Six Different Countries Represented in Royal Ascot Group 1 Entries

[Wandering Eyes]

International stars Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) and Satono Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) headline entries from six countries for the eight Group 1 races at Royal Ascot.

Royal Ascot offers £10 million in prize-money in 2025, with all eight Group 1 prizes worth a minimum of £650,000 and no race run for less than £110,000.

Asfoora continued the superb record of Australian-trained sprinters at Royal Ascot in 2024 as she stormed to victory in the G1 King Charles III Stakes, a race she is targeting again this year. Last seen finishing seventh in the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes, she will be trying to become the first horse from outside Europe to win the same Royal Ascot race twice.

“Asfoora is pointing towards Royal Ascot again,” said trainer Henry Dwyer. “We are trying to work out the logistics at the moment. We had her over there at the start of May last year, whereas she will travel over later this time. Worst-case scenario, she will arrive on June 4, but we would like to travel over earlier if possible to give her more time to settle in.

“Winning at Royal Ascot was a blur at the time. It took a while to sink in, if it ever did, to be honest. It was a fairytale for us. I suppose the novelty of it is not going to be there this year, but I am sure it will be loads of fun and I am excited to get back over there.”

Japan has six entries as the country seeks a first Royal Ascot success, including leading sprinter Satono Reve in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes for Noriyuki Hori.

Winner of the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March, Satono Reve then chased home Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin last Sunday.

Trainer Hideyuki Mori accounts for Japan's other entries, with his contenders including G3 Saudi Derby runner-up Shin Forever (Complexity) in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes and Daishin Pisces (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) in the G1 Gold Cup.

Interest from the USA includes unbeaten turf performer Laurelin (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) in the G1 Coronation Stakes, a race in which her trainer Graham Motion has finished second twice with Sharing (2020) and Spendarella (2022), while G1 Queen Anne Stakes entry Grand Mo The First (Uncle Mo) could be a first Royal Ascot runner for Florida trainer Victor Barboza Jr.

The potential French contingent includes Jerome Reynier's globetrotter Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) and Francis-Henri Graffard's G1 Prix Ganay runner-up Map Of Stars (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who could clash in the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes. Graffard is also responsible for exciting fillies Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Vertical Blue (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in the Coronation Stakes.

Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) heads the Irish-trained entries as he eyes a third Gold Cup victory, with his trainer Aidan O'Brien including unbeaten Group 1 winners Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Twain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) among a formidable three-year-old squad.

The home team includes last year's 2,000 Guineas hero Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes after chasing home Notable Speech at Newmarket. They both hold entries in the Queen Anne Stakes, while G1 Champion Stakes victor Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) and Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) feature in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes.

Meanwhile, star hurdler Constitution Hill (GB) (Blue Bresil {Fr}) is a surprise entry in the Gold Cup for Nicky Henderson, who said, “It's something we've discussed over the last couple of years.

“The ground would be the most obvious reason not to do it, but every now and then you do get a slow-ground Royal Ascot. We'll just see what happens this week [at Punchestown] and in the next couple of weeks as well.

“I'm certainly not ruling it in, but I'm certainly not ruling it out, otherwise I wouldn't have put him in the race.”

To access the Group 1 entries, click here.

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