A face-off between Breeders’ Cup winners Auguste Rodin and Inspiral looms Wednesday in the £1 million Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, with the field vying for a free berth in the $5m Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 stakes races in 12 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders’ Cup on November 1-2 at Del Mar.
In addition to the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Thursday’s Norfolk Stakes for two-year-olds is an automatic qualifier into the $1m Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Will the real Auguste Rodin please stand up?
The mercurial dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin ended his three-year-old campaign on a high note for the Coolmore team when he landed the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park under an inspired ride from Ryan Moore.
However, for all his brilliance, the five-time G1 winner has been known to produce some inexplicably poor displays, and he has been beaten both starts so far in 2024.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien suggests his recent second place to White Birch in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh will have his contender rounding into top form.
“We were happy with his run,” said the Ballydoyle maestro. “The hope going into it was that he'd win, but the rain sent the ground in a direction that wasn't ideal for him.
“Even though he was beaten, the run was always going to bring him on. Royal Ascot has been a big part of the plan with him, and we couldn't be happier with where he is at the minute.”
Inspiral back up in trip
Cheveley Park Stud’s five-year-old mare Inspiral wrapped up an impressive 2023 season by winning the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf under Frankie Dettori.
Only fourth on her seasonal debut behind stablemate Audience in the G1 Lockinge Stakes over a mile, the six-time G1 winner returns to a mile and a quarter here under Kieran Shoemark as the jockey seeks his first G1 win for the John & Thady Gosden team.
“It’s very exciting to be riding Inspiral in the Prince Of Wales’s,” said Shoemark, speaking to the Qipco British Champ[ions Series media team.
“She could have run in the Queen Anne, but she obviously stayed the ten furlongs when she won at Santa Anita and she’s in great order. I’m aware it’s more of a test at the trip at Ascot, but she’s relaxing well in her work and it’s well worth a go.”
Looking back at the Lockinge, Shoemark added: “She needed the run at Newbury and we knew that going into the race. “She’s rarely been ready at that time of the year – she’s always been one for Royal Ascot and beyond – but we thought she was in good order and that it was worth taking the chance.
“I suppose we slightly underestimated how much she needed it there, but she’s come on plenty for it. I’ve done a couple of pieces of work on her and she’s pleased me.”
The Gosdens also saddle eight-year-old globe-trotter Lord North, who won this in 2020.
Mob-handed French team
Horizon Dore and four-time G1 heroine Blue Rose Cen headline a four-strong French challenge. Four-year-old gelding Horizon Dore comes into this race after a hugely encouraging run when touched off in the Prix d’Ispahan last time out, two lengths ahead of Blue Rose Cen, who won a pair of French Classics at three.
Jerome Reynier saddles a dark horse in relative outsider Zarakem, who beat Horizon Dore on heavy ground at the start of the season.
“He’s done nothing wrong and won five in a row last year as a three-year-old,” said the trainer. “His reappearance in the Prix d’Harcourt was really good and we supplemented him afterwards for the Prix Ganay, but the pace was quite slow and everything went wrong there.
“We’ll ride him here as we did in the Harcourt, waiting at the back, and you never know what can happen. He’s a very nice horse, and now is the time to take a shot.”
Alflaila makes a belated seasonal debut after finishing fifth behind Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes in September. Royal Rhyme got his year off to the perfect start with a comfortable length victory in last month’s Brigadier Gerard Stakes. Connections hope for ease in the ground given his excellent record on softer going.
• As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of Prince of Wales’s Stakes to start in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete at the championships at Del Mar. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 21 to receive the rewards.
• Visit the Breeders’ Cup Challenge webpage, the Qipco British Champions Series website and the Royal Ascot website
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