One of the biggest sporting events in the calendar and the jewel in the Flat-racing crown, we take a look at the key races on day one at Royal Ascot.
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Queen Anne Stakes
The Queen Anne Stakes kicks off Royal Ascot on Tuesday 14th June, with star miler Baaeed a hot favourite to gain a fourth straight Group 1 win and maintain his perfect record.
Overview
When: Tuesday 14th June
Time: 2.30pm
Distance: 1 mile
Winning prize money: £340,260
Class: Group 1
Open to: Four-year-olds and up
Key facts:
The Lockinge Stakes has long been the key trial for this race, having featured 23 winners since 1980 after Palace Pier completed the double last season. Being the first Group 1 of the season over a mile, this is the obvious starting point for older milers. The highest rated horse in Britain attempts to enhance this record in the form of Baaeed, who landed the Lockinge in brilliant fashion and is perhaps the star of the whole week.
Frankie Dettori is very much the jockey to follow with seven wins in the race, whilst trainer Saeed bin Suroor sits on the same tally with Real World looking to add to his success. He runs in the famous blue silks of Godolphin who have owned the winner on eight occasions and Terebellum came within a head of making that nine two years ago.
If you are looking for a negative then it's mares and fillies; with the girls providing just two victories in the last 47 years, one of these being the brilliant Goldikova.
Plenty of horses travel from around the globe to compete at Royal Ascot on the world stage, and the French have a successful record with four wins in the Queen Anne Stakes this decade. Francis-Henri Graffard runs Dilawar looking to add to the tally.
There have been a number of nations represented in recent years, of the last 10 winners six were trained in Britain, two in Ireland and two in France.
Five in focus:
Baaeed
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Jim Crowley
Owner: Shadwell Estate Company Ltd
Sire: Sea The Stars
Age: 4
Official Rating: 125
Race Record: 111111 / 1
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 1/6
Major Wins Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, Group 1 QEII Stakes, Group 1 Prix Moulin De Longchamp, Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes.
Summary: Outstanding miler, highest-rated horse in training. William Haggas has hinted he may step up to 10f this season, however should extend unbeaten record and is impossible to oppose.
Lights On
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Owner: Cheveley Park Stud
Sire: Siyouni
Age: 5
Official Rating: 106
Race Record: 2123/118127/1
Previous Royal Ascot results: 2021: 8th – Kensington Palace Stakes
Current Price: 33/1
Major wins: Group 2 bet365 Mile, Listed Pipalong Stakes,
Summary: Career best on reappearance when landing Group 2 bet365 Mile at Sandown, much more on her plate here, however.
Chindit
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Pat Dobbs
Owner: Mr Michael Pescod
Sire: Wootton Bassett
Age: 4
Official Rating: 113
Race Record: 1119 / 155543 / 13
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 25/1
Major Wins: Listed Doncaster Mile Stakes, Group 2 bet365 Champagne Stakes, Group 3 Greenham Stakes
Summary: Impressive two-year-old campaign however has not fully lived up to the promise in open company since. Finished 3rd behind Baaeed in the Lockinge Stakes and is likely to run well, however will need Baaeed to underperform to turn the tables.
Real World
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
Jockey: James Doyle
Owner: Godolphin
Sire: Dark Angel
Age: 5
Official Rating: 118
Race Record: 12/3341111-1092
Previous Royal Ascot results: 2021: 1st – Royal Hunt Cup
Current Price: 9/1
Major Wins: Group 2 Zabeel Mile, Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein, Group 3 Strensall Stakes.
Summary: Royal Hunt Cup winner at this meeting last year, Finished a well-beaten second to Baaeed on return to UK after racing in Meydan. One of the main threats however work to do to turn the tables on the favourite.
Order Of Australia
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Owner: D Smith & Mrs J Magnier & M Tabor & Mrs A M O'Brien
Sire: Australia
Age: 5
Official Rating: 118
Race Record: 5/34711916/815320-
Previous Royal Ascot results: 2021: Unplaced – Queen Anne Stakes
Current Price: 20/1
Major Wins: Group 2 Minstrel Stakes, Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile
Summary: Making his seasonal reappearance, last seen finishing unplaced at 2022 Breeders Cup. Proven Group 1 performer and finished second to Baaeed in the Prix Moulin last term. Unplaced in this race last year.
Kings Stand Stakes
The second Group 1 of the meeting where the sprinters take centre stage. There is a major international challenge to this year’s renewal, with the betting being dominated by overseas challengers Nature Strip (Australia) and Golden Pal (America).
Overview
When: Tuesday 14th June
Time: 3.40pm
Distance: 5 Furlongs
Winning prize money: £283,550
Class: Group 1
Open to: Three-year-olds and up
Key facts:
The Kings Stand gathers some of the quickest horses on the planet as they do battle down the 5-furlong straight track at Royal Ascot, blink and you’ll miss it!
Last year’s race was won by home challenger Oxted, trained by Roger Teal and ridden by Cieren Fallon. Unfortunately, he is injured so will not be here to defend his crown.
It has paid to stick with the home team in recent years, with British-trained horses winning five of the last seven runnings. Prior to this, British trained horses had been up against it with the sprinting scene being somewhat global. Since the turn of the decade, there have been four Australian winners, two Irish winners as well as successes for French, Hong Kong and even Spanish trained horses.
Lady Aurelia gave Wesley Ward his first Kings Stand success and has stated Golden Pal is the best horse he has ever trained. In Nature Strip, Australia send their best sprinter since the famous Black Caviar. He was beaten a short head when attempting to win back-to-back running’s of the Lightning Stakes at Flemington, a key race won by all four Australian King Stand winners in the same year.
In recent seasons, a key trial for the King’s Stand Stakes has been the Temple Stakes at Haydock. Four of the last twelve winners ran at Haydock before winning here, although only one horse has done the double back in 2016. Kings Lynn, successful at Haydock and running in the colours of her Majesty the Queen, will be looking to add to that tally.
No jockey riding in this year’s renewal has won the race more than twice, with Jim Crowley tasting success in 2020 and 2011. Charlie Appleby has been the most successful British trainer, having won two of the last four runnings.
Only one winning favourite has won the race for the past 12 seasons, which was Battaash in 2020.
Five in focus:
Golden Pal
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
Owner: Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg
Sire: Uncle Mo
Age: 4
Official Rating: 115
Race Record: 2211 / 1711 / 1
Previous Royal Ascot results: 2020: 2nd – Norfolk Stakes
Current Price: 5/2
Major Wins: Group 1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint, Group 2 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
Summary: Speedball from USA, unbeaten in his last three on home soil. Beaten on his only two trips to Britain, when a close second in the Norfolk Stakes and a disappointing 7th in the Group 1 Nunthorpe when well fancied.
Nature Strip
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: James McDonald
Owner: R Lyons, P Harrison, P Kean Et Al
Sire: Nicconi
Age: 8
Official Rating: N/A
Race Record: 1 / 4 / 17 / 211 / 231
Previous Royal Ascot results:
Current Price: 9/4
Major Wins: Group 1 T J Smith Stakes, Group 1 Darley Sprint Classic, Everest Stakes
Summary: Has won major sprints in Australia, their highest ranked since Black Caviar. Australian’s have an excellent record at Royal Ascot.
Twilight Calls
Trainer: Henry Candy
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Owner: Cheveley Park Stud
Sire: Twilight Son
Age: 4
Official Rating: 110
Race Record: 522 / 12146 / 152
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 10/1
Major Wins: N/A
Summary: Improving four-year-old, excuses his two previous defeats when drawn on the wrong side at Newmarket and met trouble at Haydock. Needs to improve.
Kings Lynn
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: David Probert
Owner: The Queen
Sire: Cable Bay
Age: 5
Official Rating: 111
Race Record: 21 / 202 / 321736521 / 21
Previous Royal Ascot results: 2021: 7th – Kings Stand Stakes & 3rd Wokingham Stakes
Current Price: 14/1
Major Wins: Group 2 Temple Stakes, Listed Wentworth Stakes, 300,000 Two-Year-Old Stakes
Summary: Experienced horse, landed key trial the Temple Stakes at Haydock, narrowly beating Twilight Calls. Finished a well-beaten seventh in this race last year.
Man Of Promise
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick
Owner: Godolphin
Sire: Into Mischief
Age: 5
Official Rating: 118
Race Record: 3 /12 /188 /113
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 14/1
Major Wins: Group 2 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint, Listed Dubai Sprint
Summary: Has done all his winning in Dubai, has not ran in Britain for two years. Needs to translate form to these shores.
St James’s Palace Stakes
The third and final Group 1 on the opening day at Royal Ascot belongs to the three-year-old colts, with Coroebus looking for more glory after his poignant success under James Doyle in the 2000 Guineas.
Overview
When: Tuesday 14th June
Time: 4.20pm
Distance: 1 mile
Winning prize money: £283,550
Class: Group 1
Open to: Three-year-old colts
Key facts:
The race is one of the most famous of the meeting, with the classic generation of colts doing battle down the Ascot straight mile. The race has an illustrious roll of honour, being won by some of the greatest horses in history including Frankel, Kingman and Giants Causeway.
Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have dominated the colts Classics in 2022, winning all three 2000 Guineas with three different horses. Of these three, his only runner in this year’s race is Coroebus, the brilliant winner of the English 2000 Guineas William Buick, who is yet to win the race, rides him after choosing to ride Native Trial at Newmarket. Barney Roy won the race after finishing placed in the 2000 Guineas; however, five losing Classic winners have also represented Godolphin.
The most successful jockey in recent times is Frankie Dettori, who has ridden three of the last six winners. Aidan O’Brien is the trainer to follow having won the race eight times. Three of his four dual Guineas winners were successful in the race, including saddling an impressive 1-2-3 in 2007.
Neither Britain nor Ireland have managed to achieve a stranglehold on the race, with both Britain and Ireland landing 11 winners of the 22 renewals this decade. In recent times, it has paid to stick with the leading fancies, with only one double-figure priced horse being successful since 1992.
Five in focus:
Coroebus
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick
Owner: Godolphin
Sire: Dubawi
Age: 3
Official Rating: 121
Race Record: 121-1
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 4/6
Major Wins: Group 1 2000 Guineas, Group 3 Autumn Stakes.
Summary: Won English 2000 Guineas in decisive fashion. Highly talented horse who will be difficult to beat in his attempt for a second Group 1.
My Prospero
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Owner: Sunderland Holding Inc
Sire: Iffraaj
Age: 3
Official Rating: 114
Race Record: 3-11
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 4/1
Major Wins: Listed Heron Stakes
Summary: Took the step up in class in his stride last time, needs to improve to challenge the favourite however has only had 3 runs so this is entirely possible.
Maljoom
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Cieren Fallon
Owner: Sheih Ahmed Al Maktoum
Sire: Cavavaggio
Age: 3
Official Rating: 113
Race Record: 111
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 12/1
Major Wins: Group 2 German 2000 Guineas
Summary: Unbeaten, winning the German 2000 Guineas on his last start. Hard to judge that form however is clearly unexposed.
New Energy
Trainer: Ms Sheila Lavery
Jockey: Robbie Colgan
Owner: John Lavery
Sire: New Bay
Age: 3
Official Rating: 113
Race Record: 18-332
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 33/1
Major Wins: N/A
Summary: Yet to taste victory since his maiden however has ran well subsequently, pushing star colt Native Trial close in the Irish 2000 Guineas last time.
Mighty Ulysses
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Owner: Saeed Suhail
Sire: Ulysses
Age: 3
Official Rating: 110
Race Record: 1-512
Previous Royal Ascot results: N/A
Current Price: 12/1
Major Wins: N/A
Summary: Beaten off a mark of 101 on his last run at Haydock, in the right hands but needs to have improved markedly to trouble the market leaders.
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