Frances de Haan

Royal Ascot Preview

Royal Ascot is the pinnacle of British flat racing, a prestigious five-day spectacle where tradition, elegance, and world-class sport come together, making it one of the most anticipated and coveted meetings in the global racing calendar. Boasting eight Group 1 races and 22 Pattern or Listed races across five days, it's no surprise that it has been coined the "Olympics" of horse racing. A victory on this stage is among the most prized in the sport.

Highclere has always upheld an impressive roll of honour at Royal Ascot. With eleven victories, we’ve proven our ability to hold our own on racing’s grandest stage. 2024 was no different, it was my first year working for Highclere, and it's safe to say the bar was set very high! The most notable performance was, of course, Soprano’s emphatic victory in the Sandringham Stakes, followed closely by our beloved Believing finishing placed in not one, but two Group 1s (the King Charles III Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes) in the same week.

As an owner, it is a dream to have a runner at Royal Ascot, let alone a winner, so to witness Soprano make this dream a reality was a privilege.

Our achievements at Royal Ascot last year have heightened our expectations for the 2025 renewal. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that we head to the Royal Meeting next week with an exceptional team of horses.

(Image: Soprano storming to victory in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot 21.06.24)

Our older horses feature earlier in the week. First on the card is the four-year-old Soprano, who is no stranger to success on the grand stage, she returns to the Meeting for another shot at success following her impressive Sandringham victory last year. This time, as an experienced 4yo, she takes on a new challenge in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes, a Group 2 race run over a mile and open to older fillies and mares which takes place on Wednesday (day two).

This filly has gone from strength to strength since her hugely successful three-year-old campaign. She has phenomenal form, out of her 16 runs, she has been placed on 12 occasions, including a win in the Group 3 Prix de Lieurey in France. There are not many horses that can claim they have finished in the winners enclosure of Royal Ascot in every year of their career to date. As a 2yo she finished second in the Albany Stakes (Gr3), and of course she did then went on to do one better when winning the Sandringham Stakes as a 3yo last year. Unsurprisingly she is one of our highest-rated horses at 111.

I saw her in Newmarket earlier this week, and she is in incredible shape, I would go so far as to say it’s the best she has ever looked. George Boughey, who trains her, told me: “If I was to dream of how I would have this filly looking physically for Royal Ascot, this would be it.” Enough said.

(Image left: Chic Colombine and William Buick Epsom June 2024. Image right: Merchant gets home in style at York in a 0-95 HCP 15.05.25)

Next on Wednesday’s card is Chic Colombine, who holds an entry in the Kensington Palace Stakes, a competitive handicap run over one mile. Her participation is very ground dependent, as she will need the heavens to open for the going to be suitable. This filly has plenty of black type to her name, and although she may have slightly lost her way at the start of this year, she put in an encouraging performance when finishing fifth in a hot Group 3 at Epsom on Derby Day last time out.

On Thursday, we field two runners. First up is the William Haggas-trained Merchant, a three-year-old who is making a bid to secure a fifth Highclere victory in the King George V Stakes, run over 1m 4f. He comes into the race in fantastic form, following an impressive win in a valuable handicap at York during the Dante meeting.

Merchant has been attracting a fair bit of attention, and William had an air of measured anticipation when I spoke to him on the heath this week, which can only be a good sign! As a horse who can be lazy at home but saves all his effort for the track, let’s hope he rises to the occasion on Thursday and can emulate Heritage who won this race back in 1997 (Highclere’s first Royal Ascot winner).

Next is a cracking three-year-old gelding trained by James Ferguson, Cavolo Nero. Though unraced as a two-year-old, he has made up for it in no uncertain terms as a three-year-old, posting form figures of 1-2-2-1 from four runs. With a rating of 88, we are hoping to squeak into the Britannia Stakes, a fiercely competitive heritage handicap (0–105) run over the straight mile, exclusive to three-year-old colts and geldings.

This is a horse that relishes a challenge, he thrives on passing other runners throughout the race. That was proved last time out at Goodwood, when he came from last to first in a gutsy display of horsepower. Royal Ascot, should he get in, will certainly test his thirst to get his head in front.

(Image: Cavolo Nero powers home in a 0-80 at Goodwood 03.06.25)

Last but not least, Friday features Bountiful, an eye-catching three-year-old Zoustar filly who hopes to follow in Soprano’s footsteps with an entry in the Sandringham Stakes (1m). Our first two-year-old to hit the track last year, this filly has serious presence. She has grown and matured significantly since her juvenile campaign and now stands up as a very impressive model.

George mentioned in Newmarket this week that she is one of Billy Loughnane’s main fancies among his (many) rides during the Meeting. High praise indeed.

We also have one two-year-old aiming to take up her entry in the Albany Stakes (G3): a Mehmas filly called Awaken, who put in an eye-catching debut at Great Yarmouth, finishing second, denied only by half a length. She beat some very expensive fillies that day, including the John & Thady Gosden-trained Nandita, a Tattersalls Book 1 yearling purchase for 725,000gns.

I saw Awaken work well on the Peat Moss in Newmarket earlier this week, she held her own against a hardened four-year-old sprinter and a fast five-furlong unraced two-year-old filly. This might be a big ask, but she has shown enough class and professionalism in her short career to warrant a fair crack at Royal Ascot next week.

(Image left: Bountiful striding out during a piece of work this month. Image right: Awaken covering the ground during exercise in Newmarket)

When you consider that the odds of simply getting a horse to the racetrack are slim, fielding six potential runners at Royal Ascot is a testament to the exceptional quality of our stock, and the dedication of the team behind the horses at each training establishment.

I, for one, am incredibly proud to be part of a team heading to The Royal Meeting next week with some serious live chances.

Watch this space!

HIGHCLERE ROYAL ASCOT WINNERS

1997 - Heritage - King George V Stakes

2001 - Beekeeper - King George V Stakes

2004 - Admiral - King George V Stakes

2008 - Colony - King George V Stakes

2008 - Collection - Hampton Court

2010 - Approve - Norfolk Stakes (Gr 2)

2010 - Memory - Albany Stakes (Gr 3)

2010 - Harbinger - Hardwicke Stakes (Gr 2)

2013 - Opinion - Duke of Edinburgh Handicap