Royal Ascot

Thursday to Friday at Royal Ascot was like chalk and cheese and now that the meeting has become chopped in two by the unprecedented rainstorm there is only need for mudlarks to apply for Saturday's finale. Just as David Ward's Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) was pulled out of the G1 Coronation S. on Friday, so there must be a major doubt as to whether his Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) will be allowed to take part in Saturday's G1 Diamond Jubilee S. Looking the one to beat before the...

It is as true to say that Americans and Europeans are united by an ocean as divided by one. And while horsemen are often considered insular, their transatlantic engagement--fluctuating but perennial--means that they always have things to learn from one another. In recent times, contrary to European prejudice, it is the Americans who have been more willing to leave their comfort zone. Whereas not even Coolmore have lately been rolling the dice on the dirt at the Breeders' Cup, American raiders have increasingly enriched the pageant of Royal Ascot. And...

Just minutes after losing the argument for keeping the G1 Commonwealth Cup on Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), Oisin Murphy was playing Mr bouncebackability as he steered Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) to clear-cut glory in the G1 Coronation S. It will certainly be a Royal Ascot Friday the reigning champion jockey, who has generally been put through the emotional wringer this month, will never forget with such extreme highs and lows all within the space of less than an hour. To add another aside to this tumultuous...

Royal Ascot 2021 cannot be accused of lacking melodrama, especially in the 24 hours from Thursday's Gold Cup to Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup, with the monstrous monsoon and grim skies the backdrop for an epic renewal of the meeting's premier 3-year-old sprint. As the TDN Rising Stars Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) drove past the post, it was the former who was announced the winner by a head but after an agonising spell for connections of the transatlantic duo the stewards duly reversed the...

After Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) had provided William Haggas with solace for having to watch the G1 Epsom Derby take place without his star colts, M M Stables' Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) also came to Royal Ascot to add further consolation in Friday's G2 King Edward VII S. There is no doubt he would have played a major role in this year's blue riband on the bare form of his defeat of Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Apr. 23 G3 Sandown Classic Trial, but after a subsequent setback this...

Hailing from the Andrew Balding stable already successful at the Royal meeting with the 2-year-old Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Kirsten Rausing's Kempton winner Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) doubled Kingsclere's tally as she mastered both the heavy ground and 14 rivals in Friday's G3 Albany S. Showing stamina as well as speed on her debut over this six-furlong trip on the Polytrack May 19, the homebred raced wide initially behind the leading group. Sent forward by David Probert passing halfway, the 16-1 shot was briefly stopped in her run...

The fourth day of racing at Royal Ascot has been given the go-ahead after persistent heavy rain forced a tense and lengthy eleventh-hour inspection. Jockeys Ryan Moore, Frankie Dettori and Oisin Murphy were among those consulted on the conditions underfoot, along with trainers Ralph Beckett, Richard Hannon and Aidan O'Brien, who walked the track with a delegation of officials including Clerk of the Course Chris Stickells. The running rail on the Round Course was realigned prior to racing and was moved roughly seven yards out around Swinley Bottom and around...

Clerk of the Course Chris Stickells has called an inspection for 12.45pm ahead of the fourth day of racing at Royal Ascot citing "marginal" ability to race. Consistent heavy rain has fallen at the Berkshire track since racing concluded on Thursday. With the going having been amended from good to firm on Thursday to soft, heavy in places by 11am on Friday, Ascot subsequently released a statement which read, "Following 26mm of rain since racing yesterday, and with a few false patches of ground which means the ability to race...

Prolonged heavy rain has significantly changed the going ahead of the fourth day of Royal Ascot, where the ground is now described as soft, having been good to firm on Thursday. Clerk of the Course Chris Stickells issued an update from the track shortly after 10am. He said, "We've had a wet night and we've had 19mm of rain since racing yesterday. The going is now soft and we have further spells of rain due this morning." The change in going means that Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) is now...

After the drawn-out saga of Thursday's G1 Gold Cup, Royal Ascot moves back toward speed on Friday with the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Commonwealth Cup acting as a dual focus on a day that is forecast to see an abundance of rain. In terms of prize money and its longstanding status, the Coronation holds sway and another typically fierce renewal sees the May 2 G1 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) bid to hold on to her title in a rematch with the compatriot in whose shadow...

ASCOT, UK--There's nothing quite like Royal Ascot to inject some interest into the first-season sires' championship and, with three days down and two to go, there will be several stallion masters with an extra spring in their step following the results of this week's juvenile contests. As Roger O'Callaghan of Tally-Ho Stud said on Thursday afternoon, "Royal Ascot is very important. This week can make the horses." And the O'Callaghan family has reason to be doubly pleased with the way the races have fallen so far this week. Their own...

There was to be no fourth Gold Cup for Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) on Thursday, as the King of Royal Ascot had to surrender his crown to the ultra-impressive Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) in a renewal set to enter into the meeting's folklore. While Mark Johnston's relentless galloper was a worthy winner and can justifiably be viewed as one of the race's best, the outcome was marred by the trouble-in-running that the three-times winner encountered as the fortune of the Gosden icon met an abrupt turn. Stuck in...