Royal Ascot 2023 Review

The early season highlight When it comes to flat racing festivals, Royal Ascot is unparalleled. With horses traveling from all corners of the globe, including a notable surge in US participation thanks to key figures like George Weaver and New York-based Englishman Tom Morley, it truly felt like a global event.

Add the customary lineup of top-tier Australian sprinters such as Artorius, Coolnagatta, and Cannonball alongside Hong Kong’s Wellington, and the event brilliantly highlighted British racing on an international scale.

International Competition

I don't want to focus overly on the negatives, but the lack of international contenders for races ranging from a mile to a mile-and-a-half was a notable omission.

Historically, we've seen US competitors in the Queen Anne, former Australian stars in the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes, and even runners from the Far East.

Japanese entrants have frequently triumphed at major Middle Eastern meetings early in the year, but the fondness for watering UK tracks cited by course clerks is suggested as a reason why many choose Japan over Ascot.

Considering the likes of Equinox and others are hailed as leading middle-distance competitors, it's disheartening that the racecourse doesn't strive harder to attract them to what is arguably its marquee event.

Juveniles

While several top US contenders underperformed and Tuesday's much-talked-about River Tiber vs Asadna showdown didn't deliver, it's crucial to focus on the potential stars on display among the young horses.

Aidan O’Brien’s prowess in securing victories in the Coventry Stakes continued with River Tiber's win, marking the handler’s tenth triumph in this race since 1997 with Harbour Master.

O’Brien’s victors are typically exceptional young horses, some of whom don’t maintain their form; exceptions like Landseer and Henrythenavigator found success at a mile, while Caravaggio excelled as a sprinter, winning the Commonwealth Cup at this meeting as a two-year-old.

Only time will tell if River Tiber matures into a top-notch three-year-old, but numerous victories seem attainable for him as a two-year-old.

Among the fillies, it’s tough to criticize Donnacha O’Brien's Albany Stakes champion Porta Fortuna, now a dual Group 3 victor and undefeated in three races.

Being Caravaggio's daughter doesn’t ensure she’ll excel over a mile, and she may well be best suited to sprinting.

The Classic Generation

The anticipated Paddington vs. Chaldean encounter in the St James’s Palace Stakes appeared quite one-sided, as Paddington surged over three-and-a-half lengths ahead of his primary competitor for an easy win.

Chaldean weakened in the final stages, and though he handled the mile well to win at Newmarket, he might perform better over slightly shorter distances.

As for Paddington, his display impressed, signaling his potential to tackle longer distances and possibly contend for the Irish Champion Stakes.

In the fillies’ division, Tahiyra established herself as the premier miling filly with an odds-on triumph in the Coronation Stakes. tips for Ascot Jockey Chris Hayes hinted at possibly extending her distance after the race, and although the withdrawal of her 1000 Guineas conqueror Mawj dampened the event somewhat, she seems destined for stardom with the Aga Khan and Dermot Weld.

Little Big Bear drew significant attention for the Commonwealth Cup, having rebounded impressively from his Guineas disappointment with a win at Haydock.

However, during Friday's sprint feature, he had no response to the late-surging Shaquille, who clinched victory despite a slow start.

Shaquille has now won six of his seven starts, with his sole defeat over seven furlongs at York last year, and he seems likely to aim for

Last year's Coventry Stakes winner, Bradsell, performed admirably to secure his first win since the King’s Stand Stakes on Tuesday of the event. Newmarket for the July Cup .

Finishing third behind Little Big Bear at Haydock, this was the colt’s first attempt at the minimum distance, positioning him as a strong contender for the Nunthorpe at York in August.

The absence of Far Eastern horses undoubtedly dimmed the luster of the older horse Group 1 races, yet it was hard not to feel pleased for the connections of Triple Time, who won the Queen Anne Stakes on the meeting’s opening day.

Older Horses 

Trained by Kevin Ryan, this victory was the four-year-old’s premier success away from Haydock and signaled his potential in Group 1 mile contests this year.

Vauban clinched the concluding race on day one in commanding style, and having demonstrated his ability at the elite hurdle level, his connections likely contemplate similar success on the flat, with the Melbourne Cup potentially in their sights for the gelding.

Mostahdaf impressed with a four-length triumph in the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes on the second meeting day.

The five-year-old had previously chased home Japanese star Equinox in Dubai earlier this year and decisively outclassed several skilled rivals here, including Luxembourg and Adayar.

The King George should certainly be a consideration for a horse that has previously excelled over this distance.

Courage Mon Ami was only making his fourth career appearance when he won the Gold Cup under Frankie Dettori, the week’s standout race.

With the prospect of further development and being just four years old, he might follow in the footsteps of legends like Yeats by winning multiple Ascot Gold Cups in the future.

The stewards once again captured attention due to the numerous cameras in the stewards’ room and their decision not to alter the Hardwicke Stakes outcome, where the winner Pyledriver impeded his competitors.

Other Issues

The sport might be facing challenges, but this was a standout meeting and significant, marking the first event without Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

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