Asfoora swept to victory in the King Charles III Stakes, an event she is aiming for again this year, continuing the incredible record of Australian sprinters at Royal Ascot in 2024. The six-year-old has recently had two outings at Morphettville, winning the G3 R N Irwin Stakes and placing seventh in last weekend’s G1 Robert Sangster Stakes. It’s possible that Asfoora will be the first non-European horse to win the same Royal Ascot race twice. Asfoora is pointing once more in the direction of Royal Ascot, according to trainer Henry Dwyer. Right now, we’re attempting to figure out the logistics. She will visit later this time, but we had her there around the beginning of May last year. In the worst situation, she will show up on 4th June, but we would like to travel over earlier if possible to give her more time to settle in.
Even though we hadn’t worked with her much previously and may have underdone her a little, she won her first time up at Morphettville, which I believe had an impact on the Robert Sangster 14 days later. I was sorry not to finish a little closer, but she ran well and was defeated by little under three lengths. She has recovered well, though, and we are excited to try again in Europe with a schedule that is comparable to the one from the previous year. “At the time, winning at Royal Ascot was a blur,” the trainer continued. To be honest, it took some time for it to sink in, if it did at all. For us, it was a fantasy. I guess its novelty isn’t going to to be there this year, but I am sure it will be loads of fun and I am excited to get back over there.”
With six entries, including top sprinter Satono Reve in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes for trainer Noriyuki Hori, Japan is aiming for its first Royal Ascot victory. Satono Reve, who won the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March, defeated Hong Kong sensation Ka Ying Rising in Sunday’s G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin. Japan’s other entrants are managed by trainer Hideyuki Mori, and among his candidates are Daishin Pisces in the Gold Cup and Shin Forever, the G3 Saudi Derby runner-up in the St. James’s Palace Stakes. Unbeaten turf performer Laurelin in the Coronation Stakes, where her trainer Graham Motion has placed second twice with Sharing (2020) and Spendarella (2022), is among the horses of interest from the USA. A dual Aqueduct winner last year, Laurelin kicked off her 2025 campaign with a Listed success at the same New York course last weekend.
“That was really cool,” Motion stated in a post-event statement. This filly is simply a ruthless runner. “I think everything is on the table at this point and I will nominate her to the Coronation at Ascot in June.” He said, “I really wasn’t sure if she was fit enough today, but I wanted to get her started in this race because she does so well at Aqueduct.” However, we have a lot of possibilities since there are a number of good races for 3-year-old fillies over here as well. One thing I will say is that I believe she ran a significant race today, so I won’t be in a rush to run her back. Grand Mo’s Queen Anne Stakes entry It might be the first Royal Ascot runner for Florida trainer Victor Barboza Jr.
Jerome Reynier’s world-traveling Map Of Stars and Francis-Henri Graffard’s Prix Ganay runner-up Facteur Cheval are among the possible French competitors that could face off in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Graffard is also in charge of the Coronation Stakes’ thrilling fillies Vertical Blue and Zarigana. In an attempt to win a third Gold Cup, Kyprios leads the Irish-trained entries. His trainer Aidan O’Brien has assembled a strong three-year-old team that includes unbeaten G1 winners Lake Victoria and Twain. While Champion Stakes winner Anmaat (Owen Burrows) and Economics (William Haggas) compete in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the home squad features Notable Speech (Charlie Appleby) and last season’s St James’s Palace Stakes scorer Royallion (Richard Hannon) in the Queen Anne Stakes.
The star hurdler Nicky Henderson’s unexpected addition to the Gold Cup is Constitution Hill. Michael Buckley, the owner of Constitution Hill, stated on the Nick Luck Daily podcast: “We discussed it a little while ago. It has been something that has occasionally surfaced. It was something to at least consider for the first time, and the only way to do that was to go inside. Over the following six weeks, it will be a fun thing to consider on any dull days!
