This represents an increase of nearly £2 million (US$2.26 million) on 2019 values (from £13.67m, US$15.42m), or 14.4 percent, being the last year when planned prize money was distributed before the pandemic impacted 2020. These figures exclude the industry partnership QIPCO British Champions Day.

Royal Ascot (June 14 – 18, 2022) will be worth £8,652,500 (US$9.76m), an increase of £1,322,500 (US$1.49m) (18 percent) on 2019 values which totaled £7,330,000 (US$8.27m).

Highlights include:

– The Royal Ascot Tuesday card, featuring three Group One races, becomes Royal Ascot's first £2 million (US$2.26m) day.

– The Prince of Wales's Stakes and the Platinum (formerly Diamond) Jubilee Stakes will become the first races at Royal Ascot to be run with a total prize fund of £1 million (US$1.13m).

– No race at Royal Ascot will be run for less than £100,000 (US$112,800).

Outside Royal Ascot:

– The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes returns to its pre-pandemic value of £1.25 million (US$1.41m).

– A record £550,000 (US$620,380) will be offered at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup. The program will increase to eight races (from six) with 12 runners in each race (from 10). Details of the team format will follow in 2022.

– All Flat races will be worth at least £15,000 (US$16,920) and all Jumps races will be worth at least £10,000 (US$11,280) (excluding three National Hunt Flat races and one Hunters' Chase at £5,000, US$5,640).

– There will be additional £25,000 (US$28,200) stable prizes offered on both QIPCO King George Diamond Day (July 23, 2022) and Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Day (Aug. 6, 2022). These will be awarded £20,000 (US$22,560) to the trainers and £5,000 (US$5,640) to stable staff across the top three performing yards based on points achieved for first to fifth placings.

– All plans remain subject to change depending on the COVID-19 landscape.

Guy Henderson, Chief Executive Officer at Ascot Racecourse, said:

“We are pleased to be able to announce a return to our pre-pandemic prize money plans as we re-build. Whilst these plans have been unavoidably delayed, today is about looking forward. It is vital we maintain the quality of the British Pattern and the top end program generally. For obvious reasons, a large proportion of the increases announced today are focused on our 35 races at the Royal Meeting.

“Prize money is racing's equivalent of remunerating the players on the pitch. We need to offer the best we can in order to attract the best and help maintain international investment in British racing. Our next ambition, as we build Ascot as a global brand wrapped around world class racing, is to be able to offer at least £1m for each of our nine Group One races in the coming years.

“Field sizes for races of both codes are under pressure. With this in mind, we have applied a number of targeted increases across our program and raised our minimum prize money levels for both codes. Specifically, we have made some changes to QIPCO King George Diamond Weekend and expanded the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup to eight races with fields of 12; the established races increase from £60,000 to £75,000 and we have added two new £50,000 races.

“Our aim is for the stable prizes to incentivize owners and trainers to target these two fixtures and build on the successful trial at this year's Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.

“I wish to conclude by thanking Ascot's staff, our customers and commercial partners for all their loyal support in 2021 which has so significantly contributed to the business being able to advance again in 2022.”

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The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6.

The Juddmonte International is the first of three Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races to be held this week during York's Ebor Festival. It will be followed on Thursday, Aug. 19 with the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1), a “Win and You're In” for the US$2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), before attention turns to the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) on Friday, Aug. 20. The Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe winner will earn a free berth into the US$1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

The Juddmonte International Stakes will be the only “Win and You're In” qualifying race for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic to be run in Europe this year.

Love, owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Mrs. John Magnier and trained by 13-time winning Breeders' Cup trainer Aidan O'Brien, secured an automatic start in the US$4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) with a victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. The 4-year-old filly will be partnered on Wednesday by Ryan Moore.

O'Brien had intended to run St Mark's Basilica (FR) in this race, but he was not declared on Monday morning after developing an infection. He will now be targeted at the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown on Sept. 11, a “Win and You're In” race for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

O'Brien said: “St Mark's Basilica was doing his canter yesterday morning, he lost his front shoe, and it caught the front of his near fore hind joint, his fetlock joint, and cut him. We did bloods there this morning to check that it hadn't got infected or anything, and when the bloods came up it showed that it had got infected. St Mark's Basilica will now go on antibiotics and the Irish Champion Stakes would be the obvious target for him.”

O'Brien continued: “We are going to declare Love instead. She was supposed to go for the Prix Jean Romanet (G1) on Sunday at Deauville, so she will go for the Juddmonte now instead.”

York's feature race is headed by Mishriff (IRE) who was last seen finishing second to Adayar (IRE) in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) at Ascot in July, a “Win and You're In” race for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. The 4-year-old colt is trained by John & Thady Gosden and will be ridden by David Egan. Mishriff won the Saudi Cup (G1) and the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) this year.

The 3-year-old filly Alcohol Free (IRE) is an intriguing runner for owner Jeff Smith and trainer Andrew Balding. Balding is enjoying a landmark season and is currently leading the British Trainers' Championship. Alcohol Free defeated a high-quality field in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood, booking herself an automatic place in the US$2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1). She will be trying 1 ¼ miles for the first time and will be ridden by Oisin Murphy.

William Haggas will be represented by the Royal Ascot duo, Mohaafeth (IRE) and Alenquer (FR), who will be ridden by Jim Crowley and Tom Marquand, respectively. Jim Bolger's Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (G1) winner Mac Swiney (IRE) and the Kevin Ryan-trained Juan Elcano (GB) complete the lineup.

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Juddmonte International to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 1/4 miles on the dirt track at Del Mar. Breeders' Cup also will provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

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The duo both ran mighty races on their seasonal returns to finish first and second against the boys in the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Love coming out on top by three-parts of a length.

Audarya was having her first start since providing trainer James Fanshawe with a memorable first Breeders' Cup success in the G1 Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland in November. The daughter of Wootton Basset also captured the G1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August.

Fanshawe said: “Audarya has only been doing steady canters since Royal Ascot, but she seems very well.

“The Prince Of Wales's Stakes was her first run of the year, so you are never totally sure what to expect, and the same applied to Love obviously, but I was just really pleased with her performance and the way she has come out of the race.

“She has a couple of other entries beforehand, but the Qatar Nassau Stakes is a really nice race to aim for. Thanks to the support of Qatar, the prize money is fantastic, and it usually throws up a good clash between the three-year-olds and the older fillies and mares.”

Love's trainer Aidan O'Brien has a formidable eight-strong team in total, with Love joined by Classic winners Snowfall, Mother Earth, Joan Of Arc and Empress Josephine.

Snow Lantern (Richard Hannon) could tackle a mile and a quarter for the first time following her encouraging second in the G1 Coronation Stakes, as could G1 Lockinge Stakes runner-up Lady Bowthorpe (William Jarvis).

Ebaiyra (Alain de Royer-Dupre) is the sole French-trained entry following a decisive success in the G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud in May.

The Qatar Nassau Stakes is part of the British Champions Series.

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Racing for the first time in her 4-year-old campaign, much was expected of the 11/10 favorite following victories in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks last season. Ridden with confidence by Moore – who was recording a 63rd Royal Ascot win – Love kept finding more to repel all challengers and run out a comfortable three-quarter length winner from 2020 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Audarya (10/1).

Love provided trainer Aidan O'Brien with a 75th Royal Ascot success, and owners Coolmore were celebrating a fourth win in this prestigious ten-furlong contest, following Highland Reel, So You Think and Duke Of Marmalade.

O'Brien said: “Obviously this was her first run of the year and we had to be very cautious. We knew that she was going to come on a lot from the run and Ryan gave her a beautiful ride.

“We'd obviously would have preferred to have a run, but that's her first time over a mile and a quarter and we were over the moon with her.

“She's very genuine, very brave. Ryan was trying to balance it, and he knew that Armory was going to be very fancied, so he was just trying to do enough, and not to do too much. He was trying to do the right thing for Love. We are over the moon.

“We knew that her head was out and down and looking at Ryan's body language, he hadn't gone for everything. He was trying to let her win and give her as easy time as he could.

“She will come on a lot [for that]. Obviously, we had prepared her two or three times and stopped and started again, which is far from ideal, but I'm delighted that the lads decided to do this – to wait until the ground came right. It was a lovely place to start, Royal Ascot – there's nowhere better.”

Regarding her next target, he added: “I think everything is open to her, the King George, the Eclipse, whatever the lads decide and whatever they want to do.”

Moore said: “It is great to have Love back. She was a wonderful filly at three, and it's a long time since she ran in the Yorkshire Oaks. That is her first run since last August and she's beaten a Breeders' Cup winner.

“It was great to get her back today and I'm sure she will come on for the run. She's a very honest filly with a lot of ability and hopefully she will be better as the year goes on.”

James Fanshawe said of the second: “I am delighted with Audarya; it's her first run of the season, as it is for Love, and we weren't sure how she'd get on. She's proved she's progressed again from last year and I'm thrilled with her. Actually William [Buick] said the pace wasn't that strong; I don't know if that made any difference.

“I'm not sure what's next – I'll go home and think about it. You'd say keep her against her own sex, but she's been beaten by her own sex, but whether we go for the Romanet or the Nassau or something like that, I'm not sure.”

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The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California on Nov. 5-6.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the Prince of Wales's Stakes winner to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 ½ miles over the Del Mar turf course. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of October 25 to receive the rewards.

The Prince of Wales's Stakes, is the second of four Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races to be conducted during the Royal Ascot meeting. The race will be televised live on NBCSN and TVG.

The HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing's 5-year-old gelding Lord North (IRE), trained by John and Thady Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, is the defending Prince of Wales's champion, having defeated Addeybb (IRE) last year by 3 ¾ lengths. A winner of six of 12 starts, Lord North made a successful seasonal debut at Meydan on March 27 when he won the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World (G1) by 3 lengths. Last year, Lord North, a bay son of Dubawi (IRE) out of the Giant's Causeway mare Najoum, closed out 2020 with a fourth-place finish in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, beaten 2 ¾ lengths.

“He's a great character, he's in good form,” said John Gosden. “He's back on quicker ground. I think it's a fascinating race. Love has been waiting for this type of ground. She was exceptional last year but she raced with her own sex.”

Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier's Galileo (IRE) filly Love (IRE) swept a trio of Group 1 races in an unbeaten 3-year-old campaign, taking the 1,000 Guineas, the Epsom Oaks and the Darley Yorkshire Oaks. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Love was scheduled to run in last October's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), but was not did start due to soft ground. Love will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

O'Brien plans to start another offspring of Galileo in the 4-year-old colt Armory (IRE), for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. Seeking his first Group 1 victory, Armory has won five races, including his 2021 debut when he captured the 1 3/8-mile Melodi Media Huxley Stakes (G2) at Chester by 3 lengths on May 7. During the second half of last year, Armory won the Royal Whip Stakes (G3) at The Curragh in August, finished third behind stablemate Magical (IRE) and Ghaiyyath (IRE) in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1), and ran second in Australia's 1 ¼-mile Cox Plate (G1) at Moonee Valley in October. Seamie Heffernan has the mount on Armory.

Also making her 2021 debut is Mrs. A. M. Swinburn's Audarya (FR), a 5-year-old daughter of Wootten Bassett (GB), who completed and an outstanding season last year by winning the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Keeneland by a neck over Rushing Fall. Trained by James Fanshawe, the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf was Audarya's second Group 1 triumph of 2020, having also captured the Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August. Audarya will be ridden by William Buick.

Juddmonte's 5-year-old Sangarius (GB), trained by Michael Stoute and ridden by Colin Keane, won last year's 1 ¼-mile Hampton Court Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. A bay son of Kingman (GB) out of the Empire Maker mare Trojan Queen, Sangarius finished second to Armory in the Huxley Stakes and finished second in the 1 1/4-mile Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) at Sandown on May 27 as the even-money favorite.

Sunderland Holding's 4-year-old My Oberon (IRE) finished third in the Prix d'Ispahan, beaten just a quarter of a length in his most recent start. Trained by William Haggas and ridden by Tom Marquand, My Oberon, a bay of Dubawi, won the 1 1/8-mile bet360 Earl of Sefton Stakes (G3) at Newmaket on April 21.

Abdulla Al Mansoori's 9-year-old gelding Desert Encounter (IRE), winner of the 2019 Pattison Canadian International (G1), finished second in the 1 ¼-mile Gordon Richards Stakes (G3) at Sandown on April 23 for trainer David Simcock. Desert Encounter will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni.

The post Top-Class Fillies Love, Audarya Take On Defending Lord North In Wednesday’s Prince Of Wales’s appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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In total, NBC Sports will present nearly 25 hours of coverage over the five days.

Royal Ascot is Britain's most valuable race meeting and features more than 30 races, including eight at the world championship “Group One” level. Highlighting this year's American contingent are Extravagant Kid and Maven, a son of Triple Crown-winner American Pharoah, who are both expected to run in tomorrow's G1 King's Stand Stakes.

Throughout the week, coverage of The Royal Meeting features four live “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series – Win and You're In” races: The Queen Anne Stakes (Tues., June 15), Prince of Wales's Stakes (Wed., June 16), The Norfolk Stakes (Thurs., June 17), and The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Sat., Jun 19).

The Royal Meeting is the center of the British social season and a pivotal week in the calendar of the Royal Family. Queen Elizabeth II has attended Royal Ascot every year since 1945, except for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NBC Sports' Nick Luck will host Saturday's coverage.

Following is NBC Sports' schedule for the Royal Ascot this week:

Date Time (ET) Network
Tues., June 15 8:30 a.m. NBCSN
Wed., June 16 8:30 a.m. NBCSN
Thurs., June 17 8:30 a.m. NBCSN
Fri., June 18 8:30 a.m. NBCSN
Sat., June 19 9 a.m. NBC
Sat., June 19 11 a.m. CNBC

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Lord North, a 4-year-old son of Dubawi, was conditioned by trainer John Gosden for his 52nd victory at the Royal Meeting. The colt won a Group 3 race at Haydock on June 7 to kick off his 2020 season, and is now two-for-two on the year.

In Wednesday's first race, William Knight saddled his first Royal winner when Sir Busker was partnered to a 3/4-length success by jockey Oisin Murphy in the Silver Royal Hunt Cup. The 4-year-old by Sir Prancealot won his first start of the season on June 2 at Newcastle.

“(Sir Busker) was my first runner from the new yard, and my father died that morning, so he means quite a lot to me, this horse,” said Knight, who moved from West Sussex to Newmarket in May. “It is a great facility that we are in in Newmarket, and it's just lovely to have started off so well and to have my first Royal Ascot winner is the icing on the cake. Elated, very, very happy. It is such a shame that we can't enjoy it all with the owners, Kennet Valley, because they are such a lovely group of people; I'm sure there would have been a good booze-up in the car park afterwards, but we will have to wait and get home to do that.”

Ryan Moore scored his 60th victory at the Royal Meeting in the day's second race, piloting Aidan O'Brien trainee Russian Emperor to a half-length triumph in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes. The 3-year-old son of Galileo out of multiple Group 1 winner Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) may be considered for the Epsom Derby next out.

“He is a lovely colt, straightforward and with a good attitude,” said Moore. “He was very professional; he has had the benefit of a couple of runs this year and let us see if he will keep progressing. He has a very good pedigree – his dam was exceptional in Australia. I think he will be a nice horse going forward for the rest of the year.”

Jockey Jim Crowley rode his fourth winner of the week when delivering Hukum with a perfectly timed challenge to take the mile and a half King George V Handicap by half a length in the afternoon's third race. It was also a fourth win of the week for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum while it was a first ever Royal Ascot success for trainer Owen Burrows.

“As a kid and when I was battling around Fontwell and Plumpton 20 years ago, I would never have dreamed I would be here training a Royal Ascot winner for someone like Sheikh Hamdan,” Burrows said. “All thanks to him for having the trust in me to do the job. I was very fortunate to have had a great grounding at Sir Michael Stoute's where I was around good horses and you can pick up plenty – I have just been very fortunate.”

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“We would have liked to have got a run into him before, but he’s in good form,” Aidan O’Brien commented. “He’s a horse we are looking forward to this year and we think he’ll run a nice race and improve and come on for it. A mile and a quarter was no problem to him on a flat track at York and we think he’s very comfortable at the trip. He’s a very relaxed horse and a good traveller who can be a bit lazy when he gets there. He’s very genuine with a lovely mind.”

While Japan and most of the rest of the world were in lockdown, Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) was living it up in Australia winning the G1 Ranvet S. at Rosehill on Mar. 21 and the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick on Apr. 11. Both successes came on his favoured easy ground, which he looks likely to get again here and his match-fitness gives him a major edge over the favourite. It may also be that the 6-year-old has progressed again since last year, when he was the impressive winner of a very strong renewal of the Listed Wolferton S. at this meeting and second to Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Champion S. over this distance. “We were pleased to see the rain falling on Monday evening and the more that falls between now and Wednesday afternoon the better for him,” trainer William Haggas said. “He’s ready to go. He’s had a good year already and he came back from Australia very fit. This is probably a bit of a step up from the Australian races, but he’s no slouch and a pretty smart horse on his day.”

Another who has had the benefit of a spring campaign is Godolphin’s Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}), who took Meydan’s Jan. 30 G2 Al Rashidiya and Mar. 7 G1 Jebel Hatta in the manner of a campaigner getting near his 3-year-old peak. Successful in the 2017 G1 St James’s Palace S. when under the care of Richard Hannon, he was eighth in the G1 Queen Anne S. last year but Charlie Appleby has had an abundance of time to re-focus the 6-year-old. “I feel confident he is back to his best and, as a past winner at the Royal meeting, he has a lot of class,” his trainer said. “He steps back up to a mile and a quarter after two wins in Dubai during the winter, when he really strengthened as an individual. I think he will run a cracking race. This is well within his compass.”

Also featuring is Khalid Abdullah’s G2 Prix Eugene Adam and G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who gets his keenly-anticipated 4-year-old season underway, and two John Gosden-trained outsiders in Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing’s progressive June 7 G3 Brigadier Gerard S. winner Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Emirates Park Pty Ltd’s G2 Prix de Malleret scorer and G1 Nassau S. runner-up Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Teddy Grimthorpe said of Headman, “Roger has always thought highly of him. He’s a nice, scopey horse now. He’s done very well through the winter. He’s a got a bit of class, slightly like his father, Kingman–he has that good turn of foot to go and win. He obviously needs to step up and win at Group 1 standard this year. He’s given us the right signs he’ll be better as an older horse, but he has to put it on the line.”

John Gosden said of his pair, “Lord North is a grand horse and he’s taking his chance. It’s a good edition of the race. He did nothing but improve last year. We could have run him in the Listed race [the Wolferton] with his penalty, but that seemed a little bit cowardly–we thought it’s a small-enough field, it’s a lovely race to run in. We’d be thrilled to get a piece of it.

“Mehdaayih is a very talented filly. We deliberated and waited. I didn’t want to run her before this. She’s not a huge, strong filly, she’s very athletic and I think she’ll go there well fresh.”

In the G3 Hampton Court S., Ballydoyle’s Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is turned out just eight days after his second in Leopardstown’s G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and he encounters The Queen’s seven-length Kempton maiden winner First Receiver (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s G1 2000 Guineas fifth Juan Elcano (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Also engaged is George Strawbridge’s June 3 G3 Sandown Classic Trial winner Berlin Tango (GB) (Dansili {GB}), whose form was boosted when the runner-up Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) took Tuesday’s G2 King Edward VII S., and last year’s G3 Horris Hill S. scorer Kenzai Warrior (Karakontie {Jpn}). He almost lost his rider at the start of the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when ninth on June 6 and trainer Roger Teal is looking for better fortune. “He’s been absolutely fine since the Guineas–he came out of it as fresh as paint,” he commented. “It obviously didn’t go to plan on the day. He just got himself a bit over-excited, I think he was a bit shocked when the stalls opened and he’s fly-leapt and stumbled and that was that. He came back not very proud of himself, but hopefully he can redeem himself on Wednesday. He seems in very good form and I think the step up in trip will suit him–he’s more of a galloper than a speedster.”

The meeting’s first 2-year-old race is the Listed Windsor Castle S., in which Aidan O’Brien saddles the June 10 Navan maiden first and third Chief Little Hawk and Hyde Park Barracks both by Coolmore’s first-season sire Air Force Blue. Other freshmen sires with runners are Winstar’s Speightster, whose son Sheriff Bianco races for Qatar Racing and Wesley Ward, Tally Ho Stud’s Mehmas (Ire), who has four representatives, and the Cheveley Park Stud resident Twilight Son (GB). Ward also has Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Apr. 30 Gulfstream Park scorer Sunshine City (Creative Cause) with Frankie up, while Archie Watson puts forward Mohammed Rashid’s Mighty Gurkha (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}). Off the mark by 7 1/2 lengths on Lingfield’s Polytrack June 5, he could provide Hollie Doyle with a first Royal winner and place her in an exclusive club of successful female jockeys alongside Gay Kelleway and Hayley Turner.

Other notable runners on a day featuring four handicaps are the John Gosden-trained Royal Hunt Cup contenders Lord Tennyson (GB) (Poet’s Voice {GB}), who was second in the Listed Paradise S. on his second career start at Newmarket June 5, and Alrajaa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The latter represents Shadwell who had such a bright start to the meeting on Tuesday, and the exciting 4-year-old is looking to restart where he left off with four wins in the autumn. There is even a Silver Royal Hunt Cup as a consolation race for those who missed the ballot in the main event, the 3-year-old King George V S. which often provides clues to the middle-distance Classics, and the new Copper Horse H. for the older stayers.

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The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races, whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland Race Course, in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov 6-7.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Prince of Wales's to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 ½ miles over the Keeneland turf course. Breeders' Cup also will provide a minimum travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must already be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program or it must be nominated by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of October 26 to receive the rewards.

Japan, a bay son of Galileo (IRE), trained by Aidan O'Brien, will be making his first start of the year after becoming one of Europe's top 3-year-olds of 2019. Following a third-place finish in the Investec Derby (G1) at Epsom, Japan began a three-race win streak with a dominant 4 ½-length victory in the 1 ½-mile King Edward VII Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. It was on to France next for the 1½-mile Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (G1), the traditional Bastille Day (July 14) feature at ParisLongchamp. Japan took the lead inside 1 ½ furlongs and fought off Slalom (FR) to win by a half-length.

Back in Britain in September, Japan faced older horses for the first time in the Juddmonte International (G1) at York, where he engaged Crystal Ocean (GB) in a dramatic stretch drive and wore down his rival in the final 50 yards to prevail by a head under Ryan Moore. Japan returned to ParisLongchamp for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Troimphe (G1) in October. He was in contention closing inside the furlong marker but was passed by Waldgeist (GB) on the outside, and wound up fourth. Moore has the mount again on Wednesday.

Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's 6-year-old Addeybb (IRE), another returning Royal Ascot winner, scored Group 1 triumphs in Australia this year while racing was suspended in Britain due to the coronavirus outbreak. Addeybb, a gelded bay son of Pivotal (GB) out of the Kingmambo mare Bush Cat, and trained by William Haggas, captured the 1 ¼-mile Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on March 21 and 1 ¼-mile Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick in Sydney on April 11.

Sporting a solid record of nine wins in 17 starts, Addeybb won the listed 1 ¼-mile Wolferton Stakes by 2 ½ lengths over Magic Wand (IRE) last June at the Royal Meeting. He started next as the 11-8 favorite in the 1 3/8-mile Sky Bet Stakes (G2) at York on July 27, finishing second to Elarqam (GB), but rebounded on Aug. 10 at Haydock, winning the 1 3/8-mile Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (GB) by 2 ¼ lengths. He closed out the year chasing Magical (IRE) down the stretch in the 1 ¼-mile QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot, but finished second by three-quarters of a lengths. Tom Marquand has the mount on Addeybb.

Godolphin's 6-year-old gelding Barney Roy (GB), trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, is out for a bit of redemption this year after finishing eighth as the 5-1 favorite in the 2019 Queen Anne, which was his last race of the season. Like Addeybb, Barney Roy has been winning races outside of Britain this year. A bay son of Excelebration (IRE), Barney Roy was in Meydan this winter, taking the Al Rashidiya Stakes (G2) on Jan. 30 and Jebel Hatta Stakes (G1) on March 7, both at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

As a 3-year-old, Barney Roy won the 2017 St. James's Palace (G1) at Royal Ascot, and was retired after that season. However, he proved to be subfertile at stud and was returned to racing in 2019 as a gelding.

Prince Khalid Abdullah's 4-year-old Headman (GB), making his Ascot debut, won three consecutive races last year trainer Roger Charlton. A bay son Kingman (GB), Headman took the ungraded London Gold Cup Handicap last May at Newberry, setting up a bigger score in June at Saint-Cloud in France, where he captured the 1 ¼-mile Prix Eugene Adam (G2) by three lengths. He was in the winner's circle again in France in August, finishing a head in front of Roman Candle (GB) as the 3-5 favorite in the 1 ¼-mile Prix Guillaume d'Ornano Haras du Logis Saint-Germain (G2) at Deauville. Headman stepped into Group 1 company for the first time on Sept. 14 in the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. After rearing at the start and trailing the field, he made a bid in mid-stretch but could not sustain the drive and finished fifth. Jason Watson will ride Headman.

Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing's 4-year-old gelding Lord North (IRE), trained by John Gosden and ridden by James Doyle, comes into the race off a win in the 1 ¼-mile Betway Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) at Haydock on June 7. A bay son of Dubawi (IRE), Lord North had two second-place finishes at Ascot last year in Class 2, 1-mile races. Following a runner-up placing in the Balmoral Handicap on Oct. 19, Lord North closed out the season with a victory in the listed 1 ¼-mile James Seymour Stakes at Newmarket on Nov. 2.

Frankie Dettori has the mount on the Gosden-trained 4-year-old filly Mehdaayih (GB). Owned by Emirates Park Pty Ltd., Mehdaayih has won four races in 10 starts, including the Group 2 Prix de Malleret last June at Saint-Cloud. She was second to Deirdre (JPN) in the Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1) at Goodwood in August. Continuing in Group 1 company, she finished 10th in the Prix de l'Opera Longines at ParisLongchamp in October and in fifth in the Champion Stakes later that month at Ascot.

King Power Racing has entered the 4-year-old Bangkok (IRE), who finished second to Japan in the last year's King Edward VII. Trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, the bay son of Australia (GB) raced twice in Derby trial stakes on the all-weather surface at Lingfield in February, winning the listed event on Feb. 1 and coming in third in the Group 3 Derby Trial on Feb. 22.

The Prince of Wales's Stakes joins Tuesday's Queen Anne (G1) (TVG Mile), Friday's Norfolk Stakes (G2) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) and Saturday's Diamond Jubilee (G1) (Turf Sprint) as the four Breeders' Cup Challenge races to be run at the 2020 Royal Meeting.

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