In the Queen Anne Stakes, first race of the 2025 Royal Ascot meeting, Notable Speech checked in an uncompetitive fourth as the tepid second choice. He pulled too hard during the early and middle stages and had little left for the finish.
Expectations run far higher in this year’s Queen Anne, and Notable Speech will be widely expected to launch the 2026 Royal Ascot meeting with a victory.
For an American audience, Thursday’s kind of the weak link in the five-day Royal Ascot meeting. There often have been American-based 2-year-olds in the Chesham Stakes, which kicks off the card, but not this year, and the feature, the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup, hits harder with an overseas crowd.
While Europe has a true staying division every year, rare are the American races at two miles and beyond, and none of them hold nearly the importance of the Gold Cup, which dates to the early 19th century.
They have each won three Group 1 races on the grandest stages in Europe and the Middle East. They have career records with more wins than losses, and both won their last starts.
The matchup between Daryz and Ombudsman in Wednesday’s Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Royal Ascot in Britain is a racing fan’s dream.
By Simon Mapletoft
Our ambassador Hollie Doyle gives her verdict on all seven races on Day 1 at Royal Ascot.
Tom can get off to a dream start in Queen Anne
Though it’s frustrating that a broken leg has ruled me out of the greatest week of Flat racing anywhere in the world, I’ll be keeping close to the action in the hope that my husband Tom Marquand and my boss Archie Watson both claim a share of the glory.
By Kevin Blake
Day two of Royal Ascot offers another feast of world-class action. Hopefully day one treated you well, but even if it didn’t, today is a new day and it is a long week.
The second day will be kicked off in rapid style with the Queen Mary Stakes (14:30) showcasing the best of fast two-year-old fillies in Europe. The one I like is the Aidan O’Brien-trained VICTORIOUS and I’m surprised she isn’t a shorter price than she is.
By Tom Collins
Beginning a big meeting on a winning note is a feeling that cannot be replicated, no matter if you are an owner, trainer, jockey, breeder or punter. When that first race is a Group 1, especially one with the history and status of Tuesday's Queen Anne Stakes, the emotion can be exponentially increased.
An intriguing nine-strong field will head to post for the Royal Ascot curtain-raiser, so let’s take a look at the declared runners and riders,
By Kevin Blake
I will make no apologies. Royal Ascot is my favourite race meeting of the year. It isn’t even close. Nothing compares to it in terms of the combination of fiercely-competitive world-class action on the track coupled with the most incredible setting and sense of real significance and occasion. It is in a class of its own and there is nowhere on the planet where it is more difficult for the participants to have a winner.
Meisho Tabaru held off a late surge from Croix du Nord to win Sunday’s Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan for the second consecutive year in a victory expected to lead to a trip to France this fall.
Despite starting from post 16 in a field of 18, Meisho Tabaru raced in second for most of the $3.5 million Takarazuka Kinen at 1 3/8 miles on turf, following 98-1 Cosmo Kuranda, who led by as many as four lengths.
She was forced to repel a late threat, but Diamond Necklace extended her winning streak to five races with her third Group 1 victory in Sunday’s $1.15 million French Oaks at Chantilly.
Diamond Necklace, who paid $3 as a heavy favorite in American pools, closed from seventh in a field of 11 to take the lead more than a furlong from the finish. Ridden by Ryan Moore, Diamond Necklace was unable to pull away, finishing a short neck in front of 34-1 Pink Panthera.
The French Oaks at 1 5/16 miles was Diamond Necklace’s longest race.
DRF is happy to provide international racing nightly on DRF. Watch and wager on top-tier International races daily from Australia, France, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. Major tracks include Flemington, Moonee Valley, Royal Randwick, Sha Tin, Happy Valley and more. Bet on all the big races from The Melbourne Cup to The Championships at Royal Randwick and the Hong Kong Cup. These free international past performances are available courtesy of Sky Racing World.
Sunday, June 14, (June 15, Australia)
