The first Royal Ascot meeting of King Charles III’s reign begins on Tuesday, with the monarch and the Queen expected to be in attendance for three Group 1 races.
The top quality action gets underway immediately with the Queen Anne Stakes before the King’s Stand and St. James’ Palace Stakes follow later in the afternoon.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 19th, 10:00 A.M. (GMT)
19 runners are set for the five furlong dash that is the King’s Stand Stakes and the field is headed by John Quinn’s Highfield Princess at 3.50 with William Hill.
The 6-year-old was only half a length behind Azure Blue in a Group 2 at York in May and finished a respectable fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November under the guidance of Jason Hart, who will ride tomorrow.
At 4.50 is Australian challenger Coolangatta. The 3-year-old was victorious in the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington in February. James McDonald regains the ride for the filly’s first trip abroad for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
Frankie Dettori will be hoping Manaccan (6.00) will bring him a win on the first day of his final Royal Ascot. They combined for the first time in May to finish third in a Group 3 at Newmarket.
Daniel Tudhope rides 3-year-old Dramatised (7.50) who, under William Buick, won at Haydock last time out in the Group 2 Temple Stakes over this distance.
Another Australian hope, Cannonball (12.00), and America’s Twilight Gleaming (19.00) are the top each-way chances.
The biggest prize on offer tomorrow is the £425,325 awarded to the winner of the first race, the Queen Anne Stakes over 1 mile.
The Dettori effect is rubbing off as the Italian’s mount Inspiral has shortened to 3.00 joint-favouritism.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 19th, 10:00 A.M. (GMT)
The 4-year-old has not raced since a disappointing sixth in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October but showed great form last summer with two wins and a second in three Group 1s, including a winning the Coronation Stakes at 2022’s royal meeting.
Also at 3.00 is Charlie Appleby’s Modern Games. William Buick rode him to second in the Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland in April then they took victory in Newbury’s Lockinge Stakes a month ago.
In the St. James’ Palace Stakes, a miler for colts, it is Frankie Dettori again who heads the market with Chaldean at 3.25. The winner of the 2000 Guineas bounced back after unseating Dettori at Newbury in April.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 19th, 10:00 A.M. (GMT)
Challenging Chaldean is Paddington, who has won his last four, with the horse’s latest triumph being the Irish 2000 Guineas a few weeks ago.
