The five days of Royal Ascot draw to a close on Saturday with the last of eight G1s in the shape of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, which features in the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge for the third time.
At £700,000, the six-furlong highlight for 4-year-olds and upwards carries the royal meeting’s joint-highest purse, alongside Wednesday’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes, won by Love.
The Diamond Jubilee is one of Europe’s most international races, with winners from four continents since the turn of the century, including horses from Australia (Choisir and Black Caviar), Hong Kong (Cape Of Good Hope) and the USA (Undrafted).
Doubtless the coronavirus pandemic has had a role to play in the complexion of this year’s contingent, however, as a purely European field has been assembled, headed by likely favourite Starman, an exciting sprinter whose only career defeat came on soft ground last term.
Supporters of late-running veteran Dream Of Dreams will be hoping it is a case of third time lucky after the horse closed late to be denied by only a head in the last two runnings for Sir Michael Stoute, the winningmost trainer in Royal Ascot history. Britain’s leading female rider, Hollie Doyle, bids for a second G1 success on Qipco British Champions Sprint winner Glen Shiel, who likes the course but may not like the ground.
The Diamond Jubilee was robbed of further Breeders’ Cup interest when last year’s Turf Sprint winner, Glass Slippers, was ruled out after pulling a muscle in her final piece of work. Glorious Goodwood is now her revised target.
Diamond Jubilee Stakes: A bit of context
History: first run in 1868 as the All-Aged Stakes, then known as the Cork and Orrery Stakes (after the 9th Earl of Cork, a 19th Century Master of the Buckhounds). Elevated to G1 status in in 2002 and renamed as ‘Golden Jubilee’ to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 50 years on the throne; duly became the Diamond Jubilee ten years later. Now restricted to older horses as 3-year-olds have the Commonwealth Cup option at same distance on Friday’s card.
Star turn: Black Caviar (2012) – what a thriller as Australian jockey Luke Nolen notoriously eased up on the ‘Wonder from Down Under’ and she just held on at a royal meeting turned salmon-and-black in her honour.
Most wins (trainer): Vincent O’Brien (5) Welsh Saint (1970), Saritamer (1974), Swingtime (1975), Thatching (1979), College Chapel (1993).
Most wins (jockey): Lester Piggott (10) Right Boy (1958, 1959), Tin Whistle (1960), El Gallo (1963), Mountain Call (1968), Welsh Saint (1970), Saritamer (1974), Swingtime (1975), Thatching (1979), College Chapel (1993).
Breeders’ Cup Challenge
The winner of the Diamond Jubilee will receive an automatic fees-paid berth in the Turf Sprint at the 2-day championships at Del Mar on November 5-6. A minimum travel allowance of $40,000 will also be provided for all starters based outside North America; the Challenge winner must already be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup programme or nominated by the pre-entry deadline of October 26 to receive the rewards.
Already qualified (1): Casa Creed (Jaipur Stakes)
Breeders’ Cup past performance
Every trend was bucked at last year’s Breeders’ Cup when Kevin Ryan-trained Glass Slippers scored for Britain in the Turf Sprint, where no European visitor had been placed since Diabolical finished second for Godolphin in the first running in 2008. However, she ran in the King’s Stand Stakes (fifth behind Battaash) at last year’s Royal Ascot, and the a ten-runner Diamond Jubilee, won by Hello Youmzain (also Ryan), did not produce a runner. Indeed, the six-furlong event has yet to have any bearing on the BC Turf Sprint – but U.S.-trained Extravagant Kid, a closing third in Tuesday’s King’s Stand, was fourth in 2020.
Top contenders for 2021
Starman (Ed Walker/Oisin Murphy) – lightly raced 4-year-old became warm order for this after beating Nahaarr in G2 Duke of York (King’s Stand winner Oxted only third); strong traveller whose sole career defeat in five starts came on soft ground.
Dream Of Dreams (Sir Michael Stoute/Ryan Moore) – better after being gelded last term (beat Glen Shiel to win G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on softer ground); ideally suited by this test and unlucky to be beaten after late charge in last two runnings but this renewal may not be quite as competitive; nice effort giving weight away on pipe-opener in little listed race at Windsor.
Glen Shiel (Archie Watson/Hollie Doyle) – went from strength to strength in 2020 before providing trainer/jockey combo with first G1 wins over course and distance in testing conditions in October; should come on for below-par seasonal debut at the Curragh, but connections will be praying for rain.
Nahaarr (William Haggas/Tom Marquand) – performed creditably cutting back in trip in Duke of York and likely to be suited by faster gallop at this stiff 6f, raising hopes he can turn tables with Starman.
What they say
Ed Walker, trainer of Starman
“He just looks the part. He’s some specimen – he’s an absolute dude and a bus of a ride. Every now and then, if he gets the whiff of a filly, he gets a little bit coltish, but he’s got a wonderful temperament. He missed the boat when it came to running at 2, and our patience has done him no harm at all, given the size of him. His last proper bit of work went well, and I couldn’t be happier. He’s got a good turn of foot, especially on fast ground.”
Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of Dream Of Dreams
“He won at 2/7 on his reappearance in the same Windsor race he won two years ago, and while it may not have told you too much, he looks in good shape mentally and physically and I'm sure he'll be competitive again.” (speaking to the Racing Post)
William Haggas, trainer of Nahaarr
“I thought Starman looked a very good horse at York and our horse has yet to win a stakes race of any description, although he’s only run in one. He’s got a bit to find with Starman and a few others, but Nahaarr ran a very good race in the Duke Of York. It will help him if it rains as I think he might be a little bit better with a bit of cut in the ground. If they go fast and he can wait a bit I think he’ll come home well.”
Richard Fahey, trainer of Ventura Rebel
“He’s been to Ascot three times and he’s won there, he’s been second and he’s been third. He loves the track and I was delighted with his comeback run at York, which doesn’t really suit him. He’s been training exceptionally well and, while I’m not saying he’ll win, I won’t be shocked if he runs a big race.”
- Starman is a non-runner because of the heavy ground.