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Top-Class Fillies Love, Audarya Take On Defending Lord North In Wednesday’s Prince Of Wales’s

Multiple Group 1 winners Lord North (IRE), Love (IRE) and Audarya (FR) lead Wednesday's 1 ¼-mile US$991,000 Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. The winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes will earn an automatic berth into this year's US$4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

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.

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2,000 Guineas Hero Poetic Flare Emulates His Sire With St. James’s Palace Triumph

QIPCO 2000 Guineas hero Poetic Flare was a dominant winner of the G1 St James's Palace Stakes for Ireland, one of the highlights of Royal Ascot's opening day.

The race, restricted to 3-year-olds over the round mile, looked competitive on paper but proved anything but with 54-year-old jockey Kevin Manning and his mount travelling with confidence before clearing away for a four and a quarter length victory.

Trainer Jim Bolger – who bred the son of Dawn Approach – has kept Poetic Flare busy, running in three different 2000 Guineas over a three-week period, but that proved no barrier for the 7/2 favorite.

Lucky Vega (4/1) chased the impressive winner home, with Battleground (11/1) a neck further back in third.

Manning said: “The ground is what this horse needs. You want that good, quick ground and that's what we got today, and he showed how good he is.

“He travelled very well; there was a nice, even pace in the race and always something to aim at. He just travelled so easy into the race, and when I asked him to pick up, he put the race to bed in a matter of strides.

“I couldn't believe that I was travelling so well and was half sitting down rather than having to go forward. He's an unbelievable horse. He's a very tough individual who does himself very well. He has taken his racing very well.

“I don't want to compare him to his sire [Dawn Approach, on whom Manning won the St James's Palace stakes by a short-head in 2013], although if you are going on this race his dad only won by a short-head, not more than four lengths like Poetic Flare, but they are both fantastic horses.

“Riding these good horses is fantastic; it's going well and I'm enjoying life. This place has been a lucky hunting ground for us over the years – we haven't had loads of runners over the years, but the ones we've brought over have all had chances. We have just the one runner this week, and to win is marvelous.”

Speaking to Sky Sports from his home, Bolger said: “I'm very relaxed about it. I have tremendous confidence in this horse and I was expecting him to go and do that. Thanks to all my staff and everybody who has helped.

“We always knew he was hardy from the word go, even when he was being broken in you couldn't keep him quiet. We've bred from the family since the very early 1980s, so a long time. When you have a horse winning the St James's Palace like that you don't really think about all the relatives and the breeding, you wouldn't care if he came to you off the back of a truck as long as you had him.

“This horse is so hardy he's unbelievable, you have to give it to him to keep his back down.”

Una Manning, daughter and assistant to Bolger and wife of jockey Kevin Manning, said: “Dad has always had faith in him. I phoned him after the race and said: 'Well done, you're a legend – gosh he did that well'. He said: 'That's exactly what I was expecting'. It was wonderful, it was fantastic.

“I just had two words from Kevin – he said he's chalk and cheese on the ground. So I think that probably answers our questions about France and our questions about the Curragh.

“I'm so thrilled for my parents because they put so much into it over the years, from the time they started out just the two of them, small business. Look, it's just amazing.

“I just want to say thank you so much to our staff, they've worked extremely hard through very challenging times, and without our staff, we wouldn't be here in this parade ring today.”

She added: “Thank you to everyone who has managed to put on this wonderful show at Ascot today. I'm sure it hasn't been easy.”

Jessica Harrington said of Lucky Vega: “Sadly that is going to be his last run. There will be an announcement as he is going to stand in Australia. I will be sad to lose him as I think he could win a Group One this year easily. He definitely proved today that he stayed the mile and might even get a mile and a quarter.”

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Oxted Displays Powerful Finish In King’s Stand; American-Trained Extravagant Kid Third

Oxted finished powerfully to give trainer Roger Teal and jockey Cieren Fallon a first Royal Ascot victory in the five-furlong G1 King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday.

The victorious rider roared with delight as he passed the post on the 4/1 winner, waving his whip in the air as he registered his name on the Royal Ascot honor board – a meeting where his father Kieren rode 30 winners.

Last year's G1 July Cup winner had a length and three quarters to spare over runner-up Arecibo (28/1), with US challenger Extravagant Kid (18/1, trained by Brendan Walsh) a neck further behind in third.

Favorite Battaash (11/8) briefly threatened to follow up last year's victory in this race, hitting the front with two furlongs to go, but faded late to finish fourth.

Fallon said: “It's a dream come true – a Group One at Royal Ascot. All credit goes to Roger, Harry [Teal, son and assistant trainer] and the team back home. I've been very blessed and very lucky to sit on a horse like this so early in my career.

“Harry does all the hard work on him behind the scenes, I'm just very lucky to be on him on the racetrack.”

Fallon added missing the horse's last appearance, owing to being in quarantine in France for a ride on a horse that then did not run in the French 2,000 Guineas, is “part and parcel of racing”.

“It's come good today and that's the main thing,” he continued. “I'm glad to get back on board and all credit to the owners to give me that faith and put me back on him.

“Oxted has a lot of speed and can run keen over six furlongs. Dropping back to a stiff five was always going to suit and I took my time on him today.

“I got a lovely trip, they went a real solid gallop early on. I didn't panic, normally he's a horse that can be quite keen, but I just gave him his head, let him get into a nice rhythm and just picked up when I needed to. He's just shown that the July Cup isn't a fluke. He is a proper Group One horse.

“It means a lot to have a Royal Ascot winner. Dad has done what he has done and people always ask me 'are you going to do what he's done, are you going to do this'. It's great to have him behind me as well as my family, my bosses Sheikh Fahad and Mr Haggas and my jockey coach Michael Hills. I've got people round me to help me keep learning and progressing.

“I am just blessed to have all the people around me, to help me and encourage me and motivate me.”

Roger Teal said: ““It's just unbelievable. I mean I'm speechless because we've dreamt about these days for so long, I mean we had it in the July Cup last year, but a Royal Ascot Group One. I mean, come on! A yard of our size, doing this is amazing.

“Harry's done all the work with him. It's just a big family affair. The lads back home are amazing with the hard work they put in. It's just credit to everyone, and the owners for supporting me. Dreams do come true.

“This is obviously his first run back over five furlongs, so I said to Cieren, just keep it simple. Just go straight from your draw, and see how it pans out later on. When we were quite outpaced, I thought oh no, maybe I've done the wrong thing.

“But then at halfway I saw Cieren just revving him up a bit and I saw him react, and then it was like poetry in motion. Stamina kicked in then. We knew there was going to be pace, for sure, with the likes of Battaash. But he's got a great cruising speed; he was a little out of his comfort zone but he was able to use his stamina.”

Arecibo's trainer Robert Cowell said: “To be honest, we weren't totally surprised that he ran so well. He's turned a corner with us recently, and you could just tell that he was in great form leading up to this race. Mentally more than physically – maybe he just feels a million dollars. He looked it, and was squealing round the paddock, and I had a suspicion that he could run well. But when you are taking on the likes of Battaash and Oxted, you think we'll be there, thereabouts, but not win, but he's run a really solid race and I couldn't be more proud of him. He's really improved.”

Jockey Jim Crowley said of 11/8 favorite Battaash, who finished fourth: “He will come on plenty for that run. He just needed it more today.”

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Top-Rated Palace Pier Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth With Queen Anne Victory

The world's top-rated racehorse Palace Pier followed up his St James's Palace Stakes win from 2020 with victory in the opening contest of this year's Royal Ascot, the G1 Queen Anne Stakes over a mile. The win earned Palace Pier an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Mile this fall at Del Mar in California.

Sent off a red-hot 2/7 favorite under Royal Ascot's most prolific current jockey Frankie Dettori, the 4-year-old was pushed out for a comfortable length and a half success over Lope Y Fernandez (12/1), with Sir Busker (22/1) another length back in third.

Last year's G1 victory over the round mile was played out in front of empty grandstands, but today 12,000 spectators were able to enjoy a classy performance from Palace Pier. This victory was a 74th at the meeting for the rider, and a first for John Gosden in a training partnership with his son Thady.

A relieved John Gosden said: “It was a slowly run race over a straight mile and he's a very relaxed horse — you saw how he cantered down, he hack cantered down.

“I think we were very aware that there was no pace in the race. Frankie said, 'I'm drawn where I am so I'll stay on the wing' because we suspected a slow pace, which is what we got – a slow pace and a slow time – but then, don't sit out the back when they kick, with two and a half, three to run. He has done it really smoothly; he has come through, won his race, and is exactly like his father [Kingman], as soon as he gets there, he has done enough. And if I worked him at home with a very ordinary horse, he'd just stay with them – that's his game.

“If you are odds-on like that, it would be a bit odd if you weren't nervous, because your only thing round the corner is a banana skin, so it can happen. He had a normal blow afterwards – he has done more in his work at home than he did today. I've been second in this race three times – it took [son] Thady to get me over the line!

“It's wonderful – those people who have come and had a test, it's fantastic and there's a gorgeous atmosphere because it's not crowded, it's very comfortable, and it's a gorgeous day. To that extent, full marks to people who made the effort.

“Palace Pier's options are the Sussex Stakes, the Jacques le Marois in Deauville, which he won last year. And obviously you can step him up a trip if you wanted to, for the Juddmonte International, something like that. He is a grand horse, great attitude, good looking, nice scope.”

Dettori said: “Wow, wow. What can I say? He has shown again that he is the best miler around.

“You can rely on Palace Pier. It is like getting one of the proper guys to take the first penalty and they will put it in the back of the net.

“He is one of the best horses in the world and everything went right. 31 years ago I rode my first Royal Ascot winner on Markofdistinction in the Queen Anne. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then.

“I am still getting the same kick and I am pretty relieved that everything went smooth. It makes a big difference [to have an early Royal Ascot winner]. I have a lot of big rides this week and it takes the pressure off.

“Palace Pier is the best miler around the world. He goes on any ground, he is very kind, does what you ask him to do. He comes from behind, can be up there and he is a great partner to have in these races. It's not just me, he should take the credit.

“You cannot imagine to see the colors, the people screaming. It is a mirage – I'm so pleased to have the crowd back. It's great. What can you say? Royal Ascot with people is amazing and this meeting is a big part of my life. I couldn't ask for anything more.”

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