Sir Michael Stoute has trained more winners at the Royal Ascot meeting than anyone else.
Dream Of Dreams' win in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in 2021 gave the veteran trainer his 82nd success at the fixture.
He couldn't add to that tally in 2022 despite some near misses, but will be eager to get back on the scoresheet this summer, especially as Aidan O'Brien is on his coattails and looking set to establish a new benchmark.
Here we take a look at some of his possible Royal Ascot contenders in 2023, with a reminder that every race across the five days from Tuesday 20th June – Saturday 24th June can be watched via the bet365 Sports Live Streaming service.
What | Royal Ascot 2023 |
Where | Royal Ascot, Ascot Racecourse |
When | Tuesday 20th June – Saturday 24th June |
How to watch | bet365 Sports Live Streaming, ITV, Sky Sports Racing |
Bay Bridge @ 4/1
Bay Bridge has won five of his 10 career starts on turf, with the standout effort to date coming when he won the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot back in October, inflicting the only defeat of Baaeed's career on the William Haggas inmate as his final start failed to emulate Frankel with a win in the same race.
Bay Bridge had earlier played his part in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot – where he was second to State Of Rest – and the Eclipse at Sandown where he was fifth as French raider Vadeni won.
Stoute sent Bay Bridge to France for his first 2023 start and he finished third in the Group 1 Prix Ganay in April.
In one run since, the now five-year-old son of New Bay gave best to Luxembourg in a superb duel for the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.
The pair could go head-to-head again in this Royal Ascot contest on 21st June.
Potapova @ 16/1
Stoute holds the joint-record number of wins in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, joining John Gosden on four.
The most recent of those for Stoute was Integral in 2014 and he might be considering Potapova in the same Cheveley Park Stud colours as a contender this year.
She was a Group 3 winner last summer at Sandown over a mile and ended her term with a good showing in the Joel Stakes at Newmarket.
She went off favourite for a Listed Goodwood race in May on seasonal return but didn't handle the testing ground.
Infinite Cosmos
Sea The Stars filly Infinite Cosmos impressed in her comeback/second start when scooting clear to win a Newmarket maiden in early May.
Stoute saw fit to jump straight into the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York just 12 days later and there she would finish third, having started favourite.
That was enough to deter thoughts of The Oaks at Epsom on the first Friday of June but, instead, she could tackle a mile-and-a-half for the first time in Ribblesdale on the middle afternoon of Royal Ascot, Thursday 22nd June, with this Group 2 contest likely still very much on her radar.
Desert Crown
Last year's Epsom Derby winner Desert Crown recently made his comeback in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown over a mile-and-a-quarter.
That was a first appearance since his Classic win 355 days previously and while he lost his unbeaten record, it will still have been an effort that pleased his trainer.
He moved well and looked to be going clear, only for Hukum to run him down on the outside, with a half-length between them at the line.
Given his strong staying performance last summer at Epsom, going back up in trip might be the logical move for Desert Crown and, while he has plenty options in the coming weeks and months, the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes over a mile-and-a-half on Saturday 24th June could be appealing for Stoute in terms of Desert Crown's next move.