Royal Ascot

No amount of money will persuade the owners of impressive Curragh maiden winner Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) to give up on their dream of walking into the winner's enclosure at Royal Ascot, according to the filly's trainer Kieran Cotter, who said "everyone wants a slice" of the Queen Mary-bound speedster. Matilda Picotte maintained the flying start of Coolmore's first-season sire Sioux Nation by making all to score on debut at the Curragh on Monday and, in doing so, she landed some hefty wagers. The owners of the filly are...

Richard Fahey has revealed that Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) will be aimed at the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot with the trainer of the opinion that the colt failed to stay the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas trip at Newmarket on Saturday. Perfect Power, who won the Greenham S. over seven furlongs at Newbury on his seasonal bow, failed to cope with the extra furlong in the Guineas when seventh behind Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). However, Fahey said he believed a return to six furlongs, a distance at which...

Entries from nine countries appear on course for the eight Group 1 races at Royal Ascot, headlined by the world's three highest-rated sprinters: Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) (Australia, 124), Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) (USA, 121) and Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) (Australia, 120). The Australian pair--who may face Golden Pal in the G1 King's Stand S. or contest the G1 Platinum Jubilee S.--are joined by fellow Australian invader Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) (Anthony & Sam Freedman), set to run on the final day of the meeting....

Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), one of the leading fancies for the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1, will miss the race, according to the owners' managing director Chris Richardson. The John and Thady Gosden trainee is a perfect four-for-four, with black-type victories in the Listed Star S. in June, the Sept. 9 G2 May Hill S. and the Oct. 8 G1 Fillies' Mile to end her season. "John Gosden had an in-depth discussion with the boss, Mrs. Thompson, and following that, it was decided...

Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), a Group 1 winner in three different countries, has Royal Ascot pencilled in for his European comeback following a lacklustre performance when attempting to defend his crown in the G1 Saudi Cup in February.  "Everything seems good and he's had a good rest following his Saudi Cup run. All things seem to be pointing to Royal Ascot at the moment," said Ted Voute, racing manager to the 5-year-old's owner/breeder Prince Faisal. "He hasn't had the best of luck [at Ascot], but two of his runs...

Stonestreet Stables LLC's Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) touched 3-2 in the final stages of the wagering for Saturday's Listed Giant's Causeway S. at Keeneland, but drifted all the way out to 19-10 and asserted her class to post her third career black-type success in stakes-record time. Away fairly, the 190,000gns Tattersalls October acquisition settled in fifth position and raced a touch keen three off the inside into the turn. Going well on the turn, she was eased out into the four path at the quarter, was shaken up and hit...

One of the great joys of racing is its enduring ability to captivate and enthrall people at any stage of their lives. A chance spark can alight, and burst into flame. It was that way with David Howden. It is only four years since he bought a lot at a charity event at the Dragon School in Oxford that consisted of a morning on the Newmarket gallops and a day's racing at the 2000 Guineas. "My wife Fiona and my daughters, Talitha, Jemima and Kitty, came with me," says Howden....

Instead of contesting the Apr. 2 G1 T J Smith S. over 1200 metres at Royal Randwick, dual Group 1 winner Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus})), will be freshened for a Northern Hemisphere campaign with his sights set on Royal Ascot, according to a tweet by Chris Waller Racing. A winner of the G2 Silver Slipper S. and third in the G2 Todman S. for trainer Chris Waller, Coolmore, Wynaus, Et. Al as a juvenile, the bay progressed at three to take the G1 Coolmore Stud S. on...

Multiple Australian Group 1 winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) could return to the Northern Hemisphere and run at Royal Ascot, trainer Annabel Neasham, announced. Racnet.com.au first reported the news. The 7-year-old gelding was successful twice at Group 3 level in his native land for Sir Michael Stoute's Freemason Lodge, and was snapped up by Neasham and Blandford Bloodstock for 150,000gns out of the 2020 Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale. "I was hoping to take him to Hong Kong for that race, the [G1] Queen Elizabeth Cup, which I think is three...

LEXINGTON, KY--The majority of the trophies that were stolen just over a month ago from trainer Wesley Ward's home in Versailles, Kentucky have been recovered. According to the Versailles Police Department's Assistant Chief Rob Young, one individual was charged with receiving stolen property and is now in custody. On the morning of Feb. 8, 2022, a thief walked off with 14 trophies, including many that Ward received from the Royal Ascot meet, but they did not take any other valuables from the home such as electronics and several other trophies...

A lightning strike ignited a fire which claimed three horses at a Lexington barn owned by trainer Wesley Ward. The trio included Strike the Tiger (Tiger Ridge), who gave Ward his first victory at the Royal Ascot meeting when he won the 2009 Windsor Castle S. Also killed was the 5-year-old maiden winner Modesto (Uncle Mo) and a Hootenanny 2-year-old gelding. "The investigators just left and they determined that lightning hit the main service pole and it sent all the electricity right to the box in my barn and caused...

A thief broke into Wesley Ward's home in Versailles, Kentucky Tuesday morning and walked off with 12 trophies, including many that the trainer received at the Royal Ascot meet. The story was first reported by the Lexington TV station WLEX. The robber did not seem inclined to clear out Ward's house or take such valuable items as his laptop and desktop computer. Rather, only the 12 trophies were taken while several others were left behind, including Eclipse Award trophies. The thief took only the Ascot trophies and the trophy won...