Educator (GB) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), trained by William Haggas, will be the first runner for The King at Salisbury on Thursday, Sept. 29. Previously His Majesty had runners in the colours he shared with the Queen Consort when they were the Prince Of Wales and the Duchess Of Cornwall, respectively. However, Thursday will be the first time the royal colours will take to the racecourse in his name. Educator was one of two horses who galloped up Warren Hill in the royal silks as a tribute to the monarch at Newmarket's Open Weekend earlier this month. He will start in the Radcliffe & Co. H.
Tom Marquand, who will ride the 3-year-old, told Sky Sports Racing, “Having ridden for The Queen they will remain some of the proudest moments of my career for the entirety of it. Riding the first runner [for the King] is a moment to cherish as well.
“Educator is a lovely horse, he's shown a bit of character at home and he thankfully got his head in front at Newmarket at the start of the season.
“He's obviously an important runner, it will be a sad day and a happy day at the same time.”
Added British Horseracing Authority Chair Joe Saumarez Smith, “The loss of Her late Majesty was keenly felt within the racing and breeding industries given her lifelong passion for the sport, and so we are naturally thrilled to see that the horses previously owned by her will race on in the ownership of His Majesty King Charles III.
“Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II left an indelible mark on our sport and her legacy will continue to be felt, not only through the horses that will continue to run in the name of King Charles III, but also those she bred who are yet to be seen on the racecourse in the years to come.
“We wish Educator and King Charles III the very best of luck on Thursday and keenly look forward to further successes in those famous royal silks on British racecourses.”
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