Her Majesty The Queen to Attend QIPCO British Champions Day

Ascot Racecourse is delighted to announce that Her Majesty The Queen will be attending the inaugural QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday, 15th October.

QIPCO British Champions Day will be the most valuable raceday ever run in the UK with £3 million on offer and the race named in Her Majesty’s honour, “The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes,” will be the highest value mile race ever run in the country at £1,000,000.

The Queen has graciously consented to present the trophy to the winning connections.

- END -

21st September 2011

Contact: Nick Smith, Ascot, 07771 791 449

YEATS STATUE UNVEILED DURING ROYAL ASCOT

To commemorate the achievement of Ascot’s greatest equine legend, the four-time Gold Cup winner Yeats, celebrated sculptor Charlie Langton was commissioned to create a ten per cent over life-size bronze of the horse who dominated Royal Ascot from 2006 to 2009. The statue was unveiled by Her Majesty The Queen, The Duke of Devonshire and Charlie Langton on Tuesday 14th June 2011 at Royal Ascot. The statue will reside permanently in the Parade Ring at Ascot Racecourse for everyone to see.
Yeats, now standing at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, was owned by Mrs John Maagnier and Mrs David Nagle, trained by Aidan O’Brien, and ridden by Kieren Fallon (2006), Michael Kinane (2007) and Johnny Murtagh (2008 and 2009). The statue will be unveiled at Royal Ascot and in his own words Charlie Langton talks in glowing terms of the challenge:

“The process began last summer with a week of measuring, sketching and sculpting at Coolmore Stud. This was the most important stage as I was able to get to know Yeats from watching him in his daily routine and then spend time speaking to the lads and all those that know him well. It was vital that I gained a complete picture of the horse from those closest to him as I was keen to capture the horse’s character as well as his physical dimensions.

“I had my own very strong mental image of Yeats parading around the ring at Ascot to add to this information and therefore I could establish a pose that married all these elements. He always carried his head in a very distinctive way and later on in his career, as his neck developed, he became instantly recognisable. He is beautifully proportioned. From the side he is deep and powerfully built, especially through the shoulder he is sinuous and yet every line flows with an effortless grace. From the front he is streamlined and slender - even his ears are close together when pricked. It is easy to see why he had so much success when considering this combination of power and aerodynamism.

“But the thing that really strikes me about Yeats is how he moves. He is almost regal in his head carriage and he glides over the ground effortlessly. I could not have had a better subject for my first life-size bronze.
“Having made a one quarter scale maquette of Yeats I began work on the ten per cent over life-size version in October 2010. The process involves a steel armature, on top of which I added clay - over forty bags were needed (more than one tone). Over sixty measurements taken from Yeats were used along with video footage, my sketches and maquettes, and I also made trips back to Coolmore to refresh my eye. He took over eight hundred hours to sculpt.

“I built a new studio especially for working on this scale so that, vitally, I could have the room to stand back and see the work from a distance. However, it is a very large space to keep warm and it was a constant battle against the cold to prevent the clay from freezing. Every night my Yeats was wrapped up in a New Zealand rug and sleeping bags. Once I was getting close to being happy with the sculpture, the mould making could begin. This was done over the course of ten days by three highly skilled mould makers. He was moulded in seven sections (the four legs, head, tail and body). The moulds were then taken to the foundry and a combination of the lost wax process and sand casting were used to create the bronze.

“I hope more than anything that my sculpture does justice to Yeats and that those who know him best will think that I have captured his presence and character. Yeats is an Ascot legend and I feel extremely privileged to have been chosen to sculpt him.

Review of Friday’s Group 1 action at Royal Ascot

The Group 1 Coronation Stakes went the way of France as the two French fillies finished first and second with Immortal Verse leading home Nova Hawk. It was also a real family affair, father Robert beating son Rod, as the domestic challengers were left trailing in their wake.

The victory was a welcome return to form for the winner who had to be withdrawn from the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket having reared in the stalls, before then finishing only 11th in her native Guineas. However, she returned to form by putting her rivals to the sword in emphatic style.
Sent off a relatively well fancied 8/1 shot, the daughter of Pivotal was clearly well at home on the rain softened ground and under Gerard Mosse was settled nicely at the rear of the field as Irish raider Claiomh Solais led the runners once the gates opened. The Richard Hannon trained Memory was pulling frantically for her head during the opening exchanges, but the order remained unchanged as the 13 runners swung into the home straight. It was at that point that Kevin Manning kicked the long-time leader a couple of lengths clear as her rivals seemed to be treading water for a couple of strides. However, Mosse had angled his mount to the outside and began to eat up the ground as they hit top gear. As she hit the front inside the final furlong the contest was as good as over and she strode powerfully clear to score by an impressive two and a quarter lengths.

Nova Hawk had started her run from a similar position but came through the middle of the pack to chase the winner home. Barefoot Lady grabbed third under stand-in jockey Kieren Fallon – regular partner Paul Hanagan missed his intended mounts on Friday with a spasm in his neck – with 7/2 market leader Together finishing down the field for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.

The winning trainer was successful in Doncaster’s St Leger way back in 1979 and 32 years on he was once again celebrating a top level success in a major British race. Speaking through a translator, Collet said: “This filly is the best filly I have trained. At Newmarket she had a blind on to go into the stalls but there was a lot of wind and she got irritated. In the Frenchn Guineas things didn't go to plan, so we forgot about that. You have to be really stubborn to come back and prove that you have a Group 1 filly. Her biggest asset is her turn of foot.”

Result – 2011 Coronation Stakes
1st Horse Immortal Verse (IRE) 8/1
Jockey Gerald Mosse
Trainer Robert Collet
Owner Mr R. C. Strauss
2nd Nova Hawk 9/2
3rd Barefoot Lady (IRE) 16/1

Review of today’s Group 1 Gold Cup

For the sixth year running the Group 1 Gold Cup was won by Ireland as Fame And Glory proved far too classy for his rivals under jockey Jamie Spencer. The pair surged clear down the home straight to record a three-length victory over the Godolphin-owned Opinion Poll in second.

It was the fifth time in six years that Aidan O’Brien was responsible for training the winner after the achievements of record-breaking winner Yeats and this victory hinted that another dynasty could be about to begin. Punters poured their money into the four-time Group 1 winner as he looked to notch another top level success over the furthest trip he had tackled. An opening show of 5/2 was soon taken and he was sent off the heavily backed 11/8 favourite when the gates opened. Richard Hills led the field at a fairly sedate pace on-board Tastahil as the 15 runners passed the post and headed out past the Grandstand.

Geordieland, a dual runner-up in the race and returning to the track for the first time in 643 days, wasn’t going quick enough though and he swept round the field to take up the running and inject some pace into proceedings. While all this was happening Fame And Glory was tucked away on the rail, saving ground on the inside and travelling sweetly for his rider. Entering the home straight Manighar hit the front but Fame And Glory followed and when he found the far rail the race was as good as over. Spencer kept the son of Montjeu honest all the way to the line and, although it briefly looked as though Opinion Poll might reel in the Ballydoyle horse, he found more at the business end to score by a comfortable margin.

The winning jockey said the race went like clockwork: “It was a very easy, push-button ride.
It was a great training performance.” On that subject, the winning trainer couldn’t hide his elation: “I'm delighted for everybody and for Jamie who gave him a great ride. Thanks to everybody for letting a horse with his class run in the Gold Cup. You don’t see many mile-and-a-half Group One winners running in a Gold Cup. When horses have so much class they can often stay - class makes them stay but it's the ultimate test when you go that extreme distance. I'm just very privileged to have him.”

Given the achievements of his former stablemate, comparisons were immediately made to Yeats and, when drawn on the question of whether the winner would return next year to defend his crown, O’Brien simply remarked: “The Gold Cup next year? Wouldn't it be marvellous.”

Result – 2011 Gold Cup
1st Horse Fame And Glory 11/8F
Jockey Jamie Spencer
Trainer Aidan O’Brien
Owner D. Smith/Mrs J. Magnier/M. Tabor/Mrs F. Hay
2nd Opinion Poll (IRE) 16/1
3rd Brigantin (USA) 16/1

Will You Be Able To Say “I Was There”?

After 300 years of racing at Ascot, is next Tuesday’s opening day of the Royal Meeting the best raceday the course has ever seen?

Goldikova storming to victory in the 2010 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot

Well, genuinely, quite possibly and there is still time for you to say “I was there” on the day when Goldikova took on Canford Cliffs, when seven nations went head to head in the King’s Stand Stakes and when the most impressive winner of the 2,000 Guineas in living memory took on Japan’s best three year old, Grand Prix Boss.

2011 St. James's Palace Stakes winner Canford Cliffs

Goldikova, the pride of France, is bidding for back to back wins in the opening Queen Anne Stakes and will be lining up on Tuesday against Canford Cliffs for last year’s top Royal Ascot trainer, Richard Hannon. Canford Cliffs will be bidding for a third Royal Ascot success having won championship races at two and three years old. But it’s not a two horse race – the powerful Irish stable of Aidan O’Brien looks likely to send over Cape Blanco for a fascinating clash that will likely decide Europe’s champion older miler. In fact, given that Goldikova has won no fewer than three Breeders’ Cup Miles in the USA, the Queen Anne is almost certain to determine the name of the best older miler in the world.

But that’s just the starter, and next on the menu is the King’s Stand Stakes – the first of two championship sprints at Royal Ascot and Europe’s most international race. This year, seven nations will be represented; Australia, the USA, Hong Kong, France, Ireland, Hungary and of course the UK. Four Australian horses have won the King’s Stand Stakes and that nation is responsible for the favourite once again in Star Witness and a fascinating battle is in store, especially with the Americans and Hong Kong’s Sweet Sanette likely to set an electric pace from the start. The track record is surely on the line…

The phonomenal Frankel winning the Juddemonte International Stakes at Ascot last September

The third Group One race on the card sees the next challenge for Henry Cecil’s Frankel, who missed the Derby in preference for the St James’s Palace Stakes, which crowns Europe’s top three year old miler. Will Tom Queally allow him to make all the running as he did in the 2,000 Guineas or will a more conservative approach be required to hold Japan’s champion, Grand Prix Boss, and several other star names, including Wooton Basset, for the sensational stable of Richard Fahey.

All in all, whether you’re a racing regular, a once a year racegoer or haven’t been racing for ages, this is the day to get dressed up and come to the greatest race meeting in the world and witness a once in a lifetime spectacle of the best the turf has to offer.

There are three further races after the three Group One races, including the Coventry Stakes, the early season championship for two year old cots. Also, readers may be interested to note that the statue commemorating the great four time Gold Cup winner Yeats will be unveiled before racing.

Tickets for Tuesday 14th June are still available. Call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk. There will be a limited number of tickets available for sale on the day.

Win Afternoon Tea for Two at The Savoy, London

Fairmont Hotels and Resorts are delighted to announce their sponsorship of the Royal Ascot Fashion Show in the Bessborough Restaurant in conjunction with Longines, Piper Heidsieck and the British Fashion Council.

(The Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel - London)

The Fairmont Trilogy Hotels (The Savoy, London, The Plaza, New York and the Peace Hotel, Shanghai) have designed an exclusive afternoon tea offer for guests in the Bessborough Restaurant and if you can guess which hotel provided the inspiration for each part of the menu then you could be in with a chance to win afternoon tea for two at the Savoy!

Afternoon Tea

Sandwiches
Smoked Salmon with Horseradish Cream Cheese
Organic Egg and Mustard Cress Salad
Hoisin Chicken and Mango Chutney

French Pastries
Valrhona Chocolate and Walnut Brownie
Raspberry and Ginger Macaroons

Raisin Scones
Devonshire Clotted Cream
Strawberry Jam

Selection of Infused Teas

To win simply answer the question below and email your answers along with your name and telephone number to hospitality@ascot.co.uk. The winner will be drawn at random on Monday 20th June.

Which hotel provided the inspiration for each part of the Afternoon Tea menu?

Steve Golding's Millefeuille of raspberry and fraise des bois with vanilla cream

Steve Golding, Executive Chef at Ascot Hospitality, has opened up his recipe book exclusively for the Ascot blog. The last of his creations we reveal is Millefeuille of raspberry and fraise des bois with vanilla cream (Serves 8).

Ingredients
150g Icing Sugar
1 Sheet of Puff Pastry
88 Fresh Raspberries
24 Fraise de Bois (Wild Strawberries)
40 Small Pale Pink Rose Petals
8 Chocolate Match Makers

Meringues
85g Merri-white Mix
570ml Cold Water
1kg Caster Sugar

Rose Jelly
100g Rose Flavoured Turkish Delight

Vanilla Cream
600ml Double Cream
2 Vanilla Pod
3 Egg Yolk
1 Whole Egg
80g Caster Sugar

Mille Feuille
Roll out a large puff pastry sheet to half its original thickness.
Dust with icing and bake in oven with a tray on top at 160ºc for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and leave to cool.
Cut into strips 8cm by 3cm and dust heavily with Icing Sugar (2 bars per serving).

Meringues
Mix together 570ml water and Merri-white on a mixer with whisk.
Slowly stream in sugar until soft peaks are formed.
Place in a piping bag and pipe small dots onto a tray.
Place in hot cupboard or oven set at 65ºc to dry out.
Leave for 12 hours

Vanilla Cream
Separate three eggs yolks, add vanilla and caster sugar and whisk until light in colour.
Heat 400ml double cream until boiling remove from heat and add to the egg mix.
When mixed place back on the heat and cook until thick.
Take off heat and chill.
Whisk 200ml double cream to soft peaks are formed then fold through the vanilla cream base and whisk again until it holds its peaks.
Set to one side until you are ready to plate up.

To serve
Pipe some cream onto plate and place piece of pastry on top.
Quenelle 4 teaspoons of vanilla cream onto pastry leaving gaps for 2 raspberries in each gap so you will use 6 for each one
Pace top sheet pastry at an angle to show off filling.
Quenelle 3 teaspoons of vanilla cream on the plate and scatter meringues and rose jelly.
Place 3 more raspberries and 3 fraise de bois on the plate.
Garnish with rose petals and a chocolate matchmaker.

Queen Anne Rose prose competition winner announced

The 'Queen Anne' from David Austin Roses

Recently, we ran a competition with David Austin Roses to write a piece stating what Royal Ascot means to them. The winning entry was so good, we thought we’d put it on our blog. Here is the master piece from Liz Shaw:

Tradition, heritage, fashion and fun,
Top class facilities, second to none.
Great hospitality, fit for a queen,
The perfect location to see and be seen.
Thundering hooves, excitement and thrills,
Smartly dressed jockeys displaying their skills.
Pageantry, Pimms, punters and posies
Amidst David Austin’s magnificent roses!

‘Queen Anne’ by David Austin, is one of five new rose varieties, which will be officially unveiled in May at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in London (24th to 28th May).

The medium-sized flowers of ‘Queen Anne’ are a beautiful, pure rose pink, the outer petals slightly paler than the central ones. It will quickly form an upright but still bushy shrub rose, with very few thorns. The blooms have a most attractive, rounded Old Rose scent with hints of pear drops. The rose is ideal for rose beds, mixed borders and large decorative planters. This beautiful rose is named after the founder of Ascot Racecourse, in celebration of the tercentenary anniversary of this national institution.

Deciding upon a name for a new English Rose is something David Austin sees as an essential part of the rose breeding process. Rose lovers write to suggest many hundreds of names each year, which are considered for one of his new releases. From so many options, David Austin aims to choose a name that perfectly suits the unique character of each rose. Many of the rose names celebrate people or places that have played an important part in shaping British heritage.

David C.H. Austin says: “‘Queen Anne’ is a rose with a very classic Old Rose beauty. The flowers have something of the charming character of Bourbon and Centifolia roses, which have long been celebrated by artists. The way the flowers of a rose are held on the stem has always fascinated me – this makes a very particular and often overlooked contribution to its overall character.

Win 2 Grandstand Admission tickets to Royal Ascot

This competition has now closed. Thank you for all the #RT.

The Royal Ascot early booking discount, which can save you up to £10 per ticket (excluding Thursday 16th June), ends this Friday 13th May at 6pm. For your chance to win 2 Grandstand Admission tickets to Royal Ascot on Tuesday 14th June re-tweet our twitter message and you will be entered into a prize draw. Ticket start from as little as £17 up until Friday 13th May, so make sure you get yours before prices increase!

Silver Ring tickets are now SOLD OUT for Saturday 18th June!!!

To purchase tickets for Grandstand Admission or Silver Ring please visit ascot.co.uk or call our sales team on 0870 727 1234.

Terms and Conditions

1. The @AscotInsider message must be retweeted prior to 6pm on Thursday 12th May to be eligible for the Prize Draw.

2. Competition closes at 6pm on Thursday 12th May.

3. Offer only open to followers of @AscotInsider on Twitter http://twitter.com/AscotInsider

4. No cash alternative is available and all prizes are non-transferable and non-refundable. Tickets are not for resale and cannot be used for commercial use or use in further promotions.

5. Only 1 twitter follower will win the tickets & will be notified by Monday 16th May.

6. Tickets will be dispatched within 5 working days.

Promoter: Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Berkshire. SL5 7JX.

Steve Golding's Aged Pecorino and Honey Panacotta Recipe

Steve Golding, Executive Chef at Ascot Hospitality, has opened up his recipe book exclusively for the Ascot blog. The 2nd of his creations we reveal is Aged Pecorino and Honey Panacotta, Poached English AsparagusAvocado, Lime and Shallot Salsa, Pea Purée and Beetroot Crisps(serves 4).





Ingredients

700ml Double Cream
150g Frozen Petit Pois (100g for pea cream, and 100g for plate)
200g Aged Pecorino
2 teaspoons Honey
10g Powdered Gelatine
16 Spears English Asparagus (Cut off 1 and ½ inches of the bottom)
150g Shallots (Finely chopped)
1 Clove of Garlic (Crushed)
1 Plum Tomato (Blanched, peeled cut into quarters de seed and diced)
100g Unsalted Butter
1 Avocado (Peeled)
1 Lime (Juiced)
150g Beetroot (Peeled, sliced thinly and dried out in a low heat oven)
1 Sweet Red Pepper (Cleaned and chopped)
Olive Oil


To make the pannacotta


Melt 50g of butter in a saucepan
Add 50g shallots and ½ the crushed garlic and cook until soft but not coloured
Add 200g of aged pecorino and 575ml of double cream
Bring to the boil and then turn down heat and simmer for 5 minutes
Take off heat and put into a blender, blend until smooth and add honey
Pour out of the blender into a clean pan
Soak gelatine in a little cold water until soft
Put the mix back on to the heat
Then add gelatine and stir until the gelatine has dissolved
Pour into moulds and place into the fridge to chill for 2 hours
Turn out using warm water to dip

To make the pea cream


Melt 50g of butter in a saucepan
Add 50g shallots and ½ the crushed garlic cook until soft but not coloured
Add 30g peas and 125ml of double cream bring to boil then turn down heat and simmer for 5 minutes
Take of heat and put in to blender,
Blend until smooth then pass to one side ready for dressing plate


To cook the asparagus


Put on pan of water with a pinch of salt
Bring to the boil then add asparagus
Cook for 2 minutes
Drain and run under cold water until chilled

To make the avocado salsa

Put avocado, lime juice, diced shallot and blend
Blitz red pepper with a little oil then pass through a fine chinois to make the dressing

To serve


Place the pannacotta in the middle of plate
Place 3 sticks of asparagus each side
Place the tomato around the bass of the pannacotta
Dress the asparagus with pea cream
Put the beetroot crisp on top of the pannacotta
Place 2 teaspoons of the salsa each side Dress around the plate with the red pepper dressing

See and be seen

The seventh and final part of our occasional series of retrospective photographs from the past 300 years of Ascot history looks back at the Ascot of today.

The popularity of Ascot soon meant that racegoers demanded the best views that they could afford. Three centuries ago, just as today, the most highly sought after stands have not only been those with the best view, but the places where the most fashionable people in society have gone to be seen.

For those not invited to the more exclusive stands and boxes, the Grandstands have provided the best view of the action. The original 18th and early 19th century stands were temporary structures, but through time have become larger and more sophisticated buildings including all the comforts that racegoers demanded.

In 1961, the Queen Elizabeth II Grandstand opened at a cost of £1 million, containing 280 private “dining rooms.” Ascot has genuine claims to having pioneered private corporate hospitality boxes within what was a ground breaking structure at the time. The Grandstand that you see today (pictured) was a slightly more expensive building to construct at 220 times the cost of its predecessor and it has been short-listed in the category of Sports Venue of the Year in this year’s prestigious Sport Industry Awards.

Sophia Loren leads the field

The Italian screen legend graces Royal Ascot

Part 6 in our occasional series of retrospective photographs from the past 300 years of Ascot history looks back at Sophia Loren at Royal Ascot in the 1960s.

The Ascot Royal Enclosure has always played host to famous international figures. But whereas in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries they were most likely to be foreign royalty and international statesmen, in modern times you are equally likely to see some of the biggest names in Hollywood, dressed and styled by some of the biggest names in couture fashion.

In 1922, the Times cor;respondent was writing that “Ascot is notoriously the best place in England to see beautiful women in beautiful clothes”, and as a stunning Sophia Loren so elegantly demonstrated in this exquisite and classic white ensemble, things have remained unchanged ever since.

Steve Golding’s Textures of Lamb Recipe

Steve Golding, Executive Chef at Ascot Hospitality, has opened up his recipe book exclusively for the Ascot blog. The first of his creations we reveal is Textures of Lamb (serves 8).

Ingredients

1 x 8 Bone Rack of Lamb (Trimmed and cut into cutlets)

8 x 150gm Neck Fillet of Lamb

8 x Baby Shank of Lamb

3 x Baking Potatoes (Peeled)

16 Baby Carrots (Peeled)

500g Samphire

1 x Whole Garlic

16 x Dried Morels (Place in water overnight)

2kg Plum Tomatoes

200g Shallots

1 Head of Celeriac (Peeled)

100g Butter

6 pints Beef Stock

2 large Onions (Peeled)

2 large Carrots (Peeled)

2 Leeks (Cleaned and washed)

Meat prep
· Seal lamb cutlets in a hot pan and set to one side then cook in oven on 180ºc for 8 mins just before serving
· Trim neck fillet and seal
· Place in an oven dish ready to braise
· Dice 1 onion, leek and large carrot and put over the top of the neck fillets
· Trim lamb shanks and seal
· Place in a separate oven dish ready to braise
· Dice 1 onion, leek and large carrot and put over the top of the of the lamb shanks
· Put 3 pints of beef stock in each dish and cover with foil

To cook the neck fillet and shanks place in the oven on 160ºc and cook for about 1 hour until soft. When cooked remove from oven and drain each dish and set to one side keeping them hot. Then reduce the stock from both dishes until thick, ready to use as your sauce.

Vegetable Prep
· Take the peeled potatoes and cut into 8 round discs about 2cm thick and 4cm wide, seal in pan and cook in oven until soft
· Blanch plum tomatoes and peel
· Dice 200g shallots and the tomatoes, and chop 2 cloves of garlic
· Place the shallots garlic and tomatoes in to a pan and cook over a low heat for about 20mins until it looks like a chutney then take off the heat
· Take the peeled celeriac and chop
· Place on the stove and boil until soft
· Take off the heat and drain
· Mash in to a purée with a little butter, salt and pepper
· Wash samphire and cook in a little butter in a pan until soft but still green add a bit of pepper
· Blanch baby carrots in water until cooked
· Drain the morels and heat in a little of the sauce

To Serve
· Use a rectangular plate (12inches in diameter)
· Plate round potato first
· Place a small amount of Samphire
· Next to that place a small amount of the tomato chutney
· Place the cutlet on top of the potato, the neck fillet on top of the samphire and the shank on top of the tomato
· Each side of the neck fillet place a baby carrot and a morel mushroom
· Then on top of the neck fillet place the celeriac purée
· To finish pour over a little sauce

Record American Entries for Royal Ascot amongst Bumper International Cast

No fewer than eleven nations are represented across the entries for Royal Ascot’s seven Group One races, as released today, amongst them a record breaking ten from the USA, three of them doubly engaged in both the King’s Stand Stakes and Golden Jubilee Stakes, legs four and five of the Global Sprint Challenge.

Additionally from outside Europe, Australia has four entries, three doubly engaged in both sprints; Hong Kong three entries, with one doubly engaged; Singapore two entries, with one doubly engaged and Japan is represented by three entries at the initial stage, one in each of the St James’s Palace Stakes, Coronation Stakes and the Gold Cup.

Amongst the USA entries for the Golden Jubilee Stakes is 2010 Santa Anita Derby (Grade One) winner SIDNEY’S CANDY (John Sadler), owned by Jenny Craig, who with her late husband Sidney won the 1992 Derby with Dr Devious.

CARACORTADO (Michael Machowsky), fourth in last year’s Santa Anita Derby and frequently Group One placed subsequently, is very much on course to line up in the Golden Jubilee.

Todd Pletcher has entered three horses for the Royal Meeting - recent Shakertown Stakes winner, STRATFORD HILL, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint fourth, BRIDGETOWN (both in the two sprints) and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner, MORE THAN REAL, a Coronation Stakes possible for celebrity chef owner, Bobby Flay.

Shakertown third, GREAT ATTACK, is entered for the King’s Stand Stakes for dual Royal Ascot-winning trainer, Wesley Ward, who has also entered HOLIDAY FOR KITTEN, owned by the legendary Ken Ramsey and his wife, who owned 2009 Golden Jubilee runner-up, Cannonball. Ward is also considering the two-year-old Royal Ascot programme for his in form string.

Last year’s Golden Jubilee third, KINSALE KING, is entered for just the King’s Stand this year, with his colourful Irish-born trainer Carl O’Callaghan planning to run the improving dark horse, LEAVING NEW YORK, in the Golden Jubilee.

Kenny McPeek, who saddled three runners at Royal Ascot last year, has entered KATHMANBLU for the Coronation Stakes with a view to a possible run in the UK after the Kentucky Oaks. He will also have two entries in the Ribblesdale Stakes next week – SASSY’S DREAM and NIJI’S GRAND GIRL.

The Asian contingent at Royal Ascot could be strong this year with the highest profile name amongst the entries (Golden Jubilee only) undoubtedly the Singapore-trained ROCKET MAN (Patrick Shaw), who gained a much deserved first Group One outside his home country in the Dubai Golden Shaheen last month.

Compatriot BETTER BE THE ONE (Michael Freedman), a close third in the Al Quoz Sprint on the same Dubai card, is another possible and is in both sprints. Both Singapore horses have the KrisFlyer Sprint, leg four of the Global Sprint Challenge, as their next target.

Two three-year-olds are entered for Japan - last year’s Grade One-winning champion two-year-old, GRAND PRIX BOSS (Yoshito Yahagi), who has the NHK Mile at home as his next target, and MARCELLINA (Hiroyoshi Matsuda), recent winner of the Grade One Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas).

The trio is made up of recent Grade Three winning and Grade Two placed COSMO MEADOW (Shigenori Hatakeyama), a fascinating prospect for the Gold Cup.

Completing the Asian entries are a trio from Hong Kong, including SWEET SANETTE (Tony Millard), entered for both Royal Ascot sprints, who had Sacred Kingdom and One World behind her in second and third in the recent Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (Group Three).

John Moore, responsible for Happy Zero last year, has entered SUNNY KING, third to Rocket Man in Dubai and a regular in Group One company in Hong Kong, in the Golden Jubilee, and XTENSION, fourth in the 2,000 Guineas when with Clive Cox, in the Queen Anne Stakes.

Although it looks a case of next year for Black Caviar’s international campaign, the horse that has so far given the great mare most to do, STAR WITNESS (Danny O’Brien), leads a contingent of four entries from Down Under as the Australians seek to add a sixth Royal Ascot victory to their remarkable recent record.

Star Witness was beaten just four lengths by Black Caviar when they met in November’s Group One Patinack Farm Classic, a week after his victory in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes. Trainer Danny O’Brien reports there were valid excuses for his no show in the Newmarket Handicap in March and the horse to be in fine form as they prepare to ship to the UK.

Third behind Star Witness in the Coolmore was SHRAPNEL, for Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Mark Kavanagh and the four-year-old was a Group Two winner on his latest start in March.

EAGLE FALLS (David Hayes) won the Group One Oakleigh Plate in February and represents the stable that sent over last year’s King’s Stand Stakes fourth, Nicconi. In third that day was Black Caviar’s stablemate, HINCHINBROOK (Peter Moody), who is the last of the Australian quartet. The latter is in the Golden Jubilee with the others in both Royal Ascot sprints.

OVERDOSE (Josef Roszival), nicknamed the “Budapest Bullet,” has been entered in the King’s Stand Stakes and is arguably the most fascinating of the European (outside UK) entries, which number 67 from Ireland, 39 from France, 4 from Italy and one from Spain across the seven Group Ones.

Amongst the Irish entry is the formerly Australian trained SO YOU THINK (Aidan O’Brien), who is in the Queen Anne and Prince of Wales’s Stakes, whilst there is no doubt that the star French entry is GOLDIKOVA (Freddie Head), who could bid for back to back wins in the Queen Anne Stakes.

Arguably the race of the meeting last year, the Queen Anne could once again serve up a mouth-watering start to Royal Ascot with CANFORD CLIFFS (Richard Hannon), potentially bidding for a hat-trick of wins at the Royal Meeting following victories at two in the Coventry Stakes and at three in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Nick Smith, Head of Communications and International Racing at Ascot, said:

“We’re obviously delighted to have received such strong entries, from all around the world, in quality and quantity terms for the Royal Ascot Group One races. 22 individual horses from outside Europe, many doubly engaged, is a record at the initial stage, and there are also two in the Ribblesdale and we’re hoping to see some two-year-olds from the USA as well.

“The Americans steal the limelight somewhat but it is also particularly pleasing to see three entries from Japan, as we haven’t had a runner from there since 2006, and of course to see the name of Singapore’s star, Rocket Man, amongst the entries.

“Whilst the sprints, bolstered by the Global Sprint Challenge, have obviously attracted the lion’s share of the international entries, the interest in the three-year-old mile showdowns is encouraging.

“The British, French, Irish and wider European interest in the Royal Meeting remains just as important as attracting runners from outside Europe, of course, and it is worth noting that Godolphin have made 44 entries and Aidan O’Brien has made 35.”

Royal Ascot Scoops Top National Tourism Award

Image shows John Blake and Karen Smith from Ascot Racecourse receiving the Best Tourism Event honour from comedian, author and presenter Sandi Toksvig (left) and James Berresford (right), Chief Executive of Visit England at the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2011 ceremony in Birmingham last Friday.

At a lavish awards ceremony in The Great Hall of the University of Birmingham on Friday 15th April, Royal Ascot won the Best Tourism Event category at the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2011. This is a national award with Royal Ascot beating off stiff competition from the Buxton Festival, the Manchester International Festival and the Times Cheltenham Literary Festival.The judging panel recognised that Ascot is synonymous with quality, style and a truly memorable day out. The highlight of the year is Royal Ascot in June with five days of racing, tradition, pageantry and fashion. Outside Royal Ascot, racing takes place throughout the year, each race day offering a unique theme and atmosphere. ‘We are thrilled that Royal Ascot has received this prestigious accolade from Enjoy England. This recognition underpins our status as a first class national tourism attraction.’ said John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing at the Berkshire track.

‘England has a world famous sporting heritage and, for many parts of the country, horseracing is at the core of the community. I can't think of a more thrilling day out than a day at the races. The Visit England Awards for Excellence provides a nationally recognised stamp of approval showing visitors that Ascot Racecourse provides regular racegoers and first time visitors alike with a top quality and highly memorable experience,’ added James Berresford, Chief Executive of Visit England.

Ascot is committed to providing a value-for-money fun day out for all customers with Royal Ascot, live music, wine and beer festivals, family days and world class racing action.

Beccy Green’s preparations for the Women in Racing BHEST Charity Race

Emily Pearce has been following PA to the Clerk of the Course at Ascot, Beccy Green’s, punishing training schedule for the Women in Racing BHEST Charity Race on Wednesday 27th April at the Berkshire track. As the sun started to rise, I joined amateur Ascot jockey Beccy Green as she set off on her bi-weekly trip to continue her training with Silent Oasis at Brendan Powell's yard prior to the Charity Race on 27th April. Silent Oasis aka Shirley was ready and raring to go as we drove into the yard with her head over the cheery red stable door welcoming us (or maybe the polo's she knew Beccy would have in her pocket!) to Lambourn. After a swift cup of tea Beccy was told to crack on and get tacked up by the ever efficient Powell Team.

Today, Beccy was to ride out in the company of jockey Clare Wills who rode Massini Man in the Foxhunters at Aintree last Thursday. With a leg up that almost threw her over the other side of the small racehorse, Powell's instructions were to warm up on the first stretch before heading onto Fishers Hill where Beccy and Silent Oasis were to take the lead with a half speed/swinging canter to the top. As they reached the bottom of Fishers Hill, Beccy and Shirley swiftly took the lead and then stretched out to a flat out gallop - not quite what Brendan had in mind but obviously an exhilarating ride for Beccy who reached the top with a huge grin on her face. It was swiftly wiped off as Powell issued her with a speeding ticket and a £5 fine to racing charity BHEST! When asked what Team Powell's top tip would be for Beccy it was a unanimous 'Don't fall off!'. Let’s hope Beccy learns to listen to Powell's instructions when she takes to the Ascot turf in a couple of weeks. For more information on tickets to the Totepool Raceday at Ascot on the 27th April please call 0870 727 4321. If you would like to support Beccy and Silent Oasis in their bid to become an Ascot Champion Jockey then please visit her fundraising site at www.justgiving.com/BeccyGreen.

For more information on The British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust please visit www.bhest.co.uk.

The Magnificent Yeats

Yeats truly earns his place on the Gold Cup Role of Honour with an unprecedented fourth win.

Part 3 in our occasional series of retrospective photographs from the past 300 years of Ascot history looks back at the remarkable Yeats; winner of the Gold Cup a record breaking four times.

Of all the great horses of the modern era, none has become more synonymous with Royal Ascot than the legendary Yeats, who won four Gold Cups in a row from 2006 to 2009. No horse had ever before matched this epic achievement. This image shows the magical moment when jockey Johnny Murtagh and Yeats crossed the Ascot winning line and into horseracing history in June 2009.

The 'My Kingdom for a Horse' Exhibition at Royal Ascot

Internationally renowned photographer, Alistair Morrison, will be producing an exhibition of photographs to be displayed at Ascot Racecourse, commemorating its historic tercentenary landmark in 2011. The exhibition, titled ‘My Kingdom for a Horse’ aims to showcase the acclaimed photographer’s images depicting scenes around The World’s Most Famous Racecourse.From the fashion and tradition of the Royal Meeting, to the stewards, stable lads, jockeys and racing lovers, the series of photographs are a reflection of the diverse characters that have made Ascot such an institution in British culture. This definitive collection records and celebrates the heart and soul of Ascot Racecourse in its 300th year. Alistair Morrison said: “My Kingdom for a Horse has been a project of commitment and passion, working closely with Ascot Racecourse for the last three years, to create a collection of photographs which depict all facets of character and life at this famous British establishment. From the power of the horse, the splendour of the fashion and the thousands of visitors welcomed through the gates, it all makes the racecourse unique and colourful yet still manages to hold onto and complement its all important traditions. “Working from early morning to late at night the new grandstand can be quiet yet still provides me with so many memories. First to arrive are the kitchen staff with their trolleys full, then the jockeys and their horses begin to familiarise themselves with the course and soon follow the TV crews and reporters practicing their introductions. As the mass of visitors arrive, the excitement and the anticipation of a great day fills the atmosphere. The tradition, the hats, the dressing up, it all makes for a very special day out which I have enjoyed capturing in this unique project.” The exhibition can be viewed during Royal Ascot in the marquee named My Kingdom for a Horse and around the grounds throughout the year. With over 80 photographs in the Trustee's Collection at The National Portrait Gallery, London, Morrison is considered one of the foremost photographers of the last three decades, with photographs ranging from great icons of yesteryear like Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir Peter Ustinov and Sir Alec Guiness; influential politicians Baroness Thatcher, Henry Kissinger and Hillary Clinton to figures of today such as Dame Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Tom Cruise.

Taking the racing line

Part 2 in our occasional series of retrospective photographs from the past 300 years of Ascot history looks back at a seemingly never-ending line of racegoers snaking towards the racecourse from Ascot train station in the 1930s.

Since the 1830s, when the railways opened up the race meeting to the masses, the journey by train to Ascot has been an important and exciting start to the eager racegoer’s day.

In 1873, the Times wrote “Never has the South Western Railway brought down such a heavy and fashionably filled train as that which …dispersed its contents over an Ascot radius of some half dozen miles or more, while the afternoon trains on the Great Western have filled the Royal Borough with…bustle and excitement.”

Our Facebook followers’ reflections of Ascot

Earlier this week, we asked our Facebook followers for their reflections of Ascot, and in particular Royal Ascot in June. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their time – we had some wonderful comments and memories. Here are just some of the best ones...

Lisa Ball Orchard: Because I haven’t been since my daughter was three months old, she’s now fourteen! But, we love the family days in the year as I have five kids and it’s such a good value day out!

Simona Quaresima: When you get down from the train to Ascot you just enter the city of horses. And when in that moment you look at your boyfriend it's just like the first time a kid enter the playground. He is the portrait of the happiness in his city of horses.

Emma Patterson: A great excuse to dress up and make a noise as your horse romps past the winning post!

Beau Caiger: To put the Bookies into administration!

Sam Rook: Jumps has the Cheltenham Festival, the flat has Royal Ascot, but this show is like no other!

Sue Barlow: I'm looking forward to it [Royal Ascot] because I'll get some peace! My daughter's 11 and obsessed with horses and the Royal Family. Royal Ascot is her idea of heaven, and she's been getting more and more excited for the last few weeks.

Carly Richardson: I'm looking forward to it as the Jump season is now coming to an end so I get to see Frankie in action again..... ♥ love going to Ascot as it’s our time off from working at our National Hunt yard so a big crowd of us go for end of season day out :) xx

David J Colbran: Looking forward to the excitement at the off, the wind, the crowd cheering, the faces, the bookies and their boards, the winning and losing and most of all getting close to the horses and feeling the ground vibrate as they rush past - magic!

Paolo Figini: Royal Ascot host the best races in the world and a great organisation. Amazing to hear all these different languages.

Dee Osmond: I travel every year to Royal Ascot from Northern Ireland and have done so for the last twelve years. I even went four years ago with a broken ankle! Ascot has the X Factor as far as racecourses go.

Lindsey Tomlinson: Yearly incentive to remove the boots and overalls and enter the world of racing at Ascot; Fashion, Pimms and the singing by the bandstand.

Les Taylor: I was born a bit too late to see Brown Jack win any of his Royal Ascot races but I have seen some of the other great ones, but this year will be something special.

And a beautiful poem from Debra Caunter to end with:

Oh little horsey with no name,
Being at Ascot is a betting game.
I'm coming there in May and June,

Roll on the summer cos it's coming soon.
Horses racing past the winning post,
That's when I celebrate my winnings with a champers toast.
Ascot is the place to be,
So enjoyed by friends, family including meeeee!