steering at Newbury.

He said: “He was very good in the Lockinge. He feels like a very straightforward horse, a good mover who feels fit and well.

“It was the first time I had seen Lead Artist when I rode him last Wednesday and he looks a very straightforward type. He seems in great nick and I’ll be looking forward to getting on him in the Queen Anne.”

Field Of Gold had to settle for the runner-up spot behind Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, but made no mistake in the Irish equivalent. He meets the Charlie Appleby-trained Ruling Court once more, with Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Guineas winner Henri Matisse adding further spice.

Keane said: “Field Of Gold was very good at the Curragh. A stiff mile will suit him well and he’s growing up in his races and feels very relaxed and straightforward. I couldn’t have been more happy with what he did.”

Colin Keane celebrates with Field Of Gold
Colin Keane celebrates with Field Of Gold (Niall Carson/PA)

Like Keane, Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon is hoping to see Lead Artist open the batting for the team in style.

“Our week gets off to a big start and he’s in good form and has come out of the Lockinge well,” he said.

“He’s reopposing a lot of the same horses and albeit some of them were having their first run at Newbury and could improve, we’re hoping the track and ground will suit Lead Artist.

“He’s a beautiful colt and a magnificent specimen and we’re hopeful he will give a good account of himself.”

Burke backing Night Raider to make his mark in King Charles speed test

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Karl Burke believes King Charles III Stakes contender Night Raider has the speed needed to make his mark at Royal Ascot start on Tuesday.

The four-year-old will tackle five furlongs for the first time in his eight-race career on the opening day, having warmed up for the task with a third-placed finish in the 1895 Duke of York Stakes last month.

Burke said of the talented Dark Angel colt, who took his chance in the 2000 Guineas last year after two runaway wins at Southwell: “I’m really looking forward to it. He’s got to prove he’s quick enough, but I think he is, we’ll see.”

The North Yorkshire handler also has high expectations for Venetian Sun, who will contest Friday’s Albany Stakes after beating subsequent Beverley victor Argentine Tango on her only start to date.

Burke said: “She’s definitely headed for the Albany. I’ve probably been talking a bit too much about her, but I think a lot of her. I think she’s a very good filly.”

Queen Mary favourite Zelaina is another who is set to represent Burke in the coming days and he added: “We are so lucky this year and I said the same at this time last year. We’ve some lovely horses with very nice chances and they’re all going there in good order.”

Lead Artist and Dancing Gemini face Queen Anne rematch

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Lead Artist, Dancing Gemini, Rosallion and Notable Speech are all set to renew rivalry in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

John and Thady Gosden’s Lead Artist just edged Roger Teal’s Dancing Gemini in the Lockinge at Newbury, although the rematch sees different jockeys in the saddle, with Colin Keane aboard Lead Artist and Kieran Shoemark taking over from Ryan Moore on Dancing Gemini.

Notable Speech (Charlie Appleby) and Rosallion (Richard Hannon) were first and second respectively in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last year, before Rosallion landed the Irish version at the Curragh and then the St James’s Palace Stakes. He had his first run since then when third in the Lockinge, one place in front of Notable Speech.

Teal, who had a valuable winner at York on Saturday, is looking forward to what will be a big day.

He said: “There are only a couple more days to go now, so it’s squeaky bum time, but it’s very exciting. He’s had his last little blow, nothing serious, but just a little healthy exercise. He’s all good.”

Adding further spice to the line-up of 11 are Sardinian Warrior, a stablemate of Lead Artist who found only Sosie too good in the Prix d’Ispahan, American ace Carl Spackler, who is now in new ownership and with Australian trainer Ciaron Maher, Simon and Ed Crisford’s smart performer Quddwah and Aidan O’Brien’s Diego Velazquez.

In the King Charles III Stakes, Australian speedster Asfoora bids to retain her crown in a bumper field of 23, while the Coventry Stakes invariably throws up smart juveniles and this year promises to be no exception, with Postmodern (Hamad Al Jehani) and O’Brien’s unbeaten pair Gstaad and Warsaw notable among the 21 declarations.

Classic clash of the 2000 Guineas winners all set for Royal Ascot

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A mouthwatering clash of 2000 Guineas winners will light up the opening day of Royal Ascot, with Ruling Court, Field Of Gold and Henri Matisse all declared for the St James’s Palace Stakes.

The Charlie Appleby-trained Ruling Court got the better of John and Thady Gosden’s Field Of Gold at Newmarket, with the runner-up making no mistake subsequently at the Curragh. Henri Matisse, meanwhile, shone for Aidan O’Brien at ParisLongchamp.

O’Brien also runs First Wave and Officer, while Windlord – like Field Of Gold owned by Juddmonte – represents Andrew Balding.

Completing the seven-strong field is the Brian Meehan-trained Rashabar, who was fourth in the Irish Guineas.

Willie Mullins eyeing famous Ascot success with Reaching High

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Willie Mullins could be set for another landmark occasion in his glittering training career when he saddles Reaching High for the King and Queen at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

The master of Closutton has long been at the top of the training tree and it should perhaps be no surprise that the first man to pass a century of winners at the Cheltenham Festival and who also holds his own on the Flat is the first Irishman to train for the reigning monarch.

If Mullins was feeling any nerves after being bestowed such an honour, he can take comfort from heading to the familiar territory of the Ascot Stakes with Closutton’s royal inmate, a race he has won four times and which came immediately on Reaching High’s radar after a pleasing stable bow at Leopardstown.

The King and Queen watching their horse Desert Hero at the St Leger
The King and Queen watching their horse Desert Hero at the St Leger (Danny Lawson/PA)

“I’ve been very happy since his first run, he did everything nicely at Leopardstown and if he could run a similar type of race at Ascot I would be very pleased,” said Mullins reflecting on Reaching High’s short head defeat in the hands of Jody Townend.

“It would be great to have a winner for Their Majesties. It’s great of them to send me a pedigree like this to train and we’re hoping for the best and that it all goes well on the day.”

Mullins of course has previous with the royal family at their own meeting having been the man who saddled Simenon to narrowly finish second to the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Estimate when she achieved a famous Gold Cup success in 2013.

Estimate (left) edged out Simenon to win the Gold Cup in 2013
Estimate (left) edged out Simenon to win the Gold Cup in 2013 (Steve Parsons/PA)

Estimate was trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Ryan Moore and it is perhaps fitting that Mullins’ first horse since being added to the royal roster is a former Stoute-trained offspring of Estimate set to be partnered on Tuesday by Moore.

Mullins though, is determined to enjoy his week attending Flat racing’s annual jamboree, even if the magnitude of victory for the King and Queen will see him bookmarked in racing history yet again.

“Why wouldn’t you look forward to Royal Ascot,” said Mullins. “Yes we’ll have a few runners and hopefully a winner, but it’s sort of a busman’s holiday that gives you a good chance to get round and meet people who I don’t get to meet at Cheltenham.

“While the Flat trainers are working away, I can catch up with all our owners just like the Flat trainers do while we’re busy during Cheltenham and it works well. If we can then get a winner it’s a bonus, even one in the first four is great.”

Cheltenham hero Poniros will be in action at Royal Ascot
Cheltenham hero Poniros will be in action at Royal Ascot (Mike Egerton/PA)

Mullins currently has 10 Royal Ascot winners to his name and will also bid for a Copper Horse Stakes hat-trick with Charlus on the opening day card, while the biggest threat to Reaching High could in fact come from within his own Closutton camp in the form of Triumph Hurdle hero Poniros.

Owned by Brighton and Hove Albion supremo Tony Bloom, for who Mullins saddled Stratum to win back-to-back Queen Alexandra Stakes in 2021 and 2022, the Ascot Stakes marks what could be a busy summer on the level for the shock 100-1 Cheltenham Festival scorer who was bought with dual-purpose designs.

“Poniros is well entitled to go there and he ran well there at the meeting last year,” continued Mullins.

“I think we could have some fun with him this summer and he would be one we can look forward to in all of those staying handicaps.”

Falakeyah added to Coronation field for Zarigana clash

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Falakeyah has been supplemented for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot to set up a mouthwatering clash with French ace Zarigana.

Owen Burrows’ unbeaten filly dazzled when winning the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket last month, putting herself in the picture for both the Oaks and the French equivalent which will be run at Chantilly on Sunday.

However, after deciding against Epsom, a dirty scope ruled her out of France, with connections now taking the plunge to drop back to a mile with their supremely talented daughter of New Bay.

In a statement on shadwellstud.com, the owners racing manager Angus Gold said: “Jim (Crowley) has been saying all spring ‘this filly has plenty of speed’ and she showed that when she won at Newmarket on her first start of the year.

“Once we had decided not to stretch her stamina to a mile and a half in the Oaks, the next option was the Prix de Diane. However, she did not scope clean two weeks ago, so Owen and the team gave her time and sorted it out, but the net result was the timescale proved too tight to get her back to peak fitness for the Diane, especially with the travelling over to France.

“Owen feels she is now back to where she was before the dirty scope. He’s very happy with her and together we feel the Coronation is the right race for her now. Jim believes she has the pace to be competitive at a mile at that level. She’s definitely got a lot of class, and we are looking forward to Friday.”

Falakeyah could ultimately prove the biggest challenge to Francis-Henri Graffard’s Zarigana, the grandaughter of the great Zarkava who was awarded the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches in the stewards room at ParisLongchamp after a late tussle with Charlie Fellowes’ Shes Perfect.

Shes Perfect also stands her ground but is poised for the challenge of the Prix de Diane on Sunday, while the same applies to Aidan O’Brien’s Bedtime Story and Merrily who also feature amongst the confirmations for Friday’s Group One.

Ballydoyle have also confirmed Exactly and January, while Ralph Beckett could be represented by 1000 Guineas fifth Chantilly Lace and the Amo Racing-owned Cathedral.

Ollie Sangster’s Flight and Simmering finished ahead of Chantilly Lace in second and third respectively behind Desert Flower at Newmarket and could leave below par efforts in the Irish version of the Guineas behind here.

Meanwhile, Joseph Murphy’s Cercene and Archie Watson’s Duty First were two to thrive at the Curragh when third and fourth and are also amongst the Ascot possibles.

Jane Chapple-Hyam’s unbeaten York scorer Kon Tiki joins Falakeyah in being supplemented into the field at a cost of £46,000, while Ger Lyons’ Red Letter completes the list of 15 going forward.

Illinois and Candelari on course for Gold Cup showdown

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Aidan O’Brien’s Illinois and Francis-Henri Graffard’s Candelari have the chance to fill the void left by Kyprios after standing their ground for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

There is a vacancy at the top of the staying tree after the recent retirement of O’Brien’s dual Gold Cup hero, but hopes are high Illinois could prove a ready-made replacement judged on his impressive Ormonde Stakes success at Chester.

O’Brien has also confirmed Coronation Cup hero Jan Brueghel, but Illinois is poised for a mouthwatering showdown with Graffard’s French raider, who announced himself at the top-level with a sublime performance at ParisLongchamp in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier.

John and Thady Gosden’s Trawlerman and Sweet William have been regular bridesmaids to Kyprios and now have the chance of their moment in the spotlight, with the former winning well in his Sandown reappearance.

Andrew Balding’s Coltrane is another regular in this event, but he will have to reverse Sagaro Stakes form with Michael Bell’s Yashin to make his presence felt, with Bell looking to recreate the Gold Cup exploits of Big Orange from 2017.

Saeed bin Suroor has confirmed Dubai Gold Cup scorer Dubai Future, with James Ferguson’s Wonder Legend given the chance to transfer his smart all-weather form on turf.

The 10-strong list is rounded off by Alan King’s stalwart Trueshan, although the warm weather has the potential to once again scupper any hope of him appearing in this race.

Wathnan snap up James McDonald for Royal Ascot rides

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Wathnan Racing have swooped to secure the services of top international jockey James McDonald for Royal Ascot.

The Emir of Qatar’s racing operation enjoyed a four-timer at the Royal meeting 12 months ago and with a swelling team once again this year and multiple entries in many races, the New Zealand-born pilot will prove a more than able deputy to James Doyle for the leading owners.

Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown said: “We’re going to have a good-sized team with multiple entries in certain races.

“William Buick helps us when he can but obviously his availability is limited and when talking to the team, we decided we needed to have somebody in position who might be able to help us.

Jockey James McDonald has plenty of Royal Ascot experience
Jockey James McDonald has plenty of Royal Ascot experience (Nigel French/PA)

“A lot of the top guys here have got their own commitments and we heard with interest that James McDonald is coming over to ride Carl Spackler, so we reached out to him and he’s going to be here Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before flying home for a wedding at the weekend.”

A good friend of Wathnan number one Doyle, ‘J-Mac’ has enjoyed notable recent success on the world stage aboard Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior, while he has a stellar record at Royal Ascot enjoying a treble in 2022 which included Group One glory aboard Australian ace Nature Strip.

“I would imagine James will ride five or six for us over the first three days,” continued Brown.

James McDonald celebrates winning aboard Nature Strip
James McDonald celebrates winning aboard Nature Strip (David Davies/PA)

“He has a great record at Ascot and he’s great mates with James Doyle, which is an important dynamic to it. They will be able to run through the horses together that James Doyle knows so well and ‘Doyler’ has got a few hard decisions to make.

“But James is such a team player and is very pro the idea and I’m sure he’ll be helping the other James with the form of the races and the horses he’ll be on.

“We didn’t want to leave anything to chance and it’s very hard to get the top guys booked with them having their own commitments, so to have James McDonald riding for us where we have multiple entries and William Buick can’t (ride) makes an awful lot of sense.”

Rogue Supremacy subject to plenty of attention with Ascot looming

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Rogue Supremacy is providing owners The Rogues Gallery with plenty of excitement ahead of Royal Ascot – providing their heads are not turned by a big-money move prior to the summer highlight kicking off.

David O’Meara’s youngster impressed when making all in his Wetherby debut, scorching clear of the opposition to give himself the options of the Coventry Stakes, Norfolk Stakes and Windsor Castle at the Royal meeting.

“We really, really like this horse, loads of people are trying to buy this horse and he could even be sold by the time we get to Ascot but I’m trying not to,” said Tony Elliott, founder of The Rogues Gallery.

“The jockey was more or less stood up with him the whole way at Wetherby and we don’t know what we’ve got yet and that’s the whole idea of going to Ascot.

“He’s sharp and we don’t know if he’ll get the six furlongs, so it could be that we’re looking at the five-furlong races over the Coventry.

“But I’ll leave that with David O’Meara, he knows the horse and it’s not really my decision, I leave it to the trainers. He’ll be entered in three of the races and it’s just a case of then picking the right one.”

The son of St Mark’s Basilica has courted plenty of attention since getting his sire off the mark last month, but at the moment the ‘Rogues’ are withstanding the pressure to sell the talented youngster, having already cashed in on the Paddy Twomey-trained Rogue Legend prior to Ascot.

Rogue Legend transferred to the ownership of American John Stewart and his Resolute Racing operation for a fee rumoured to be seven figures, and Elliott admitted there is always plenty to consider when offers hit the table.

He added: “It’s not all about selling because we want some nice ones ourselves and it’s a tricky situation. However, we’re not all multi-millionaires and sometimes you have to use your head rather than your heart ruling your head.

“People keep saying it must be a lovely position to be in, but it’s difficult. We all want a bit of money, but at the same time we want those nice horses as well. Luckily enough we keep putting ourselves in this position and I do think we’ve plenty of cracking horses coming through of real quality.”

Royal Ascot winner Rogue Millennium and crack sprinter Rogue Lightning were two others to excel for The Rogues Gallery before switching hands for £1.65million and £1million respectively at the sales, as the popular syndicate continues to source above-average operators.

And Rogue Supremacy could be joined next week by James Owen’s Rogue Millions, who is poised for the Golden Gates Handicap after readily accounting for some smart opposition at Chepstow recently.

“Rogue Millions will hopefully go to the Golden Gates and he could even be our best horse, he beat two really nice horses comfortably at Chepstow,” continued Elliott.

“We’ve got a lot of nice ones at the moment and everyone is buzzing, it couldn’t be going better for us. I would say we’re overachieving and I guess the person under pressure is me to keep finding them.”

See The Fire supplemented for Prince of Wales’s test

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Exciting filly See The Fire has been supplemented to join the likes of Los Angeles and Anmaat in a mouthwatering renewal of Wednesday’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Having performed well at Group One level on several occasions last season, Andrew Balding’s See The Fire could only finish fifth on her Sandown comeback, but bounced back to form with a spectacular 12-length success in last month’s Middleton Stakes at York.

She is now set to take on the boys in the feature event on day two of the Royal meeting after being added to the £1million Prince of Wales’s Stakes at a cost of £70,000.

Los Angeles (left) and Anmaat will lock horns again at Ascot
Los Angeles (left) and Anmaat will lock horns again at Ascot (Niall Carson/PA)

Aidan O’Brien’s Los Angeles denied the Owen Burrows-trained Anmaat by half a length in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month, with last year’s winner White Birch back in fourth.

All three horses look set to line up on Wednesday, with Anmaat arguably the one open to most improvement given his Tattersalls Gold Cup appearance was his first since winning the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.

O’Brien has also left in Continuous, while French hopes are set to be carried by Francis-Henri Graffard’s Map Of Stars and Facteur Cheval from Jerome Reynier’s yard. The former has won five of his seven starts to date and was touched off by Sosie in the Prix Ganay on his most recent outing.

Ombudsman (John and Thady Gosden), Certain Lad (Jack Channon) and Royal Champion (Karl Burke) are the others to stand their ground.

Trueshan looks like being denied Gold Cup chance again

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The chances of veteran stayer Trueshan finally getting the chance to bid for Gold Cup glory at Royal Ascot next week appear remote, with trainer Alan King yet again left praying for rain.

King’s stable stalwart has won a whole host of top-class races over the years, including the Goodwood Cup, three Long Distance Cups at Ascot and two editions of the Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp.

However, he has missed the Gold Cup in each of the past four seasons due to unsuitable ground and with dry weather forecast, an appearance at the Royal meeting at the fifth time of asking seems unlikely.

Reflecting on his creditable comeback fourth behind leading Gold Cup contender Candelari in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in Paris last month, King said: “He ran very well. The ground was a lot quicker than they were calling it and he came back a little bit jarry after that, but he worked yesterday and will work again at the weekend.

“The forecast is not looking terribly encouraging for me really, as usual. I’d like to see a change in the forecast, but I don’t think it’s going to be too likely.

“He’s never got to run at Royal Ascot and the old boy seems in good order, so I’ll certainly put him in the Gold Cup and see.”

The Barbury Castle handler has made a number of entries at Royal Ascot, and added: “I’ll run the two in the mile-and-six race on Tuesday (Copper Horse Handicap), but Tritonic won’t get in the Ascot Stakes.

“I’ve got Daiquiri Bay in the King George V Handicap and the mile-and-a-quarter race and Paradias could go for the mile-and-a-half handicap on the Friday, so I’ve got a few to run and it’s just a question of what gets in.”