The Prince Of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 contest run over 1m2f. It takes place at 16:25 on Wednesday 19th June, which is the second day of Royal Ascot 2024. 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

5⁽⁵⁾

11-283

Lord North

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-2

116

134

Won this race in 2020 and gained further Group 1 wins in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Dubai Turf; only midfield in this year's edition of that 1m1f race at Meydan but he was a close third in Group 2 at Sandown (1m) on latest outing; this step back up in trip will surely suit but, as an 8yo, he's probably no longer at the level required to win this.

1⁽²⁾

11/15-

Alflaila

J: Jim Crowley

T: Owen Burrows

9-2

118

135

Has raced on only good or good to firm; highly progressive in 2022 (bar a modest run at this meeting) and added a 1m2f Group 2 success at York last July; had only one other race as 4yo, when about 3l fifth of eight to Auguste Rodin in Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, in a detached last for most of the way but running on well; in each-way calculations.

10⁽¹⁰⁾

5111-4

Inspiral

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

8-13

120

138

The first five of her Group 1 wins were over 1m, including at this meeting in 2022, but she also grabbed the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita last November on her first attempt at 1m2f, switched outside entering the short straight and surging past eight rivals to lead in the final stride; she wasn't the most settled through that race and failed to muster a challenge in a strange Lockinge at Newbury (1m) on reappearance, but huge shout if back to her best.

6⁽¹⁾

0115-1

Royal Rhyme

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

9-2

113

130

His form took off in the second half of last season, with wins in a handicap at Glorious Goodwood and Listed event at Ayr prior to his respectable fifth (raced freely) in the Champion Stakes over C&D; withdrawn three times this year due to good/good to firm going but he gained a Group 3 win when 1-2 at Sandown (1m2f, soft) four weeks ago; needs overall improvement but most of his form has been progressive; fast ground has to be a worry.

2⁽³⁾

011-02

Auguste Rodin

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-2

123

137

The Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf all fell to him last season but he ran absolute shockers in the 2,000 Guineas and King George (here) and flopped again in the Dubai Sheema Classic this March; Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh (good to yielding) late last month was much more like it again, albeit leading only briefly in the closing stages before White Birch asserted by 3l; peak efforts have been on good or firmer (also Group 1 winner on heavy as 2yo) but he's uncomfortably enigmatic.

9⁽⁴⁾

1451-5

Blue Rose Cen

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: Maurizio Guarnieri

8-13

116

133

This would be her first run on officially firmer than good; her four Group 1 wins include last year's Prix de Diane and Prix de l'Opera, both at about 1m2f; no room at a vital stage when close fourth in the Nassau at Goodwood on her only venture to Britain; not disgraced behind Horizon Dore at Longchamp (1m1f) on reappearance; major player if that has returned her to her peak.

3⁽⁶⁾

80-156

Hans Andersen

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O'Brien

9-2

103

119

Won a maiden, Group 3 and a conditions event; capable of very useful form but much better is needed at this level and he set the pace when well beaten at 33-1 in Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last time.

4⁽⁷⁾

0-4252

Horizon Dore

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: P Cottier

9-2

118

134

Usually held up and has a fine turn of foot, for instance seriously biding his time when grabbing the 1m2f Group 2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp last September; that was his fourth win in a row but he failed to settle in Champion Stakes over C&D (soft) and two others proved stronger; has not delivered his full firepower this term but nevertheless beaten by just a nose in Group 1 d'Ispahan last time and, although he's unraced on officially firmer than good, a move away from soft/heavy ground may well help; capable of a big run.

8⁽⁸⁾

116-18

Zarakem

J: Maxime Guyon

T: J Reynier

9-2

116

130

Unraced on officially firmer than good; won five in a row last April-September (up to 1m5f) prior to 500,000euros sale, but came of age when taking the Group 2 Prix d'Harcourt at Longchamp (1m2f, heavy) on return, proving too strong late on for Horizon Dore; may have done too much when disputing lead as favourite for Group 1 Ganay later in April; needs to resume improvement.

7⁽⁹⁾

21-79

Snobbish

J: Fabien Lefebvre

T: Maurizio Guarnieri

9-2

106

First foal; dam placed at 7f (RPR 75), half-sister to Derby second Madhmoon; unraced before last October and won a maiden at Pau (1m2f, AW) in December; well held on both starts since, ninth of 13 in a conditions event at Chantilly (1m1f, soft) last time, so this hugely stiff task for his fifth race may be to assist pace for stablemate Blue Rose Cen.

RACING POST TIP

Horizon Dore

While there is no disputing Auguste Rodin's class and he is up to winning this race on one of his good days, it is hard to forget that three of his last eight performances have been shockers. He was also a couple of notches below his best last time in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and there's reason enough to take him on when he's a red-hot favourite. Inspiral (second choice) made a muted reappearance last month but she has run well over 1m at the last two Royal Ascots and 1m2f may now be the way to go with her following her win when first tried at this trip last November at the Breeders' Cup. Alflaila holds possibilities but watch out also for the strong French challenge from HORIZON DORE (nap) and Blue Rose Cen. The latter has the higher profile but Horizon Dore is a Group 1 winner in waiting and, after a succession of races in the mud this season, he is now taken to deliver a telling late challenge.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Mostahdaf [6]	5	9-2	10/1	John & Thady Gosden	Jim Crowley
2022	State Of Rest [1]	4	9-2	5/1	S. M. Crosse	Joseph Patrick O’Brien
2021	Love [6]	4	8-11	11/10F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2020	Lord North [7]	4	9-0	44201	John Gosden	James Doyle
2019	Crystal Ocean [6]	5	9-0	44199	Sir Michael Stoute	Frankie Dettori
2018	Poet’s Word [1]	5	9-0	44238	Sir Michael Stoute	James Doyle
2017	Highland Reel [6]	5	9-0	9/4	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2016	My Dream Boat [3]	4	9-0	44212	Clive Cox	Adam Kirby
2015	Free Eagle [4]	4	9-0	5/2F	D K Weld	Pat Smullen
2014	The Fugue [7]	5	44508	44238	John Gosden	William Buick

Key race stats 2024

Key trends

From the first three in the market, 9/10
Rated within 7lb of RPR top rated, 8/10 (six were top-rated)
Had won or placed in a Group 1, 7/10
Adjusted RPR of at least 132, 7/10
Had finished in the first three in a 2,000 Guineas, 7/10

Other factors

Winners who had run in a Guineas finished 211211 at Newmarket and 11221 at the Curragh. The 2021 winner Poetic Flare also ran in the French Guineas (sixth) – the first since Excellent Art in 2007 (fourth).

Four winners had run in the British and Irish Guineas, with all making the frame in both.

Without Parole in 2018 and Palace Pier in 2020 (both trained by John Gosden) are the only two winners not to have run in a Group 1 that season since Shavian in 1990.

Aidan O’Brien has won nine of the last 24 runnings.

What happened in the Prince of Wales's Stakes last year?

MOSTAHDAF took his record to 6-6 off rest periods of 45 days or more (also won on debut), picking up well against labouring rivals in the closing stages. Luxembourg couldn’t back up his Tattersalls Gold Cup victory, with the US no-hoper Classic Causeway applying some pace pressure, and the O’Brien colt having no answer to the winner’s change of gear in the straight. Adayar, made a slow start, not for the first time, and used up gas to race handily, unable to pick up once in the clear in the straight.

Prince Of Wales’s Stakes

16:25 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2024

What happened in the Prince of Wales's Stakes last year?

All Races