The British flat campaign boasts an unrivalled number of spectacular multi-day fixtures. From the Guineas Meeting at Newmarket to Chester’s May Meeting, Glorious Goodwood and beyond – the latest feast of top-tier entertainment is never far away.
However, one fixture stands tall above the rest, and it takes place in the beautiful surroundings of Ascot in June each year. Kicking off on a Tuesday and running through to Saturday, Royal Ascot boasts a level of pomp and pageantry unmatched elsewhere on the racing scene. Throw in a cast of international stars showing up to take on the best British and Irish talent, and you have a meeting not to be missed.
With eight Group 1 contests on the menu, each of the five days features at least one top-tier event. The older middle-distance stars take their turn in the spotlight on Day 2 in this 1m2f contest. First run in 1862, the race is one of many events named in honour of royalty; the Prince of Wales of the title refers to the man who would become King Edward VII.
The list of previous Prince Of Wales’s Stakes winners is littered with superstar names, including Brigadier Gerard, Mtoto, Dubai Millennium, Ouija Board, and the lovably enigmatic Auguste Rodin.
2026 - Ombudsman
Ombudsman underlined his class by becoming the first horse in more than 30 years to win successive editions of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. The feat was last managed by Muhtarram in 1994/95. William Buick waited until the closing stages to unleash the Godolphin runner, who quickly left Minnie Hauk and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz in his dust. Though they both had every chance one furlong out, when Ombudsman turned on the burners, neither was in any danger of spoiling the favourite’s afternoon: a commanding performance.
- 1st – Ombudsman 11/10F, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- 2nd – Minnie Hauk 15/2, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd – Daryz 2/1, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
2025 - Ombudsman
After suffering a surprise defeat on his seasonal return, Ombudsman bounced back in style to land his first Group One prize. William Buick kept the four-year-old out of trouble behind a strong early pace before asking him to make his move in the straight. There was a delay in pressing the accelerator, however, as the four-year-old found himself wedged in between Facteur Cheval and Anmaat. With little time to waste, Buick steered his mount sharply to the left, finding sufficient room to launch a challenge that was too much for all of his rivals.
- 1st - Ombudsman 7/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- 2nd - Anmaat 5/1, Jockey: Jim Crowley, Trainer: Owen Burrows
- 3rd - See The Fire 7/2, Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: Andrew Balding
2024 - Auguste Rodin
Auguste Rodin added another major prize to his growing collection with a determined success at Royal Ascot. Ryan Moore kept the Aidan O’Brien-trained favourite in touch before driving him forward gradually towards the rail. In moving across to his right, Moore halted the momentum of Royal Rhyme, who had looked in real contention until this. There was still the danger of two French challengers Zarakem and Horizon Doré though, and the pair put Auguste Rodin under some huge pressure but could never quite get on level terms to mount any sort of real challenge.
- 1st – Auguste Rodin 13/8F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Zarakem 33/1, Jockey: Maxime Guyon, Trainer: Jerome Reynier
- 3rd – Horizon Dore 7/1, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Patrice Cottier
2023 - Mostahdaf
Mostahdaf delivered one of the most memorable performances of Royal Ascot 2023 when he swept past a high-quality field to not only win, but to win in style. Jim Crowley had settled the five-year-old behind the early pace and took him wide around the home turn, ensuring he would have a clear path to the line. A quick turn of foot enabled the 10/1 shot to overtake the field around the outside, and once in front, he was able to ease ahead of rivals including Derby winner Adayar and Irish Champion Stakes winner Luxembourg.
- 1st - Mostahdaf 10/1, Jockey: Jim Crowley, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- 2nd - Luxembourg 2/1F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd - Adayar 100/30, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
2022 - State Of Rest
In a small field of just five runners, State Of Rest made all at Ascot. The four-year-old took control from the off and gradually increased the pressure, leaving Japanese challenger Shahryar struggling to keep pace in the straight. Although the overseas rival tailed off, Bay Bridge had enough in the tank for a late challenge. Though he pushed hard, State Of Rest never looked like conceding the lead for the first time. It was Joseph O’Brien’s first Royal Ascot winner as a trainer, exactly ten years after he won the same race as a jockey.
- 1st – State Of Rest 5/1, Jockey: Shane Crosse, Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
- 2nd – Bay Bridge 10/11F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
- 3rd – Grand Glory 16/1, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Gianluca Bietolini
2021 - Love
Returning to action after an absence of around 300 days, Love showed she had lost none of her fighting spirit by holding off Audarya in a compelling finish to the 2021 edition of this race. Ryan Moore took the initiative early, seeking to lead the race from start to finish. That’s exactly what he managed too, despite some intense pressure down the home straight. All horses were in contention two furlongs out but only Audarya remained in touching distance as the finishing post closed in. James Fanshaw’s horse could never quite pull level though, with the power of Love proving too much.
- 1st - Love 11/10F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Audarya 10/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: James Fanshawe
- 3rd - Armory 5/2, Jockey: Seamie Heffernan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2020 - Lord North
Lord North’s impressive progress following John Gosden’s decision to geld the horse continued here at Ascot as he landed his first Group One victory. Jockey James Doyle kept the four-year-old towards the back early on, occupying last place as the field completed the home turn. However, with around a furlong to go, a huge burst of acceleration from Lord North sent him clear of the chasing pack. It proved a sustained effort too, as he continued to extend his advantage to the line in what was an extremely impressive ride.
- 1st – Lord North 5/1, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: John Gosden
- 2nd – Addeybb 7/2, Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: William Haggas
- 3rd – Barney Roy 8/1, Jockey: William Buick., Trainer: Charlie Appleby
2019 - Crystal Ocean
Having ended the previous season with three runner-up finishes to three supreme horses, there was a feeling history might repeat itself as Crystal Ocean took on Magical here. As many predicted, we ended up with a two-horse battle involving the pair after early leader Hunting Horn began to tail off. At this stage, although Crystal Ocean held a slight advantage, Magical was not giving up and switched smoothly to the right after Crystal Ocean blocked her space. A bit more defensive riding helped secure the victory but even with a clear run, Magical would have been beaten.
- 1st – Crystal Ocean 3/1, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
- 2nd – Magical 13/8F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd - Waldgeist 4/1, Jockey: Pierre-Charles Boudot, Trainer: Andre Fabre
2018 - Poet’s Word
This Prince of Wales’s Stakes renewal was expected to be a routine win for Cracksman, and everything was going largely to plan for the majority of the race. He made his move around the outside and took the lead as the pack headed into the final two furlongs. The advantage did not last long though, as Poet’s Word launched his own attack around the outside and had too much pace for the odds-on favourite. The result gave Sir Michael Stoute his 76th Royal Ascot winner, an incredible tally which moved him clear of the late Sir Henry Cecil at the top of the meeting’s all-time trainers’ list.
- 1st – Poet’s Word 11/2, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
- 2nd - Cracksman 2/5F, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 3rd - Hawkbill 11/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
2017 - Highland Reel
Highland Reel added another Group One victory to his record by outlasting Decorated Knight in a determined performance at Ascot. Aidan O’Brien’s five-year-old tracked the early pace and was one of four runners placed in a near straight horizontal line with one furlong to go. At this stage absolutely any of them could have won the contest but Charlie Appleby’s Scottish tailed off while Decorated Knight and Ulysses could only maintain the same pace as Highland Reel burst forward. With the win his career earnings rose to almost £6 million, more than any other of O’Brien’s horses at the time.
- 1st – Highland Reel 9/4, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd – Decorated Knight 10/1, Jockey: Andrea Atzeni, Trainer: Roger Charlton
- 3rd - Ulysses 9/2, Jockey: Jim Crowley, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
2016 - My Dream Boat
- 1st – My Dream Boat 16/1, Jockey: Adam Kirby, Trainer: Clive Cox
- 2nd – Found 4/1, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd – Western Hymn 12/1, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
2015 - Free Eagle
- 1st – Free Eagle 5/2, Jockey: Pat Smullen, Trainer: Dermot Weld
- 2nd – The Grey Gatsby 9/2, Jockey: Jamie Spencer, Trainer: Kevin Ryan
- 3rd – Western Hymn 8/1, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden