G2 Queen's Vase

Franking the form of the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial, Ballydoyle's Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Danedrop {Ire}, by Danehill) relished the extra trip of Wednesday's G2 Queen's Vase to justify Ryan Moore's faith and reward him by bringing up his 80th Royal Ascot. Always content on the front end, Ballydoyle's 7-4 favourite veered left in the straight when in command but found the line 1 1/4 lengths ahead of stablemate Highbury (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), with compatriot Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) 3/4 of a length away in third. Aidan O'Brien, who was...

Wednesday's Royal Ascot cards were finalised on Monday, with the feature G1 Prince of Wales's S. made up of 10 runners but not, as expected, White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}). The G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner's absence is one less obstacle for Ballydoyle's star colt of 2023, Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), with Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Yeguada Centurion's Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) looking the chief threats to the Ballydoyle runner. Blue Rose Cen is joined by compatriots Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}),...

Wathnan Racing's Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), who won the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, is headed for some time off, with connections opting for a 4-year-old staying campaign, according to racing advisor Richard Brown. The John and Thady Gosden trainee won his first three starts, before running third in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. and fifth in the G1 St Leger, both times to Heart's Cry (Jpn) colt Continuous (Jpn). "I think he's going to be better on top of the ground and he still ran an admirable...

It had to come and, despite the drama of the opening day, Frankie's winner at his last Royal Ascot was on the board towards the end of day two as Wathnan Racing's unbeaten Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}--Gretchen {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}) made virtually all in the G2 Queen's Vase. Bought by his new owners from the breeder Normandie Stud after his win in the Listed Cocked Hat S. at Goodwood last month, the heavily-supported even-money favourite had to battle to see off Saint George (GB) (Roaring Lion) but was...

Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), a G1 Irish Derby victor and winner of G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, sired his first reported foal when Bestow (GB) produced a filly at Ballincurrig House Stud on Monday night. "She's a gorgeous bay filly with quality, bone and size," said owner Michael Moore. "We are delighted with her." Bestow is a daughter of Presenting (GB) and a half-sister to Operating (GB) (Milan {GB}), winner of the €100,000 Aon H. Novice Chase at Punchestown. Santiago, who stands at Coolmore's Castlehyde Stud, is a Derby...

Wednesday's G2 Queen's Vase was staged over 14 furlongs, but it took a pixel study for the judge to call it as TDN Rising Star Eldar Eldarov (GB) inched out Zechariah (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) to continue the fine week for Dubawi (Ire). KHK Racing's unbeaten colt had launched his season with a win over 10 furlongs on Newcastle's Tapeta May 24, but Roger Varian had plumped for this staying test of all the options here and ultimately was fully justified as the £480,000 Arqana Breeze Up graduate needed every yard...

She has waited long enough, it seems, and the time has finally arrived for the rekindling of Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at Royal Ascot. Denied outings in the Arc, the Breeders' Cup and the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Ballydoyle's G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine has everything in her favour at last as the sun beats down on the famed Berkshire strip. Successful in her three 3-year-old starts--which also included the G1 Yorkshire Oaks--by a cumulative margin of 18 1/2 lengths, the chestnut lines up against the colts for...