The King and Queen will bid to end their wait for a Royal Ascot winner when they saddle two runners on Friday, with Warrant Holder and exciting juvenile King’s Prize both set to carry the royal colours.
After a week of highs and lows, Their Majesties will be hoping Friday finally brings the breakthrough they have been seeking at the Royal Meeting.
Tuesday began in bitter disappointment when the strongly fancied Reaching High, sent off the 13-8 favourite for the Ascot Stakes, trailed home last of the 20 runners. However, the mood was lifted just hours later when the royal homebred Lorca’s Waltz struck at Beverley, giving the King and Queen a winner more than 220 miles away from Berkshire.
On Wednesday, there was further encouragement as Point Of Law ran with great credit to finish fourth in the Queen’s Vase, beaten just a length and a half, before Golden Orbit finished tenth in Thursday’s Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes.
Now attention turns to Friday, where Warrant Holder could provide one of the strongest opportunities of the week.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the four-year-old son of Frankel is vying for favouritism in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes and will be partnered by William Buick. Bred by Queen Elizabeth II, Warrant Holder arrives at Ascot seeking a hat-trick after back-to-back victories over 1m4f and 1m2f.
Still lightly raced, the gelding has shown plenty of promise and boasts an official Racing Post Rating of 115. Connections believe there is more to come, although his tendency to race keenly remains a slight concern.
Earlier on the card, King’s Prize will line up in the Group Three Albany Stakes. Trained by Ralph Beckett and ridden by Rossa Ryan, the two-year-old filly made a striking impression when winning on debut at Nottingham and is regarded as an exciting prospect.
Bred by King Charles III and by champion sire Too Darn Hot out of Award Scheme, King’s Prize faces a much sterner examination on the biggest stage, but a starting price of around 20-1 suggests she could represent value in a highly competitive contest.
The King and Queen have not enjoyed a Royal Ascot winner since Desert Hero’s memorable success in the King George V Stakes in 2023, but hopes remain high that Friday could see the royal colours return to the winner’s enclosure.
