The glorious month of June is always one of the most anticipated of the year on the racing front. Kicking off with the Epsom double act of the Derby and Oaks, the temperature continues to rise towards the five-day extravaganza of the Royal Ascot Festival.
Royal Ascot has been the scene of many a remarkable performance over the years, with the likes of Frankel, Stradivarius, and Black Caviar having rubberstamped their greatness at the meeting. However, for other well-fancied runners, the famous turf has provided the stage only for disappointment.
Here we look back at the past 10 years of the event, picking out the five contenders who – despite market expectations – flopped rather than flourished at this fabulous festival.
5. 2014: Prince of Wales’s Stakes – Treve
- Starting Price – 8/13
- Trainer – Madame Christiane Head
- Jockey – Frankie Dettori
Pre-Royal Ascot
Unbeaten as a juvenile, and during her three-year-old season, the five-race winning sequence of this brilliant filly culminated in a sizzling five-length romp in the 2013 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Returning in 2014 with a narrow loss to the talented Cirrus Des Aigles, punters were keeping the faith ahead of the Day 2 highlight.
The Race
Not getting the cleanest of breaks when the stalls opened, Treve was a little tapped for toe in the early stages, as outsider Elkaayed set off like a bat out of hell. Well positioned as the pace collapsed in the straight, Treve by no means disgraced herself, but was unable to get anywhere near John Gosden’s The Fugue – ultimately finishing 2¾l adrift in third.
Post-Royal Ascot
It proved merely a blip for the wonder mare, who went on to bag a second Arc later in the year, in addition to further Group 1 successes in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Prix Vermeille.
4. 2016: Prince of Wales’s Stakes – A Shin Hikari
- Starting Price – 8/13
- Trainer – Masanori Sakaguchi
- Jockey – Yutaka Take
Pre-Royal Ascot
Having won nine of 11 starts in his native Japan, this son of Deep Impact then made the whole of Europe sit up and take notice with a 10-length romp in the Prix d’Ispahan. Handed a mark of 129 ahead of Ascot, he was 9lb clear of the field and widely expected to hack up.
The Race
Yutaka Take certainly seemed to have supreme confidence, taking his mount straight into the lead and asking his rivals to “catch me if you can”. A fine plan, but one which unfortunately came unstuck, as all five rivals did indeed catch him in the straight. A Shin Hikari trailed home last of six, behind the shock 16/1 winner, My Dream Boat.
Post-Royal Ascot
That Prix d’Ispahan display proved to be a final day in the sun for A Shin Hikari. Two subsequent starts in Japanese Group 1 races yielded two heavy defeats, seeing connections draw stumps and pack him off for a career at stud.
3. 2017: St. James’s Palace Stakes – Churchill
- Starting Price – 1/2
- Trainer – Aidan O’Brien
- Jockey – Ryan Moore
Pre-Royal Ascot
Entering his three-year-old season on a five-race winning streak, Churchill was the latest Galileo-sired star to emerge off the Ballydoyle production line. That star status was then confirmed with wins in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas. Only needing to beat the best of the three-year-olds again in the St. James’s Palace Stakes, form students couldn’t see him tasting defeat.
The Race
A strangely flat display from the jolly. Left with four lengths to make up in the straight, he never looked like doing it, as he plodded on into fourth behind Barney Roy, Lancaster Bomber and Thunder Snow – all horses he had previously beaten. Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore weren’t sure why he didn’t pick up in his usual fashion, and neither were the legions of punters who backed him.
Post-Royal Ascot
Whilst not quite so dismal as A Shin Hikari, Churchill never won another race, coming closest when second in the 2017 Juddmonte International.
2. Prince of Wales’s Stakes – Cracksman
- Starting Price – 2/5
- Trainer – John Gosden
- Jockey – Frankie Dettori
Pre-Royal Ascot
The first truly great son of Frankel, Cracksman had won seven of nine career starts heading into the 2018 edition of the meeting – including a trio of Group 1 triumphs. 8lbs and more clear of the field, for many punters Cracksman fell into the “just needs to turn up to win” category.
The Race
Cracksman turned up. He didn’t win. For those on at short prices, the alarm bells may well have been clanging pretty early, with the strapping colt sweating profusely on the way down to post, and generally giving the impression he would rather be somewhere else. He was, nevertheless, still much too good for the majority of his rivals – all bar Sir Michael Stoute’s Poet’s Word, who swept home down the outside for a comfortable 2¼l success.
Post-Royal Ascot
Just one more start for Cracksman, but it was a spectacular one. So spectacular in fact, that having obliterated the Champion Stakes field, Frankie Dettori was free to begin his celebrations well in advance of the line.
1. 2022: Hampton Court Stakes – Reach For The Moon
- Starting Price – 2/5
- Trainer – John & Thady Gosden
- Jockey – Frankie Dettori
Pre-Royal Ascot
In hindsight, there was a worrying trend emerging in the form of this son of Sea The Stars. Heading to the Royal Ascot meeting, the three-year-old boasted career figures of 221122, but was nevertheless backed as though defeat was out of the question.
The Race
Settled in second behind Claymore when the gates opened, second is where he remained. Briefly threatening to overhaul the leader in the straight, that challenge wilted in what was becoming customary fashion.
Post-Royal Ascot
It isn’t too late for Reach For The Moon just yet, with the horse – who is now a gelding – racing on into 2023. However, his two starts since Royal Ascot have seen him beaten by a combined 66 lengths. For those seeking signs of encouragement, a vivid imagination is required.
