The final day of Royal Ascot sees some of the best sprinters from across the world contest the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes, with the fiendishly difficult Wokingham Stakes and the high-quality Hardwicke Stakes other highlights on another quality day of racing.
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The Norfolk Stakes
Saturday’s opening race at Royal Ascot, the Norfolk Stakes at 2.30pm, has attracted the most declarations since 2011 with 21 two-year-olds heading to post for this five furlong Group 2. Carry The Flag’s second-placed effort behind Great Barrier Reef looks all the better after that horse won the Coventry Stakes earlier in the week.
Where Love Lives will also hope that form holds up after he beat Coventry runner-up Adaay of Scarlett at Sandown last month. It’s rare for a filly to run in this race but Wesley Ward runs three, with Ez Tina perhaps the pick of the pack. Ward, of course, won this race in 2013 with No Nay Never and he sires three in the field including Ward’s own Through The Years as well as Carry The Flag and Aidan O’Brien’s perceived second string New Yorker.
The Hardwicke Stakes
Next is the Hardwicke Stakes at 3.05pm, a mile-and-a-half Group 2 which has some serious quality to it. Kalpana looked as good as ever on her seasonal return and has a fine record around Ascot, winning the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes in October as well as finishing second behind Calandagan in last year’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Jan Brueghel was fourth in that King George but has finished first and second in the last two editions of Epsom’s Coronation Cup so is a top performer in his own right. Ethical Diamond won a handicap at Royal Ascot last year then went on to Breeders’ Cup glory whilst Amiloc won this equivalent race for three-year-olds at last year’s Royal Meeting so both will like the return to familiar surroundings. 2024 King George winner Golaith, multiple Derby winner Lambourn and consistent top-level performer Giavellotto add to the sense that this is a Group 2 in name only.
The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
The feature race, the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs, is at 3.40pm. Once again there’s an international flavour to proceedings with last year’s runner-up Satono Reve back to try and go one better. His conqueror that day, Lazzat, is missing today but France is instead doubly represented by Sajir and Stolen Kiss.
There’s even a Danish runner in the form of Great Wish. Australia, though, would seem to hold the strongest hand. Joliestar is one of Australia’s leading sprinters and has won three times already this year, two of them in Group 1 company. That latest victory saw Overpass come home in fourth – he ran a creditable third in the King Charles III Stakes on Tuesday and this trip should suit him more, with the quick turnaround the only question. Of the home contingent, the best on form is probably Lake Forest, who put in a fine performance on seasonal return and actually beat Joliestar back in 2024.
The Jersey Stakes
The Jersey Stakes, for three-year-olds over seven furlongs, follows at 4.20pm. The unbeaten Saber Strike has done everything easily so far, including winning a Listed Newmarket contest at the start of May, and so this is a natural point for him to continue his progression.
There’s Guineas form represented here with 2,000 Guineas fourth Into The Sky and 1,000 Guineas fourth The Prettiest Star dropping in grade here. Catullus and Thesecretadversary are more battle-hardened than most – the latter-named also finished second in last year’s Chesham Stakes at the Royal Meeting. Catullus is one of three for Godolphin who also run Morris Dancer and Avicenna.
The Wokingham Stakes
The Wokingham Stakes (5.00pm) sees a full field of 28 go to post for this six-furlong handicap. Binhareer has been ultra-consistent in these big-field handicaps of late and must be of interest again having returned to action in May with a strong performance at York. Realign, too, remains with potential and he got back on the up at Carlisle three weeks ago. Double Rush seeks a hat-trick whilst Far Above Dream has already notched three-in-a-row and now bids to make that four.
Hammer The Hammer was second in a Royal Ascot handicap last year and his handicap mark is easing again, with a first-time tongue tie also bidding to turn around fortunes. Completely Random, meanwhile is back to the mark on which he finished fifth in this race last year and now gets the assistance of cheekpieces and Ryan Moore to try and improve on that.
The Golden Gates Stakes
The Golden Gates Stakes at 5.35pm, a handicap for three-year-olds over ten furlongs, will see the London Gold Cup form well represented as the 1-2 from that race reoppose.
Lost Boys beat Sahara King and both have since been purchased by Wathnan Racing. Harmonics enters handicaps with a progressive profile having won his last two starts whilst Princling has already had one run in handicap company and now steps up in trip. Perisher and Evanesco bring more experience than most and can put that to good use – the same can be said for Folk Pageant who has already won three handicaps on the bounce this term and is thriving on her racing.
The Queen Alexandra Stakes
The traditional curtain closer is the Queen Alexandra Stakes, a conditions race over an extended two miles and five furlongs. Leading trainer Willie Mullins has won this five times including three in the last five years so his three runners must all be feared, with Le Destrier looking perhaps the classiest of the trio.
Illinois himself is a genuine Group 1 performer and found only Trawlerman too good in last year’s Gold Cup so a return to a longer distance after a few shorter runs this term may bring out the best in him again. French Master and A Piece Of Heaven also have form in staying contests and will be of interest if seeing out the trip.
