Which runner is poised to shine victorious in the King Edward VII Stakes race this year?
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Are you looking for a shot at some free action at Royal Ascot? Here's the lowdown on the Hampton Court or King Edward VII Stakes, where contenders from the Derby aim to make amends or grab a belated opportunity to dazzle.
Runners who failed to impress at Epsom typically have two options for Royal Ascot: the Hampton Court or the King Edward VII Stakes. Those who found the track tough or didn't handle the tricky Epsom layout often opt for the latter. And who knows, the winner could be a hidden gem with potential for autumn middle-distance prizes!
Last year's race saw Calandagan, the Juddmonte International and Champion Stakes runner-up, take the trophy, while this year it feels much the same, with a lack of Classic form evident.
Let's take a closer look at some of the main contenders:
Green Storm and Nightwalker, the two Derby runners, finished 7th and 13th, respectively. Green Storm didn't convince on the stamina front, and Nightwalker might prefer slower ground. However, don't count Nightwalker out just yet! He didn't seem to enjoy the undulating Newmarket or Epsom tracks, but this flatter Ascot course and quicker ground could work to his advantage. His pedigree—being by Frankel out of a half-sister to St Leger winner Logician—gives cause for optimism that he'll stay as the race extends to 1m 4f.
Puppet Master, a colt trained by Aidan O'Brien, won the Lingfield Derby Trial and appears to have the form to challenge strongly in this Group 2 race.
Amiloc and Zahrann are two more horses striking fear in the hearts of their competition. Amiloc found plenty in the straight to remain undefeated in four starts on his most recent appearance, and should be suited by the extra furlong. Zahrann is green but came from last to first in a Listed contest last time, earning his spot in the limelight with a lot left in the tank.
Race Analysis by Harry Wilson
Until 2022, Royal Ascot featured an 'Ascot Derby,' which is different from the real thing in one crucial aspect: it allows geldings to participate. Three-year-olds without any reproductive capacity—usually gelded for trainability—are typically left out of Epsom while colts try to prove their stallion potential. But the gelded horses truly shine in this race, which focuses solely on racing.
Last year's gelded winner, Calandagan, put on a show with a resounding six-length victory. This season, Amiloc—a horse owned and bred by Vimy Aykroyd—could take the mantle and create an even more memorable season for his owner. From a small stud in Yorkshire, Aykroyd has two high-class three-year-olds racing for her.
This year's King Edward VII Stakes promises to be a thrilling contest!
"It would be very exciting to win and I'm hopeful," says Aykroyd. "It's fantastic what he's done this year and he was very good at Goodwood."
What the Trainers Say
Aidan O'Brien, Trainer of Galveston and Puppet Master Ryan Moore is on Puppet Master, a tough colt who won the Lingfield Derby Trial. We think this is the right place to come with him, and the race should suit. Galveston is a nice, staying colt. He's stepping up in trip and won nicely at Naas last time.
Barry Mahon, Racing Manager to Juddmonte, Owners of Nightwalker He came out of Epsom in good form. He didn't have much of a race there, he missed the break and was slow and behind the whole way. John and Thady Gosden are happy with him, and we're putting blinkers on to sharpen him up as he's been slowly away on his last two starts. It's hard to get competitive when you miss the kick. We know he has talent, it's just about extracting that out of him.
William Haggas, Trainer of Opportunity He was unfortunate last time at Goodwood and should do better here. Amiloc is a worthy favorite, and we've got it all to do to beat Ralph Beckett's runner, never mind all the others.
James Owen, Trainer of Wimbledon Hawkeye He's in great form and has been nicely freshened up since the Dante, where he ran really well. He should stay the trip and we've put cheekpieces on to get him to focus as he's been looking around a bit at the end of his races.
Johnny Murtagh, Trainer of Zahrann I was very happy with his win at Leopardstown this month and we're looking forward to stepping him up to Group 2 company.
The thrilling King Edward VII Stakes, a part of Royal Ascot, features several promising contenders, including Nightwalker, who might thrive on this flatter course and quicker ground, despite a disappointing showing at Epsom. Additionally, horse racing enthusiasts might want to keep an eye on the horse racing event 'Lancaster Bomber Stakes,' a listed race over 6 furlongs, which could provide an exciting racing experience.
