The King's Charles III Stakes (formerly the King's Stand Stakes is a Group 1 contest run over 5f. It takes place at 15:40 on Tuesday 17th June, which is the first day of Royal Ascot 2025. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

10⁽²¹⁾

554-59

Twilight Calls

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Richard Spencer

9-7

100

117

An infrequent winner but he's been a fine sprinter in his time and has run with great credit in the last three runnings of this race, finishing second, fourth and sixth; whether he can reproduce those efforts after finishing well held in two runs for new yard looks unlikely.

7⁽¹⁷⁾

/224-3

Regional

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

9-7

114

126

Sparingly raced for a 7yo but he's high class on his day and he hit the jackpot when winning the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock (6f, good) in 2023; seen only three times last year but he found only Asfoora too good in this race and, following a nine-month break, he was produced in great shape to finish a close third to Believing in a Group 1 at Meydan (6f) in April; another placing is realistic.

5⁽¹²⁾

311/3/

Manaccan

J: Cieren Fallon

T: John Ryan

9-7

105

118

Progressive 3yo in 2022 when a Listed C&D win was surpassed by only a Group 3 AW success later that year; he was seen only once as a 4yo though and not at all since, so it's likely he will be very rusty today.

12⁽¹⁰⁾

124-17

Asfoora

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Henry Dwyer

9-4

114

129

Excellent Australian mare who really got shifting to beat the locals in this race last year; unable to add to that in two British runs afterwards but perhaps she's more of a powerhouse on this track; looked to retain all her ability when winning in April on return from a layoff but she ran flat just two weeks later and has had a different preparation to last year, arriving much later this time and coming here without a British warm-up run; first-time headgear adds another question but she's earned a lot of respect.

11⁽¹¹⁾

57-243

Washington Heights

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

9-7

107

122

Capable at the right level over both sprint trips but he's been vulnerable in the better races and had every chance when a one-paced third of 11 to Mgheera in a Haydock Group 2 (5f, good) in May; an onlooker again.

8⁽⁵⁾

551-16

Rumstar

J: Rob Hornby

T: Jonathan Portman

9-7

109

123

Has not had many 5f runs since winning a Group 3 as a 2yo and he appreciated the return to this trip when a ready winner of a Listed C&D race (soft) in October and a Group 3 at Newmarket (good) in May; however, a recent sixth to Mgheera in a Group 2 at Haydock leaves him with a lot to find today.

14⁽¹⁾

3223-1

Believing

J: Ryan Moore

T: George Boughey

9-4

112

130

Very reliable mare who stood a tough 2024 season with fortitude, regularly on the premises in the top sprints, including when fourth, having every chance, in this one (the first of two runs at the meeting); she achieved more when going down only narrowly from a poor draw in the Group 1 Nunthorpe at York (5f, good to firm) in August; sold for 3,000,000gns in December; returned to action with a Group 1 win at Meydan (6f) in April and she looks set for another big run at the top level.

4⁽³⁾

5546-7

Kerdos

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: Clive Cox

9-7

108

121

Went to a new level when winning a Group 2 at Haydock (5f, soft) last May but taking the next step proved beyond him in Group 1s later, such as when fifth of 17 in this race (good to firm) and fourth at the Curragh (5f, good); out the back on comeback at York and later targets should prove more suitable.

16⁽⁸⁾

506-11

Mgheera

J: William Buick

T: Ed Walker

9-4

108

126

Fairly undistinguished sprint form, nearly all on testing surfaces, in France but when she did find herself on officially good ground, in a Listed 5f race at Chantilly last June, she won in some style; has raised her profile since moving to Britain, winning a Group 3 at Longchamp and dashing home to land a Group 2 at Haydock (5f, good; unraced on good to firm) in May; has a bit to find in form terms but she's at the top of her game and may go higher yet.

NR⁽²⁾

1670-1

Bucanero Fuerte

T: Adrian Murray

9-7

110

120

Wide-margin winner of a Group 1 at the Curragh (6f, good) as a 2yo but he was found wanting at this level in Britain and Ireland last year; a stud career didn't work out later and although he picked up a Listed race at Naas (5f, good) in May, that form doesn't go far enough to suggest a strong showing today; has been supplemented.

1⁽¹⁶⁾

10-115

American Affair

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

9-7

105

121

Made outstanding progress in 5f handicaps and the way he raced to the front at York (good to firm) in May showed that a switch to Group company wouldn't be at all fanciful; unable to show what he was made of behind Mgheera in a Group 2 at Haydock (5f, good) since, as a gap shut as he was about to go through it, and he remains one to keep on the right side.

3⁽⁶⁾

3600-6

Jasour

J: Jim Crowley

T: Clive Cox

9-7

107

121

Smart 6f form as 2yo and 3yo, winning Group races in each year as well as finishing third of 14 in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at this meeting in 2024; has needed some excuses since though and he was a disappointing favourite in a 5f Haydock Listed race on his recent reappearance; a hood goes on.

13⁽⁴⁾

112-31

Balmoral Lady

J: Tom Marquand

T: Ed Walker

9-4

102

118

Progressive 4yo who made great strides in the autumn with a hat-trick at about 5f on heavy and soft ground; a recent Listed win at Haydock (5f, good) suggests she's still improving, but this is likely to be hard labour.

NR⁽¹³⁾

615-92

No Half Measures

T: Richard Hughes

9-4

105

122

A pleasant surprise to connections in 2024 as she kept finding something new to win six times, the latest in a Group 3 at Newbury (heavy) in September; off on the right foot this spring, coming on for her reappearance when narrowly failing to concede 5lb to Balmoral Lady in a Listed Haydock race (good) but that form falls short of what will be needed here.

9⁽¹⁴⁾

3910-7

Starlust

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

9-7

114

128

Dabbles at both sprint trips but 5f on fast ground suits him well as he showed both when finishing an excellent third in the Group 1 Nunthorpe at York (good to firm) in August and for his win in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar (firm) in November; should come on plenty for last month's reappearance and the weather has been kind.

17⁽¹⁸⁾

080-61

Monteille

J: Cristian Demuro

T: Mario Baratti

9-4

103

119

Recaptured form when returned to 5f in Group 3 at Chantilly (good to soft) recently but this big rise in class is likely to ask too much of her, especially as she's unraced on ground officially quicker than good to soft.

6⁽⁷⁾

0511-3

Night Raider

J: James Doyle

T: K R Burke

9-7

105

127

Dynamic on AW and was much too swift for his rivals when making it 4-4 (7f and 6f) in a Listed race in November; the return to turf didn't come off when again trying to make all in a Group 2 at York (6f, good to firm) in May when he was a sitting duck late on; however, AW specialists often run well here and he should have the speed for the drop to 5f; remains intriguing.

19⁽²⁰⁾

11/5-2

Prime Art

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

9-4

103

118

Juvenile season ended with a Group 3 win at Ayr (6f, good to soft) on final start for Johnny Murtagh; seen only once as a 3yo but she was better than ever when pressing Frost At Dawn in Listed race at Haydock (6f, good to firm) in May; goes into the unknown on first 5f run; has been supplemented.

15⁽¹⁵⁾

-87221

Frost At Dawn

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: William Knight

9-4

104

119

Often leads; her highest-profile wins have been a Group 3 at Meydan (5f, good) in March 2024 and a Haydock Listed race (6f, good to firm; from Prime Art) last month; this level has proved beyond her so far.

23⁽²³⁾

1-2118

West Acre

J: Callum Shepherd

T: George Scott

9-1

112

123

Had a promising, rather than stellar, 2yo season but he raised the bar when breaking the 5f track record in a Group 2 at Meydan (good to firm) in January, without having too hard a time either; he wasn't so overbearing when following up next time but this trip will suit better than the 6f he ran over when eighth to Believing there in April; not dismissed.

22⁽¹⁹⁾

814-61

Tropical Storm

J: Colin Keane

T: Andrew Balding

9-1

103

115

Second of 13 in the Group 2 Norfolk here last year but he couldn't compete with Aesterius in a Group 2 at Doncaster in September; comes here in good form after winning a Listed race narrowly at York (5f, good to firm) but he's hard to recommend at this level; sold for £500,000 on Monday.

20⁽⁹⁾

2116-6

Aesterius

J: James McDonald

T: Archie Watson

9-1

108

117

Smart sprinting 2yo whose four 5f wins included a Group 3 at Longchamp (good to soft) and Group 2 at Doncaster (good), both from the front; has to put a disappointing reappearance at York (favourite) behind him in this much better race.

21⁽²²⁾

184-23

Estepona

J: Clement Lecoeuvre

T: M Delcher Sanchez

9-1

104

113

Narrow winner of first two races as a 2yo but, even allowing for his second in a Group 3 (extended 5f, good to soft) in the first of two runs at Chantilly this season, he faces a steep uphill task in this first run over a bare 5f.

RACING POST TIP

Mgheera

The Australian mare Asfoora was the best horse in this contest last June but her preparation has been very different this time, arriving much later with no time for a British prep run, and there's no knowing what effect fitting blinkers will have on her. It would be good to see her win again but the runner-up Regional and the fourth Believing don't have a lot of ground to make up from last year's race. Believing, in particular, hardly knows how to run a bad race and she always wants to win but she had every chance from this draw last June and perhaps this course isn't quite the perfect fit for her. MGHEERA has a bit to find on bare form but she's unexposed at 5f on good ground or firmer, is going the right way for her new yard and this stiff test should suit. Night Raider can give it a good shot from the front, while among the bigger prices American Affair remains of interest and Starlust will relish the conditions.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2024	Asfoora [17]	5	9-4	5/1	Henry Dwyer	Oisin Murphy
2023	Bradsell [7]	3	9-1	14/1	Archie Watson	Hollie Doyle
2022	Nature Strip [10]	7	9-7	9/4	Chris Walker	James McDonald
2021	Oxted [14]	5	9-5	4/1	Roger Teal	Cieren Fallon
2020	Battaash [10]	6	9-4	5/6F	Charles Hills	Jim Crowley
2019	Blue Point [1]	5	9-4	5/2	Charlie Appleby	James Doyle
2018	Blue Point [10]	4	9-4	6/1	Charlie Appleby	William Buick
2017	Lady Aurelia [18]	3	8-9	7/2	Wesley A Ward	John R Velazquez
2016	Profitable [8]	4	9-4	4/1	Clive Cox	Adam Kirby
2015	Goldream [3]	6	9-4	20/1	Robert Cowell	Martin Harley
2014	Sole Power [8]	7	9-4	5/1	Edward Lynam	Richard Hughes

Key race stats 2025

Key trends

Adjusted RPR of at least 125, 9/10
Rated within 7lb of RPR top-rated, 9/10
Ran at least twice that season, 8/10
Drawn seven or higher, 8/10
Group winner over 5f, 7/10
Won that season, 5/10

Other factors

In 2020, Battaash became the first successful favourite since Scenic Blast in 2009.

Four beaten favourites had won a Group race last time.

What happened in the King Charles III Stakes last year?

Jim Goldie toasted a memorable first Group 1 success courtesy of fast improving sprinter American Affair. The five-year-old started the previous season in a low-grade handicaps off a mark of 70 but has relentlessly climbed the ranks and struck on his first start at the top level under Paul Mulrennan. Believing was sent off the 3-1 favourite but could only finish back in 11th, while the previous year’s winner Asfoora was fifth.

King Charles III Stakes

15:40 Royal Ascot