The mild weather in England will continue through Wednesday, day two at Royal Ascot, so once again firm conditions are expected. The feature on the second day of the meet is the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (GIT), a 1 ¼-mile event named in 1892 for the Prince of Wales and now run in honor of the current titleholder, His Royal Highness Prince William. There was no race during World War II when there was no Prince of Wales, but was resurrected in 1968, a year before William’s father, King Charles III, was given the title by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.The race started as a Group 2 in 1971 and was promoted to Group 1 status, where it has remained, in 2000.
Auguste Rodin. Edward Whitaker Photo
Both early favorites Auguste Rodin and Inspiral look to get back to winning ways in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes
Some of the more notable winners of the feature for older distance runners include Dubai Millennium, Bosra Sham, Fantastic Light, Rakti, Ouiji Board, Duke of Marmalade, So You Think, The Fugue, Highland Reel, Poet’s Voice, Lord North, State Of Rest and Mostahdaf a year ago.
Morny Cannon, who last rode a winner in this race in 1905, still leads all jockeys with six wins while trainer John Porter has saddled eight, his most recent being Cannon’s last winner, Plum Centre in 1905.
The silks of Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, have been worn by five winners, a number that was tied by Godolphin in 2011.
This year, a small field of ten will break from the gate, including Coolmore’s Irish Champion S. (GIT) and King George (G1) winner Auguste Rodin and Cheveley Park Stud’s champion homebred Inspiral, who was a disappointing fourth in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1T) in her first start since a win in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T).
The Prince of Wales’s Stakes is the afternoon’s fourth race with a local post time of 4:25 p.m.
Typical Full Field Of Fillies Set For Queen Mary
A field of 26 juvenile fillies is expected for the five-furlong Queen Mary Stakes (GIIT), a race named in honor of the British Queen Mary, best known as the consort of King George V and the great grandmother of the current King Charles III. American-based Lady Aurelia captured this event in 2016 ago route to a French Group 1 victory and this year her trainer, Wesley Ward, will send out Keeneland maiden winner Ultima Grace, a daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah owned by For the People Racing. Hall of Fame inductee Joel Rosario will be aboard.
The Queen Mary is the first race of the day with a post time of 9:30 a.m. ET.
Duke of Cambridge Attracts 14
The other group 2 on the Wednesday Royal Ascot card is the one-mile Duke of Cambridge Stakes (GIIT), the named changed from the Windsor Forest Stakes nearly a decade ago in honor of Prince William, who is the current Duke of Cambridge and also the Prince of Wales. For fillies and mares, four years old and up, a field of 14 is expected to break from the starting gate this year.
Soviet Song, who in 2004 was the highest-rated older female in the world and was a multiple European champion (she died in 2015) is perhaps the most well-known winner of this event.
Scott C. Heider’s Rogue Millennium, who won this race a year ago, is the early favorite off a third in the Lanwades Stud Stakes at The Curragh in May. She hasn’t returned to be unsaddled a winner since that score over this course in 2023. Dylan Browne McMonagle will ride for trainer Joseph O’BrienPost time for the Duke of Cambridge has been set for 3:45 p.m. local time.