The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes has bee remodeled throughout its inception in 1868, originally staged as the All-Aged Stakes, prior to being renamed as the Cork and Orrery Stakes. It was initially held as Group Three status prior to being elevated to Group Two in 1998, before the commemoration of the Golden Jubilee in 2002 saw it change to its current name and format.
It has long attracted a smart field of sprinters, with many going on to be successful stallions, for all geldings and fillies aren’t exempt. The event often attracts international interest and places the contest on a wider global pedestal, and this years renewal see’s some fascinating foreign raiders with a live chance.
Favourites
Lazzat
Territories gelding Lazzat completed a six-timer when dropping back to six-and-a-half furlongs for the first time in the Prix Maurice de Gheest last season, bolting up three lengths from some classy types to produce the highest winning RPR of the contest in the last ten renewals.
The foray back up to seven furlongs saw him beaten half a length behind Lake Forest in the Golden Eagle which was no mean feat, though the further step up to a mile in the G1 Hong Kong Mile brought out no further improvement. A second try at the trip saw him beaten length in listed company on seasonal debut in March, and he eventually bounced back to form when blowing away seven rivals at Chantilly down in trip to six furlongs.
He’s evidently better suited to this trip than others, but a slight reserve of stamina is more than useful over this stiff six and he looks something of a worthy favourite given his ability to perform at the highest level on the global stage beyond optimum conditions.
Inisherin
Inisherin looks to be the best of what is a moderate looking British bunch, having won the Duke of Clipper at York in spite of not looking all that finely tuned for the contest. That was his first run after a wind operation and it took him a while to wind up there and shake off the front running Night Raider, and he displayed a gutsy attitude to fend off the filly Flora Of Bermuda.
He produced an RPR level with his career best when a two length winner of last year’s Commonwealth Cup, and wasn’t disgraced on ground a tad slower than ideal in the July Cup. He’s still somewhat unexposed over sprinting trips with his record reading 11501, and if his wind continues to hold up then he’ll likely be bang there as a strong stayer at the distance.
Satono Reve
Japanese raider Satono Reve looks to give his nation a first win at Royal Ascot having largely dominated the global scene of late, and has to given some serious respect. His record over this trip reads 21111117312, with two of his four defeats coming marginally behind arguably the best sprinter in the world Ka Ying Rising and if he’s able to replicate that form over here, then there’s potential we could see something special under leading rider Joao Moreira.
Storm Boy
Justify colt Storm Boy is another of major interest, having developed into a Group sprinter Down Under. He’s come up short on four occasions in at the highest level and has something to prove having weakened markedly on yard debut at the Curragh, but he was reportedly given no work before hand and simply went into the contest as a purely unknown quantity.
He wasn’t beaten out of sight despite finishing last of the nine, and it would be folly to write off the Coolmore squad particularly given the recent market strength behind him leading up to the meeting.
Topgear
Topgear is the third representative of the foreign raiders in the top five of the market and has put in two career best efforts of late, formerly when bolting up in a Newmarket G2 in October displaying a useful turn of foot to win an eased down five lengths. The latter effort came in G3 company at Longchamp when beatng Sajir by a length with Queen Anne fifth Lake Forest back in fourth, and he’s evidently improving with age.
The drop back to six furlongs poses a question mark however, but he was three from three over this trip as a two year old and he’s likely to attempt to make all to utilise his stamina surplus.
Outsiders To Consider
Flora Of Bermuda
Dark Angel filly Flora Of Bermuda is one of several acquisitions by Wathnan Racing for their Royal Ascot battalion, as she put in a career best effort when beaten a neck by Inisherin in the Duke of York Clipper Stakes last time out. She looked a touch unlucky there having been short of room on the rail, and had she got an out earlier she may have just got up on the line.
Her course form stacks up well, as she was first home on her group of eight on the far-side in the Queen Mary in 2023, and she as narrowly beaten in the Champions Sprint when keen without cover on her penultimate run.
She’s drawn in stall four with little pace around her which would be a slight concern, but it’ll be interesting to see whether they try and make the running with her on the far-side ands try to get her settled from the front.
Annaf
The first time cheek-pieces for Annaf spark minor interest at a price as the seasoned Muharaar gelding hasn’t looked back since landing his first win on turf in the Portland off top-weight in 2023. He backed that up over C&D in the Bengough Stakes next time out, and put in a career best two starts later in Riyadh when landing a valuable £944,881.89 in prize money.
Though winless since, he wasn’t disgraced over C&D in the Champions Sprint when a four length ninth, and he’s slowly worked back to form this season having been third in the listed Cathedral Stakes. Rossa Ryan returns to the saddle, who’s won on six of his eight victories, and he cannot be written off given his experience in these events.
Grand Grey
Grand Grey looked somewhat unlucky not to land the G3 Abernant Stakes on yard debut for Kevin Ryan, having been short of room in rear when mounting a challenge and just failing to reel in the well backed Sajir. The winner was since second to Topgear who’s 8/1 in here, and the second filled that spot in a Curragh G2 next time out.
Grand Grey was seventh in that contest, but he blew the start losing several lengths to the leaders and it was game over from there. He did well to get somewhat back in to the contest, clocking the quickest top speed in the race and his middle sectionals were smart too, but those early exertions were a detriment to his finish for all he was hampered once more late on.
If breaking on terms, he will likely have this race ran to suit for a yard who won this in 2020 and Jamie Spencer, whose straight course antics were displayed gloriously when landing this on Khaadem in 2023.
Verdict
In a discipline that widely lacks a stand out candidate on these shores, SATONO REVE is taken to break the Japanese Royal Ascot duck with the view that the Ka Ying Rising form is the best on offer here. The “Magic Man” Joao Moreira comes here for just the one ride and has course form,
having landed the Shergar Cup Dash for Godolphin in 2023, and with pace drawn all around him on the near-side he may have the race ran to suit.
Grand Grey is taken to follow the selection home provided he breaks on terms and a strongly run test will play into his strengths with Spencer booked to emulate his effort on Khaadem in 2023. He has something to find on figures, but on collateral form with Sajir he’s not a million miles off with the protagonists and he’s bred to revel on this firmer surface.
Inisherin is the class angle from the British in here and it would be a surprise to see him out of the frame given he likely wouldn’t have been fully tuned up for that reappearance at York on his first start after a wind op. He mentally looked as if he realised he could breathe fluently again there, but his inexperience against his more seasoned elders could potentially catch him out for win purposes.
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes Predicted 1-2-3
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Make sure you’re following us on all our social media platforms to keep up to date with all the latest horse racing news and the best tips.