A record 164 overseas entries from eight different countries feature among the 394 total entries for the eight Group 1 events to be staged at Royal Ascot this June. The number of overseas entries surpasses the previous mark of 156 set in 2013 and include some 35 horses from outside of Europe, breaking the former highwater mark of 27.
In addition to 230 British-trained entries, there were nominations received from Ireland (81), France (44), USA (18, beating the previous high of 13 in 2011), Australia (9), Germany & Hong Kong (4 apiece), Japan and Singapore (2 each).
Chief among the foreign possibilities is US Eclipse Award winner Tepin (Bernstein), who is likely to race once at Churchill Downs at the beginning of May and could be off to contest the G1 Queen Anne S. on the opening Tuesday of the meeting, where she could run into defending champion Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}).
“Royal Ascot is definitely going to be a little more difficult,” trainer Mark Casse told Ascot officials. “You just never know when you try something new [Ascot's straight mile]. I would have been a little more worried because a mile uphill is a lot more taxing than a mile in the US, but the way Tepin has run recently suggests that, now she is older and wiser, she doesn't have the distance limitations she had early on.”
Miss Temple City (Temple City), who beat the males in the GI Maker's 46 Mile at Keeneland Apr. 15, is being considered for a second consecutive trip to the Royal Meeting, having run fourth in last year's G1 Coronation S. Other American entries for the top-level races include 2015 G2 Queen Mary S. winner Acapulco (Scat Daddy), Manhattan Dan (Big Brown), Undrafted (Purim), Mongolian Saturday (Any Given Saturday) and Bobby's Kitten (Kitten's Joy), now trained in Ireland by Dermot Weld.
Australasian horses have often performed with credit at Royal Ascot and could be well represented this year. Japan is set to field a serious contender for the G1 Prince of Wales's S. in the form of A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who could have a European prep in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan at Chantilly May 24. Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), Australia's top sprinter, is engaged for the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. on the final day of the meeting and could face one of a Hong Kong-trained group including G1 Stewards' Cup winner Giant Treasure (Mizzen Mast) and Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}). A pair of entries from Singapore include the high-class sprinters Spalato (NZ) (Elusive City) and the fleet filly Kiwi Karma (NZ) (Fast 'n' Famous {Aus}).
“It is gratifying to see numbers up generally and record international entries, but what really counts in the later respect is quality and spread,” commented Nick Smith, director of racing and communications for Ascot Racecourse. “To have one of Japan's leading middle-distance horses in the Prince of Wales's S. once again is tremendous; Chautauqua is most people's idea of the world's top sprinter and headlines several high profile Australian entries; Tepin's record speaks for itself and she is really picking up the public's attention home and abroad; Wesley Ward has many more Group 1 entries than before including in the Commonwealth Cup, which was such a welcome addition to the card last year.”
Ascot Racecourse announced in January that Royal Ascot prize money has been increased by £1 million (18% uplift on 2015) this year, bringing total prize money on offer to a record £6,580,000 over the week, Tuesday, June 14 to Saturday, June 18. The three main Group 1 prize money boosts were for the Prince of Wales's S.–£750,000 from £525,000; the Queen Anne S.–£600,000 from £375,000; and the Diamond Jubilee S.– £600,000 from £525,000.
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