Charles ‘working on' producing a contender for the Derby
There they met the stallion Stradivarius, the champion stayer who retired to take up breeding duties after accruing over £3million in prize-money across 20 victories, including three Gold Cups at Royal Ascot.
The couple went on a meet and greet with the public after more than 1,000 people flocked to the Suffolk town's centre and the King, who is receiving ongoing cancer treatment, spoke about his health.
Lee Harman, 54, from Bury St Edmunds, said: 'I asked him how he was, and he said he was feeling a lot better now and that it was 'just one of those things'.'
After telling Charles about his own cancer issues, Mr Harman said: 'He asked me how I was and I said 'I'm all good', I got the all clear from cancer last year.'
Thoroughbreds owned by the late Queen won four out of the five Flat racing classics – the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, the Oaks twice and the St Leger – with only the Derby eluding her.
Now it appears the King, who took on Elizabeth II's stable of horses with his wife, is aiming to have a thoroughbred ready for the premier Classic, having had Desert Hero finish third in the 2023 running of the St Leger at Doncaster.
As he toured the Jockey Club Rooms, a retreat for members and the public, he chatted to his racing manager John Warren, Jockey Club staff and members, and some of the chairs of racecourses run by the club, which include Newmarket, Epsom, Aintree and Cheltenham.
Brian Finch, chairman of Epsom Downs Racecourse, said after speaking to the King: 'We were talking about him getting a Derby runner and he said 'we're working on it'.
'Everybody is hoping the royal family will have a Derby winner soon.'
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Woman from Mickleover cycles men's Tour de France for charity
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Leader Live
20 hours ago
- Leader Live
Ribot, Grundy, Shergar, Enable – the King George has them all
RIBOT (1956) Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest Flat racers of the post-war era, the unbeaten Italian champion made his one and only trip to Britain for the 1956 King George. The dual Arc winner used the Gran Premio di Milano as his prep race for the King George, which was set to be his hardest race to date. The going was sticky, and the 2-5 favourite looked uneasy at one stage, with jockey Enrico Camici urging him to go with the leaders. The pacemaker, Todrai, did his job and led Ribot into the straight but it was only in the last furlong that the champion showed his real worth. Some argued that the win was unimpressive; the horse's record, though, speaks for itself: 16 runs, 16 wins. NIJINSKY (1970) Vincent O'Brien's Triple Crown winner was another easy winner of this great race. The son of Northern Dancer had already captured the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the Irish Derby, and started at odds of 40-85 at Ascot. Nijinsky was the only three-year-old in a field of six that included the previous year's Derby winner, Blakeney, and Coronation Cup winner Caliban. Caliban provided the early pace, but it was soon apparent that Nijinsky was in a different league. He cruised past his rivals on the bridle and left Blakeney for dead. Lester Piggott could not have had an easier winner. MILL REEF (1971) Trained by Ian Balding, Mill Reef won six Group Ones in a row. That sequence began with the Derby, and he lined up for the King George as the 8-13 favourite, having taken the Eclipse in the interim. Ridden by Geoff Lewis, he was nicely settled in third as they entered the straight. He pulled to the front a furlong from home and ran away to win by six lengths. He sealed a brilliant year by routing a top-class Arc field by three lengths. He won the Prix Ganay and Coronation Cup as a four-year-old, but sadly injury curtailed his career soon afterwards and the great rematch with Brigadier Gerard never happened. GRUNDY (1975) To many, this really was 'the race of the century'. The clash of the generations pitted the Derby winner, Grundy, against Bustino, winner of the 1974 St Leger. Two pacemakers were thrown in by Bustino's trainer, Dick Hern, and they set up the race nicely for an epic duel in the final half-mile. Bustino was clear by three into the home straight, but Grundy was gradually eating into his lead. They fought all the way to the line and Grundy looked beaten at one stage. Yet he dug deep and just prevailed in a never-to-be forgotten finish. We must not forget also that the brilliant dual-winner Dahlia was a distant third. Such was the courage both horses had to show that not only did the race-record time stand until Harbinger in 2010, but neither managed to win again. SHERGAR (1981) Shergar is famous for being kidnapped and for winning the Derby by 10 lengths, and it is easy to forget that the legendary colt also won the Irish Derby and the King George in a memorable summer. He was a warm favourite to beat the older generation at Ascot. A surprisingly slow pace was set and initially the Aga Khan-owned colt was boxed in. But as the field straightened for home, Light Cavalry came off the rails and Walter Swinburn seized the opportunity to take the 2-5 favourite through the gap in style. The race was settled with two furlongs to run; he drew away to win decisively by four lengths from Madam Gay. PETOSKI (1985) The 1985 renewal was billed as the clash of the sexes between Henry Cecil's Oaks victor, Oh So Sharp, and Vincent O'Brien's Irish Derby winner, Law Society. However, it was Willie Carson on Petoski who caused the upset. In victory, he also brought an end to Oh So Sharp's unbeaten run, which also included the 1000 Guineas. Steve Cauthen blamed the very fast ground at Ascot and interference by Infantry two furlongs out for the great filly's defeat. But Carson rode a patient race on Petoski, switching the colt to the outside close to the finish to beat Cauthen's mount by a neck. DANCING BRAVE (1986) If the international classifications, which started in 1977, are anything to go by, then Dancing Brave is without doubt the best King George winner of the last four decades. Rated 141 at the time (somewhat controversially amended to 138 in 2013 but still the highest-rated King George winner), he possessed great speed, and a lightning turn of foot that left his rivals for dead. He started the King George as the 6-4 second-favourite, behind the 11-10 shot Shahrastani, who had beaten him in the Derby. With Pat Eddery on board, this time 'the Brave' took revenge, with his Epsom conqueror disappointing in fourth place. Dancing Brave went on to achieve further glory with a dazzling win in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the autumn. NASHWAN (1989) Nashwan was a truly exceptional three-year-old. Trained by Major Dick Hern, he remains the only horse to have won the 2000 Guineas, Derby, Eclipse and King George in one season. It was a slow gallop for the seven-runner field in the King George, which soon developed into a tactical affair as Willie Carson sat and waited on Nashwan. It was not until the last two furlongs that the race truly developed, with Nashwan the first to commit, and he was soon joined by the Derby third, Cacoethes. They were locked together inside the final furlong and in a pulsating finish Nashwan showed he had the courage to match his undoubted class as he got home in front. MONTJEU (2000) Michael Tabor's Montjeu was undoubtedly the easiest winner of the King George for many a year. The 1999 Arc de Triomphe winner only had six rivals to beat, as the Classic generation stayed away. In truth, it was a sub-standard renewal – but it was never meant to be a walkover. However, it felt like one. Sent off at 1-3 – the shortest-priced favourite since Nashwan – he had 11lb plus in hand on official figures. Michael Kinane sat patiently on the colt, and when asked to quicken two furlongs out, the horse cruised home stylishly. Kinane did not need to do much; the horse guided him home that day. HARBINGER (2010) Harbinger was an impressive winner of the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot but went to another level in the King George, where he produced a stunning performance to win by 11 lengths in a time bettering the one set by Grundy. Confront performed his duties as pacemaker for his stablemates Workforce and Harbinger and led until the home turn, at which point Epsom Derby hero Workforce and Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco tried to assert their authority. But they were merely sitting ducks for Olivier Peslier and Harbinger as they effortlessly took up the running inside the final two furlongs and rocketed clear. The handicapper raised him to from 123 to 135, making him the best in the world at the time but his career was cruelly cut short the following month when he shattered a cannon-bone in a routine spin on the gallops in Newmarket. In the wake of his retirement, Sir Michael Stoute was asked how much further Harbinger could have gone. 'Who knows?,' he wondered. 'If he had kept at that plateau, we'd have had a world champion.' ENABLE (2019) The only three-time winner of the race, Enable hacked up from Ulysses in 2017 and completed her hat-trick in a substandard three-runner heat in 2020, but her middle victory was the stuff of legend. Having already bagged the Eclipse on her return to action, Enable was sent off the 8-15 favourite to regain her Ascot crown with injury preventing a title defence in 2018. Crystal Ocean had finished runner-up to Poet's Word in her absence and the race was widely expected to boil down to a duel between the top older horses. Few could have expected such an epic finish though, as the pair went toe-to-toe for the best part of two furlongs, with Crystal Ocean finding generously when it looked as though Enable would go on. It was nip and tuck all the way, but Enable just poked her head in front on the line to triumph by a neck, with future Arc winner Waldgeist just under two lengths back in third, with a further seven lengths back to the next home in what was a race for the ages.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
ITV Racing tips: Ascot and York
Saturday's UK and Irish racing Flat Ascot (1.10-5.15pm, Sky Sports Racing) York (1.25-5.00, Racing TV) Chester (1.30-5.30, Sky Sports Racing) Gowran (1.45-5.40, Racing TV) Newcastle (1.52-5.55, Sky Sports Racing) Windsor (5.45-8.45, Sky Sports Racing) Salisbury (6.00-8.30, Racing TV) Free-to-view racing coverage ITV4 – 9.30-10.30am: The Opening Show ITV1 – 1.30-4.30pm: Live racing from Ascot & York Ron Wood's selections NAP: Calandagan (4.10, Ascot) 2pt win @ 7/4 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Next best: Almaqam (2.40, York) 1pt win @ 5/6 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Others: Daneh Of Dandy (1.40, Ascot) 1pt win @ 16/1 with Betfred ⭐⭐ Pocklington (2.00, York) 1pt win @ 11/2 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐ Cajole (2.20, Ascot) 1pt win @ 5/1 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐ Sword (3.00, Ascot) 1pt win @ 22/1 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐ Moon Flight (3.20, York) 1pt win @ 14/1 with Betfred ⭐⭐ Bullet Point (3.35, Ascot) 1pt win @ 10/3 with Betfred ⭐⭐⭐ Odds provided by Betfred and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (maximum five). If you already have a Betfred account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use for this week's racing, check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. 1.40 Ascot – Princess Margaret Stakes (Group 3, 6f; ITV1 & Sky Sports Racing) Dance To The Music would have been the pick in this one, but she's a non-runner, so in her absence a chance is taken on the James Tate-trained DANEH OF DANDY. This filly won at Ripon on her debut in a novice contest that Tate took in 2019 with Under The Stars, who then landed this race at 25/1. 2.00 York – Class 2 Handicap (6f; ITV1 & Racing TV) POCKLINGTON just lost out when the selection for a competitive handicap at Newcastle last month but he should build on that seeing as he had been off for 311 days. The return to turf ought to be fine for Geoff Oldroyd's four-year-old, who caught the eye at this course on his final start last year. 2.20 Ascot – Valiant Stakes (Group 3, 1m; ITV1 & Sky Sports Racing) CAJOLE is just preferred to Royal Dress. The latter sets the standard, but the selection has the potential to be up to this. The dam of Cajole, Persuasive, won the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot before landing a Group 3 race at Sandown and, in her four-year-old season, progressing to win a Group 1. Cajole, for the same connections, was second in the Sandringham last month then finished runner-up in a Listed race at Sandown that did not unfold to suit her. Trained by John & Thady Gosden, she is likely to improve some more. 2.40 York – York Stakes (Group 2, 1m 2½f; ITV1 & Racing TV) The Ed Walker-trained ALMAQAM sets the standard here, having most recently defeated the subsequent Group 1 winner Ombudsman in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown. The selection won't want the ground to dry out too much but should have too much for his six rivals. Stanhope Gardens is a possible threat but still needs to make quite a big step up on his fifth-placed finish in the Derby to trouble the selection. 3.00 Ascot – International Handicap (Heritage Handicap, 7f; ITV1 & Sky Sports Racing) SWORD is a hold-up horse who stays further, so he will be suited by this big-field contest up the stiff Ascot straight. Trained by David O'Meara, this son of Kingman didn't get a clear run at York on his latest start and there's little doubt that he is capable of bettering his current mark. 3.20 York – 'Jump Jockeys' Nunthorpe Handicap (Class 4, 5f; ITV1 & Racing TV) MOON FLIGHT is a tricky customer, being headstrong (including when going down to the start) and sometimes having an issue with the stalls, and he has been out of sorts lately. But he is capable of a useful level when he does things right and he is an interesting contender now he makes his debut for David O'Meara. 3.35 Ascot – Class 2 Handicap (1m; ITV1 & Sky Sports Racing) The obvious one is BULLET POINT, who won three handicaps in a row before finishing second over course and distance in the Royal Hunt Cup, 'winning' his race in the wrong group. There's probably still better to come from this William Haggas-trained four-year-old, who will be ridden by Tom Marquand. 4.10 Ascot – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1, 1m 4f; ITV1 & Sky Sports Racing) CALANDAGAN is an off-the-pace runner who can be a bit tricky, but he gained an overdue first Group 1 success in France on his latest start and he should reverse June's Coronation Cup form with Jan Brueghel. Read our full horse-by-horse King George preview. Selection: Calandagan 2pt win @ 7/4 with Betfred Go to site > Are there any other horses of interest away from the ITV cameras? Words Of Truth (1.10, Ascot) made his debut in a really strong Newbury maiden and has since been gelded. He should improve. Another to look at is Spoken Truth (5.40, Gowran Park). He should be better for his seasonal reappearance and the step up in trip to 1m 1½f is in his favour. It feels like now or never for this well-bred colt by Frankel who is a brother to Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs. When is the next big racing festival? The week-long Galway Festival kicks off in Ireland on Monday, followed a day later by Glorious Goodwood. Check out the latest Glorious Goodwood free bets and betting offers. The latter is a five-day fixture and is set to feature Field Of Gold, possibly the best horse in the world, in the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday, one of three Group 1s at the meeting. What does NAP mean? NAP is a word used in betting circles to describe a prediction that a tipster thinks has a particularly strong chance of winning. Many horse racing tipsters pick out a 'NAP of the day', which is their favoured selection from all the races across the different meetings. The term NAP derives from the French card game Napoleon. When players of this game thought they had a particularly strong hand that they would win with, they would shout 'Napoleon'. Star ratings explained ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy ⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims ⭐⭐ - tentative choice ⭐ - minimum confidence
