Stats Guide: Albany Stakes

Last year’s race

Winner: Meditate
Jockey: Ryan L Moore
Trainer: Aidan P O'Brien
Owner: M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs J Magnier/Westerberg
Age: 2
Weight: 9st 2lbs
Starting Price: 5/2
Season Form Figures: 11
Previous Best: 1st - Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes (Group 3), Naas (May 2022)

By Paul Jones

Introduced into the Royal meeting 21 years ago, this 6f Group 3 restricted to two-year-old fillies may not be as prestigious as the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes in terms of its official status, but it has looked the classier of the two races in recent seasons. For example, the last two winners of the 1000 Guineas (Cachet and Mawj) were beaten in this race, and last year’s winner Meditate went on to win at The Breeders’ Cup.

Strong trends are thin on the ground, but it is of note that all but three of the 21 winners contested a maiden/novice last time out, with 14 winning (Cuis Ghaire and Meditate are the only winners to have won a Group race beforehand), and 11 winners were having just their second career start here. Three winners had previously won at Sandown, also appreciating that stiff finish.

Team Hannon have secured three victories and all three entered the Albany Stakes off the back of winning a maiden on their sole previous start. As with all two-year-old races at Royal Ascot, the Channon stable’s contenders need to be viewed closely and they have also won three runnings, including a 1-2 in 2003. Take note that two of their winners have also been upsets, striking at 40/1 and 16/1, plus five of their other 12 runners have all run creditably, finishing in the first six, in what is well-contested event.

Different League was a very rare French-trained two-year-old winner at Royal Ascot when causing a 20/1 surprise five years ago.

The last two winners were drawn low but the previous 10 were drawn in double-figure stalls, including three from closest to the stands’ rail (high).

At a glance summary

Positives:
Won a maiden/novice last time out
Had just one career start
Drawn high
Trained by Richard Hannon or Jack Channon
Won at Sandown

Negatives:
Failed to contest a maiden/novice last time out