The Royal Ascot extravaganza could hardly be kick-started more memorably next Tuesday (17 June) with former US-trained heavyweight miler Carl Spackler clashing with Britain’s star milers Rosallion, Dancing Gemini, Lead Artist and Notable Speech in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) over the iconic track’s straight course.
Triple Group 1 winner Carl Spackler is set to continue his career in Australia following Royal Ascot and Australia will also be strongly represented in the second of three Group 1s on the opening day when Asfoora angles to repeat her 2024 victory in the G1 King Charles III Stakes (1000m). Believing, who showed dazzling late speed when to land April G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan, and bargain-basement yearling purchase Regional are two top speedsters being touted against her.
Charlie Appleby, Godolphin's principal trainer, has drawn a blank at the royal meeting for the last two years, but it is hard to imagine that will be the case again in 2025 given the remarkable season the Newmarket stable is so far enjoying.
Ruling Court, hero of Newmarket's G1 2000 Guineas (1600m), competes for Godolphin under William Buick in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes (1594m). He swerved the softening ground to skip last Saturday's (7 June) G1 Derby Stakes (2405m) but now needs to overcome a brace of other recent European Classic winners in Field Of Gold (Ireland) and Henri Matisse (France) in the third Group 1 on the first day.
The Royal Hunt Cup (1600m) is one of the most renowned handicaps in the British calendar, first run in 1843. It is a feature on Wednesday (18 June) and, like the Queen Anne Stakes, over Ascot's straight course.
The unexposed Joseph O'Brien-trained The Liffey has attracted huge attention for this prize in recent days.
But the Group 1 focus on the card is the G1 Prince's Of Wales's Stakes (1993m) where an intriguing rematch is expected between Ryan Moore's mount and last month's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup (2100m) winner Los Angeles, now angling for his fourth Group 1 success, and Anmaat. Still relatively unexposed despite being a seven-year-old, Anmaat was only half a length adrift of Los Angeles at the Curragh despite returning from a 218-day absence. Improving older horses is a specialty of his trainer Owen Burrows.
The brilliant Kyprios, winner of Thursday's (19 June) G1 Gold Cup (3991m) in 2022 and 2024, is now retired so this marathon is more open this year. But it could still fall to nine-times Gold Cup winning trainer Aidan O'Brien's stable with the famously consistent Illinois – who has won or placed in all ten career starts. This marathon trip screams a new challenge but his powerful physique provides belief he may thrive in what is Royal Ascot's oldest and still most celebrated race.
On Friday (20 June), elite three-year-old sprinters contest the G1 Commonwealth Cup (1200m) with Godolphin's Shadow Of Light expected to appreciate the drop to a speed trip. And top three-year-old fillies are on show in the G1 Coronation Stakes (1594m) where Zarigana looks sure to start favourite. Despite impressive late acceleration she failed by a nose in last month's G1 French 1000 Guineas (1600m), only to get awarded the ParisLongchamp Classic after an objection. A lot of expectation rests around this Francis Graffard-trained filly.
On Saturday (21 June) all eyes from both Japan and Hong Kong will be on Satono Reve in Royal Ascot's concluding Group 1, the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m).
Ten previous Japanese-trained Royal Ascot contenders have yet to deliver a winner. But not only did Satono Reve win a Group 1 dash at Chukyo in March but has also finished third and second to Hong Kong sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising, latterly in April's G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin.
