Royal Ascot

Things hadn't gone smoothly for Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor, Smith and Brant's TDN Rising Star Age Of Kings (Ire) (Kingman {GB}--Turret Rocks {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) since last summer, but it finally clicked into place for the talented Ballydoyle second-string and Wayne Lordan in Saturday's G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot. In the shadow of Ryan Moore's choice The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the 1.1million gns Book 1 graduate was nevertheless let go at a surprising 22-1 given that Aidan O'Brien had run him first time up this season...

Saturday's Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot was all about the fillies as the Gavin Cromwell-trained Snellen (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}--Illumined {Ire}, by Sea The Moon {Ger}) found the line just ahead of Pearls And Rubies (No Nay Never). Off the mark at Limerick 10 days earlier, having won her barrier trial beforehand, Lindsay Laroche's homebred was keen early tracking the leader of the stand's-side group but had plenty in reserve when committed by Gary Carroll approaching two out. Green and errant late as the 7-4 favourite Pearls And Rubies...

Royal Ascot 2023 winds up on Saturday with the centrepiece the meeting's now-familiar international dash, the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. These are some of the fastest equine dragsters on the planet, with the 1:11.05 six-furlong course record of Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) potentially under threat as the high pressure continues to build over Berkshire. Australia's Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) returns a year older and more mature than when a close third 12 months ago as he covered the final three furlongs faster than any. Hong Kong's Wellington...

I don't know about you, but I can't seem to remember a better big-race ride in recent times than what Oisin Murphy produced in winning the G1 Commonwealth Cup aboard Julie Camacho's Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}). It would be hard enough to win a middle-of-the-road handicap after blowing the start like Shaquille did. A Group 1 at Ascot? You must be having a laugh.  The in-running punters agreed and quickly laid Shaquille at odds all the way up to 90 on the exchanges. Ouch. But even when Shaquille got...

Ever since Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio)'s win in the G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. at Naas last month, bloodstock agent Mark McStay had been pestering Taylor Made's Mark Taylor to make his plans to come to Royal Ascot. But the Taylor family is more known for probity and hard work than they are flights of fancy, and Taylor demurred, citing preparations for upcoming sales in America. But when Porta Fortuna launched a determined bid and got up for the win in Friday's G3 Albany S. at Ascot...

Coming through in a highly tactical renewal of the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot on Friday, The Aga Khan's TDN Rising Star Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}--Tarana {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) showed her class to widen her portfolio which already included an Irish 1000 Guineas and Moyglare Stud S. Sent off the 8-13 favourite to bridge a 45-year gap for Dermot Weld in this prestige event, the half-sister to Rosewell House's recent superstar Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) was instantly faced with adversity and a conundrum for Chris Hayes as she...

To do everything wrong and still win the G1 Commonwealth Cup comfortably, Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}--Magic {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) must be among an elite brigade of sprinters to have come to Royal Ascot down the years. Although the pride of the Julie Camacho and Steve Brown stable had obvious credentials entering Friday's six-furlong feature, after blowing the start and losing several lengths all appeared lost. That was factoring against the abundance of talent Martin Hughes's homebred possesses and the calm of Oisin Murphy after he had asked for...

Frankie got going early on Friday as he steered Steven Weston, Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing 2020 LLC and Reeves Racing's Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio--Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) to success in the G3 Albany S. for a landmark 80th Royal Ascot winner. Sent off at 5-1 having garnered Naas's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. last month, the Donnacha O'Brien trainee travelled smoothly over two lengths behind the speed up the centre. Arriving to reel in Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) passing the furlong pole,...

Thursday at Royal Ascot saw winners for two heads of state, with King Charles III and Queen Camilla celebrating their first winner at the royal meeting, followed by the victory in the Gold Cup with Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for Wathnan Racing, which it has been confirmed is owned by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Various members of Qatar's ruling family are already well established as owner-breeders on the international racing scene. The Emir's brother Sheikh Joaan is head of Al Shaqab Racing...

Royal Ascot Friday sees the Irish contingent to the fore as TDN Rising Stars Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) exercise iron grips on the feature G1 Coronation S. and G1 Commonwealth Cup respectively. While the former flashed her considerable talent just twice as a juvenile, Ballydoyle's champion of 2022 domineered his way through three important black-type tests before injury halted his momentum. Now the winner of the Irish 1000 Guineas, Tahiyra comfortably has the measure of chief rival Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never)...

ASCOT, UK--Even before the action was underway on Gold Cup day, there appeared to be entertainment aplenty for the King and Queen. Sir Mark Prescott had managed to book the royal version of speedy boarding and was positioned in the first carriage with their majesties for the royal procession. This may well have been a strategic move from them in the middle of a week which requires plenty of stamina, with two processions still to come. It's a long ride by horse-drawn carriage from Windsor Great Park to Ascot Racecourse...

One of the first runners to emerge out of the Derby, Siu Pak-Kwan's Waipiro (Ire) (Australia {GB}--London Plane {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) did the Blue Riband form no harm at all with an authoritative success in Royal Ascot's G3 Hampton Court S. on Thursday. Sixth and not disgraced at Epsom, having booked his ticket there with a runner-up finish in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial, the Ed Walker trainee was able to maintain his season's progress and dominate this competitive race to suggest as bright a future as his...