Equinties - that's a wrap

Gm Equinauts

Well, that’s a wrap. Royal Ascot 2025, you were a bloody pleasure.

The weather was beautiful, the bars and tents full, the racing the best in the world, the betting open and a challenge… Royal Ascot is simply the best racing meeting in the world.

There is simply no debate and we’re so sad it’s over.

Let’s dive in.

ROYAL ASCOT ROUND UP

ROYAL ASCOT 2025 AWARDS

This is, of course, our Royal Ascot 2025 Awards. Strap in and enjoy. And remember, it’s only our view - tell us if you think were wrong!

OLDER HORSES OF THE WEEK - TRAWLERMAN, REBEL’S ROMANCE & MY CLOUD 

Even though poor old Charlie Appleby had to wait until the final day to find his first winner for the week, Godolphin had a good meeting.

REBEL’S ROMANCE brought the house down for Charlie Appleby (every one wants to see him do well). Coolmore had GIANT’S CAUSEWAY, Godolphin have REBEL’S ROMANCE. He’s their globe-trotting star.

Buicks words for REBELS ROMAN were something to cherish too, he clearly loves this horse.

He could go to the King George next, and he deserves his chance.

As for the other Godolphin winner to note, wasn’t TRAWLERMAN good? It’s too early to know if anyone will spring onto the Gold Cup scene for next year. Maybe SOBER, who could be a Melbourne Cup horse, but if not, TRAWLERMAN will be setting the standard for the foreseeable.

ILLINOIS didn’t quite stay this year, and he was shoehorned into the race at the 11th hour, but how could he even beat TRAWLERMAN again? TRAWLERMAN grinds it out from the front and simply looks a class apart.

And, finally, MY CLOUD was the proverbial Group horse in the Royal Hunt Cup. A lot of the first finishers home in the contest came from the far side, but he powered home up the near side rail. He’s a nice one, has the page, and he will be stepping into Group races next.

YOUNGER HORSES OF THE WEEK - TRINITY COLLEGE & CHARLES DARWIN

Of course, FIELD OF GOLD was good for the three-year-olds in the St James’s Palace, but it’s worth talking about TRINITY COLLEGE. He looked a pretty simple ride under Ryan Moore in the Hampton Court, and his win franks the form of the French Guineas.

He’ll be going to America next, and there was so much to like about his effort. He likes quick ground, and he’s easy to deal with.

As for the juveniles, Aidan O’Brien cleaned up, and although it’s hard to separate his runners, CHARLES DAWIN was impressive and stands out as something a little different because of his speed. Coolmore has built their business model around breeding Derby winners, it’s exiting to seem have a certified speed machine.

He will be the type to keep to shorter trip, and he won’t be running in a Guineas or anything. He could even go to the Nunthorpe next, though this is unlikely. He is clearly very sharp, but all Aidan did was further reiterate the point that ALBERT EINSTEIN is a monster! Exciting times for the Irish mafia!

TRAINER OF THE WEEK - JOHN & THADY GOSDEN

Five winners and a bunch of seconds and thirds show just how good the Gosden’s are at training horses. Remember when everyone was shouting ‘they’re finished’ last season!? LOL!

FIELD OF GOLD, OMBUDSMAN, and TRAWLERMAN were all very, very classy, and the Gosden’s even smashed in a handicap winner with FRENCH MASTER!

The yard is on fire, and performing on weeks like this are huge for the training yard and owners. Blanks on a week like Royal Ascot can really cause issues…

RIDE OF THE WEEK -MERCHANT

There was a number of rides to pick from, but for pure enjoyment, Tom Marquand’s peach on MERCHANT in the King George V Stakes was solid. He came wide around the bend, and he timed his run so well that the handicapper can’t be too harsh on him tomorrow.

He will still be rated in the 90s after tomorrow, and because of everything he had to overcome, he will be dangerous. That is, ultimately, thanks to the pitch perfect ride from Marquand.

We read an interesting article about Shaggas phoning up the Highclere manager asking him to train the horse - he’s never done that so must have loved him at the sales. He’ll be rated in the 100’s at season end. We just can’t believe we got him beat off 82 at Newmarket!

FLOPS OF THE WEEK - AMO

Urgh, we don’t want to say this but Charlie Appleby is obvious here. REBEL’S ROMANCE helped, but the likes of NOTABLE SPEECH, RULING COURT, and TREANMOR had punters crying! However, naming Appleby as the flop is too boring (and feels mean), so what about Amo Racing?

They spend millions, and millions, and millions, and yet they still didn’t get a winner. Two million on GHOSTWRITER - that’s surely an overpay? Kia Jorabchian wouldn’t have been the happiest man as Saturday evening rolled into view, and this was certainly a flop for them but they remain positive and look forward to next year when some of their big yearling purchases from last year. Don’t forget, they’re buying for the long term. We know they’re trying to do what Coolmore did in the 70’s and they need to be patient.

ROYAL ASCOT EYE-CATCHERS

Right, we have a few. We will be snappy.

A couple of Wathnan horses to keep track of but the main eye-catcher was KING’S GAMBIT who was given another mountain to climb at Ascot in the Wolferton Stakes. He’ll have his time in the sun this season.

FALLEN ANGEL looked beaten in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, and although she did the hard work from the front, she stuck on. She has come on from her Lockinge run, and softer ground might help her as well.

LA BOTTE in the Britannia is obvious. He was given a Spencer Special for all the wrong reasons, and the line just came too soon. His form behind COSMIC YEAR looks good, and he can go on to Group races.

BALANTINA was a huge price in the Albany Stakes, but Donnacha O’Brien looks to have a nice horse to folly having finished a good third. She also came from massively off the pace, and that did work well for him. She could have class about her.

He will continue to be a big price this season, but IBERIAN shaped nicely in fourth on Saturday. He came right down the outside, and it was on rattling ground. His big target will be the Champions Sprint.

AL RIFFA gave REBELS ROMANCE a good race in the Hardwicke Stakes. He travelled, he had to come wide into the straight, and he stayed on nicely. He’s an eye-catcher to follow.

And finally, MORE THUNDER flew from the clouds and ran out of track in the Wokingham. The ex-Stoute horse looks very well handicapped for Shaggas. You wouldn’t go far wrong backing all the ex-Stoute horses blind!