Royal Ascot 2017 had a lot of edge of your seat moments for the thoroughbred racing enthusiast like Big Orange nosing out Order of St George to win the Gold Cup, quite literally and The Queen Mary Stakes winner Heartache who doled out it's namesake for the favourite Happy Like A Fool.
So as we are coming up on the 2018 week of the Royal Ascot, let's see what the winners and their entourages are upto:
1.Ribchester - After winning the Queen Anne Stakes, Godolphin’s Ribchester won the Prix Du Moulin de Longchamp, stood second in the Sussex and Queen Elizabeth II stakes. In what was to be the final race of his career, he was unplaced Breeders Cup Mile (2017). Touted as one of the best milers in the world, Ribchester has now gone to stud at Kildangan Studowned by Andrew and Madeleine Lloyd-Webber in Co. Kildare. We shall wait to see how his progenies honour his legacy.
2.Lady Aurelia - The last year's King's Stand Stakes winner Lady Aurelia's trainer Wesley Ward is quite pumped about her chances to defend her win at this year's Royal Ascot 2018 King's Stand Stakes. She is 2 on 2 with her appearance at Royal Ascot, having won the Queen Mary Stakes in 2016 as well. Will she do the hat trick? Watch this space for more.
3.Barney Roy - The Godolphin owned Barney Roy, who pipped favourite Churchill to win the Gr.1 St.James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot (2017) will not be returning to defend his title this year. The colt has hung up his boots (or should we say hoofs) and taken up stud duties at the Dalham Hall Stud. We wish the Colt happy hunting, just on a different turf!!!
4.Highland Reel - Highland Reel secured his sixth Gr.1 triumph last year at the Prince of Wales's Stakes. The then 5 year old Colt shook off tough challenges from Decorated Knight and Ulysses to finish first. The colt ended his racing career in style with another Gr. 1 win at the Hong Kong Vase in December 2017, his 7th overall. Highland Reel has taken up stallion duties at Coolmore Stud, and has been secured by Swettenham Stud (NZ) for the upcoming breeding season.
5.Heartache - Heartache, the winner of the Gr.2 Queen Mary stakes last year at Royal Ascot is training hard and fast, and plans to aim for the Gr.1 Commonwealth Cup this year. Sam Hoskins, manager at Hot to Trot, which owns the filly said Heartache is training alongside her trainer Clive Cox who led her to glory last year. Here's wishing the filly and her connections best of luck for the upcoming races.
6.Big Orange - Order of St George only saw a flash of Orange pass him by at the post during the Gold Cup at Ascot last year. Big Orange's shocking win, just by a head established the gelding as a champion who doesn't give up that easily. Trainer Michael Bell has been putting the horse through the paces, prepping him up for the Gold Cup again at Royal Ascot (2018). Will Big Orange storm pass the finish line again or will he be trumped? Only time will tell.
7.Winter - The Gr.1 Coronation Stakes (2017), 1,000 Guineas (2017) and Irish 1,000 Guineas (2017) winner, Winter has retired and is currently at Coolmore Stud alongside sire Galileo who won 6 of the 8 races he ran in his short but illustrious career. Her rider Wayne Lordan remembers her as a tough and genuine filly.
8.Caravaggio - Caravaggio won the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last year, and then followed it up with a win at Flying Five Stakes Gr.2 before bowing out of the racing world with a third place finish at the British Champions Sprint Stakes last October. Trainer Aiden O'Brien remembers Caravaggio as the fastest horse he ever trained. Let's hope his offsprings are able to wrangle that distinction from him.
9.The Tin Man - The winner of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes is coming back to stake his claim to the throne once again. Trainer James Fanshawe is confident the six year old is in good form, and is taking him to The Leisure Stakes at Windsor as a run-up to the Royal Ascot. We look forward to some amazing moments with him at the Royal Ascot 2018.
10.Out Do - The 9 year old gelding won the Wokingham Stakes last year and has continued taking part in quite a few races since then. The seasoned veteran of the races recently came in 4th in the Gr.2 Meydan Sprint in February. As of now, there's no news about him coming back to defend his title, however we shall certainly keep you posted if that's on the anvil.
By Tamanna Sachdev. Email Tammana on PR@secretariatsworld.com