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.
