All the race replays for the G1 events at Britain's foremost fixture – plus a bite-sized ratings-based analysis of all the Group-race action
Royal Ascot 2022 was a spectacular success: top-class racing played out on a perfect racing surface and under mainly blue skies, with winners including the horses now ranked #1 and #2 in the world by TRC Global Rankings.
Partly due to the conditions, it was a highly satisfactory meeting in terms of how the form played out. No fewer than nine of the Group races were won by the highest-ranked horse in our rankings published before the meeting, while it would have been 10 had G1 Coronation Stakes winner Inspiral not been excluded due to her absence from the track.
Led by G1 Queen Anne winner world #1 Baaeed (TRC Computer Race Rating 127) and G1 King’s Stand hero world #2 Nature Strip (127), there were some world-class performances. Here is a brief synopsis of each Group race from a rankings standpoint.
TUESDAY
Queen Anne Stakes G1
Before the race: Baaeed #1, Real World #61, Lights On #462
Result with ratings: Baaeed 127, Real World 121, Order Of Australia 111
After the race: Baaeed #1, Real World #47, Order Of Australia #260
How it went down: Baaeed looked in control throughout, but Real World ran on really well and kept the margin under two lengths.
Coventry Stakes G2
Before the race: Blackbeard #570
Result with ratings: Bradsell 112, Persian Force 107, Royal Scotsman 106, Blackbeard 102
After the race: Bradsell #335, Blackbeard #537, Persian Force #1388, Royal Scotsman #1778
How it went down: Breeze-up bullet Bradsell quickened best in what is regarded as the royal meeting’s most prestigious 2yo contest, but Persian Force got going too late. Blackbeard lacked pace on this faster surface.
King’s Stand Stakes G1
Before the race: Nature Strip #4, Golden Pal #16, Man Of Promise #156
Result with ratings: Nature Strip 127, Twilight Calls 111, Acklam Express 111
After the race: Nature Strip #2, Golden Pal #28, Man Of Promise #173, Twilight Calls #779
How it went down: After US-trained Golden Pal blew the start, the clash between overseas sprint stars went to the Australian Nature Strip by more than four lengths in a brilliant display.
St James’s Palace Stakes G1
Before the race: Coroebus #33, Angel Bleu #266, Maljoom #288
Result with ratings: Coroebus 119, Lusail 117, My Prospero 116, Maljoom 115
After the race: Coroebus #18, Maljoom #248, Angel Bleu #278, Lusail #369, My Prospero #1307
How it went down: A messy race. Both Maljoom and (especially) My Prospero could claim to be unlucky, but Coroebus got the job done narrowly, coming through a battle like this could put an edge on him.
WEDNESDAY
Queen Mary Stakes G2
Before the race: No ranked horses
Result with ratings: Dramatised 113, Maylandsea 109, Maria Bramwell 107
After the race: Dramatised #274, Maylandsea #1222, Maria Bramwell #1705
How it went down: One of the more impressive winners in the well-regarded Dramatised, but not much to go on for the rankings computer except the race standard and the spread of the field.
Queen’s Vase G2
Before the race: No ranked horses
Result with ratings: Eldar Eldarov 114, Zechariah 114, Hafit 114
After the race: Eldar Eldarov #241, Zechariah #972, Hafit #1273
How it went down: A three-horse war, clear of the remainder, for a prize strangely uncontested by a single ranked horse. These are promising young stayers and the winner has class and guts; he looks sure to stay further but is equally worth a try against better horses at around 1m4f.
Prince of Wales’s Stakes G1
Before the race: State Of Rest #32, Shahryar #59, Bay Bridge #77
Result with ratings: State Of Rest 123, Bay Bridge 120, Grand Glory 114
After the race: State Of Rest #10, Bay Bridge #45, Shahryar #68, Lord North #106, Grand Glory #108
How it went down: A great ride from Shane Crosse (#66 from #95) to which State Of Rest responded brilliantly to win his fourth G1 in as many countries. Bay Bridge is getting better and looks sure to win a G1 soon.
Duke Of Cambridge Stakes G2
Before the race: Mother Earth #120, Saffron Beach #172, Bashkirova #389
Result with ratings: Saffron Beach 117, Thunder Beauty 110, Primo Bacio 109
After the race: Saffron Beach #65, Mother Earth #133, Bashkirova #419, Thunder Beauty #1108
How it went down: Mother Earth disappointed (subsequently retired), but Saffron Beach was still really impressive clearing away to win by more than three lengths.
THURSDAY
Norfolk Stakes G2
Before the race: No ranked horses
Result with ratings: The Ridler 110, Walbank 104, Crispy Cat 104, Brave Nation 101
After the race: The Ridler #473, Walbank #1637, Crispy Cat #1976
How it went down: 50-1 poke The Ridler was probably the best, but he swerved across the placed horses in the closing stages and carved up their chance. More evidence is needed to rank these two-year-olds precisely.
Ribblesdale Stakes G2
Before the race: History #446, Life Of Dreams #1458
Result with ratings: Magical Lagoon 110, Sea Silk Road 109, History 104
After the race: Magical Lagoon #431, History #558, Sea Silk Road #1230
How it went down: Another exciting finish with Irish challenger Magical Lagoon battling to hold the promising Sea Silk Road. These are fledgling prospects and they have a way to go to reach the form established by Tuesday, Emily Upjohn and Nashwa in the Oaks at Epsom. That form which received a boost from the last-named filly’s win in the G1 Prix de Diane under Hollie Doyle (#60 from #102).
Gold Cup G1
Before the race: Stradivarius #54, Princess Zoe #231, Kyprios #451
Result with ratings: Kyprios 120, Mojo Star 118, Stradivarius 117
After the race: Kyprios #57, Stradivarius #60, Princess Zoe #245, Mojo Star #535
How it went down: One win in three Group starts saw Kyprios underranked; he is a rising force and can rank higher still. Although Stradivarius had to wait for a run, he is in the autumn of his career. Mojo Star returned to the form of his second in last year’s G1 Derby at Epsom; can he win a big race?
Hampton Court Stakes G3
Before the race: Claymore #1517
Result with ratings: Claymore 108, Reach For The Moon 104, Kingmax 101
After the race: Claymore #610, Reach For The Moon #78
How it went down: Maybe the weakest Group race of the meeting, and Claymore was the only ranked horse on the back of his second to Native Flair in the G3 Craven Stakes. He won well.
FRIDAY
Albany Stakes G3
Before the race: Meditate #1043
Result with ratings: Meditate 108, Mawj 105, Ivory Madonna 104
After the race: Meditate #532, Mawj #1547, Ivory Madonna #1970
How it went down: Too early for most of these to have had a crack at Group company. The only ranked filly Meditate scored readily by more than two lengths; she will stay further for sure.
Commonwealth Cup G1
Before the race: Perfect Power #104, Go Bears Go #248, El Caballo #291, Twilight Jet #380
Result with ratings: Perfect Power 121, Flaming Rib 115, Flotus 114, Cadamosto 112
After the race: Perfect Power #29, Go Bears Go #265, El Caballo #379, Twilight Jet #496
How it went down: A rating in the 120s and a berth in the world’s Top 30 confirm Perfect Power is now in the superstar bracket following this decisive win. He should win a fourth G1 soon. There were a couple of disappointments among the higher-ranked runners.
Coronation Stakes G1
Before the race: Cachet #125, Spenderella #171, Mangoustine #234
Result with ratings: Inspiral 125, Spenderella 115, Discoveries 115
After the race: Inspiral #27, Cachet #134, Spenderella #157, Mangoustine #271
How it went down: A hugely impressive win from Inspiral, who got stronger as the race progressed and powered clear on her season’s debut. She could prove more than a match for the top colts. The US challenger Spenderella ran the race of her life. As expected, the form of the English and French 1,000 Guineas proved unexceptional when a top-class rival came along.
King Edward VII Stakes G2
Before the race: Changingoftheguard #274
Result with ratings: Changingoftheguard 113, Grand Alliance 113, Lysander 104
After the race: Changingoftheguard #118, Grand Alliance #1023, Lysander #1990
How it went down: An ordinary renewal of what is often an informative race. Derby also-ran Changingoftheguard won his second Group race determinedly, but the runner-up Grand Alliance would have beaten him but for swerving in the closing stages.
SATURDAY
Jersey Stakes G3
Before the race: Rocchigiani #836, Hello You #912
Result with ratings: Noble Truth 112, Find 109, Dubai Poet 108
After the race: Noble Truth #364, Rocchigiani #873, Hello You #1037, Find #1218
How it went down: Only two world-ranked horses which suggested a progressive type might prevail. Noble Truth stayed on strongly and looks a specialist at this distance for he is aggressive early.
Hardwicke Stakes G2
Before the race: Broome #75, Layfayette #160, Solid Stone #214
Result with ratings: Broome 119, Mostahdaf 112, Hurricane Lane 109
After the race: Broome #31, Hurricane Lane #34, Layfayette #228
How it went down: A great mover with a fine attitude, Broome responded to forcing tactics to gain a deserved fourth Group success. There was a pleasing reappearance by Hurricane Lane, who will do better with this run under his belt.
Platinum Jubilee G1
Before the race: Home Affairs #53, Alcohol Free #72, A Case Of You #85, Highfield Princess #124
Result with ratings: Naval Crown 120, Creative Force 119, Artorius 117, Campanelle 117
After the race: Home Affairs #70, Alcohol Free #80, Naval Crown #87, Creative Force #115
How it went down: More depth to this G1 sprint than the King’s Stand and no Australian winner after Home Affairs ran poorly. Naval Crown led home a one-two for #2 trainer Charlie Appleby, who forfeited top spot on the world rankings to Chad Brown after the latter’s exploits at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
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