International Runners Part 2

With just a week to go until Royal Ascot, we're delighted to welcome aboard Laura King, Managing Editor at World Horse Racing, and contributor to the Racing Post, TR Commentary and Dubai Racing. In Part Two of her first piece for us, Laura takes us through more of the International runners heading the flat season showpiece next week.

Check out Part 1 HERE

Second to Gabaldon was Reach For The Rose, who closed late along the rail. Trained by Barbados-born Saffie Joseph Jnr, the son of Audible is being aimed at the Norfolk Stakes.

Another interesting contender from the States is Missed The Cut, who was successful at the meeting in 2022 when trained by George Boughey, winning the Golden Gates Handicap. Now in the care of Flightline’s trainer John Sadler, the five-year-old is a multiple Grade 3 winner in California and is being aimed at the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes on Saturday.

Kentucky-based trainer Eddie Kenneally is no stranger to international success and the Irishman sends over Cheval Du Guerre, a son of Caravaggio, who set blistering fractions up front in a Keeneland maiden before tiring into second. He could be hard to peg back in Wednesday’s Listed Windsor Castle Stakes.

Australian success has added much to Royal Ascot over the past couple of decades, but their raiding party is a small one this year. Asfoora, trained by Henry Dwyer, was well-held on her British debut when fourth in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock, but connections will be hopeful that faster ground at Ascot can see her to better effect. She will be ridden by Oisin Murphy for the first time in the opening day’s G1 King Charles III Stakes [previously King’s Stand.]

Joining her from the Aussie corner is Kitty Rose, who has an interesting profile, having been bred in the UK and trained to Listed success in Ireland for Natalia Lupini. Now trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr who have overseen her preparations in England, she is being aimed at the Sandringham Handicap on Friday. That will be a drop in grade for the Invincible Army filly, who is worth a close look.

French success at the meeting has been a little sparse in recent years, but in Facteur Cheval they have a genuine contender for glory in Tuesday’s G1 Queen Anne Stakes. Trained by Jerome Reynier, the five-year-old proved he is not just a mudlover with a narrow success on fast ground in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in March. The horse he beat, Namur, has since finished second in the G1 Yasuda Kinen, one of the world’s great mile races. Furthermore, Facteur Cheval has experience over Ascot’s straight mile, having finished second to Big Rock in the G1 QEII on Champions Day. That rival could reoppose, but must put a lacklustre run in the Lockinge Stakes behind him.

Reynier may have another Ascot contender in Darlinghurst, who heads to the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes off the back of four straight wins. The son of Dark Angel won the G3 Prix du Guiche last time out, beating subsequent G1 Prix du Jockey-Club second First Look, and is an intriguing runner against Notable Speech and Rosallion.

Ascot may be one of the most British of all sporting events, but dismiss the internationals at your peril: they’ve come a long way.

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