The feature contest on the second day of Ascot’s royal meeting is the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, a race that has provided many memorable moments for both the Darley stallions and Godolphin over the years.
Who can forget Dubai Millennium’s eight-length romp in the 10-furlong contest in 2000, in what was sadly to be the last race of his outstanding career.
This was followed up a year later by Fantastic Light, where he demonstrated a superb turn of foot to add one of six G1 victories to his record.
Current Darley stallion Manduro took the race in 2007, a year after Ouija Board (Cape Cross) successfully took on the boys. More recently, Poet’s Word (Poet’s Voice) was victorious in 2018, with Cracksman and Hawkbill finishing second and third respectively.
This year, Lord North (Dubawi) will aim to become the latest member of an elite group of progressive horses to step up from handicap company, all the way to the highest level. Winner of last year’s Cambridgeshire at Newmarket, he has already demonstrated he can hold his own in Pattern company with his only start this year to date resulting in an easy win in the G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes (pictured).
The last winner of the Cambridgeshire to go on to G1 glory was none other than Halling, who recorded five top-flight wins in the Godolphin silks before becoming a stalwart of the Dalham Hall Stud stallion yard for many years.
Earlier on the card, First Receiver (New Approach) will bid to provide Her Majesty The Queen with a winner at what is surely her favourite race meeting of the year as he lines up in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes.
He enters the race off the back of a seven-length win at Kempton, but finished third behind the useful pair Al Madhar and Al Suhail at Newmarket’s July Festival last year.
The Listed Windsor Castle Stakes concludes the Darley-sired Stakes action on Wednesday, and sees three young horses bid for Black Type success.
Fast Start (Dubawi) lines up for Godolphin and will aim to become his sire’s 35th juvenile Stakes winner.
Former shuttlers Sepoy and Brazen Beau are represented by Mighty Gurkha and Stay Smart respectively.
