Saturday marks the final day of the prestigious annual Royal Ascot meeting held at Ascot Racecourse outside London and only one group 1 race remains on the seven-race closing day card. The weather remains in typical spring London-type conditions and the day’s temperature is expected to be near 70 under partly sunny skies. The going over the course is expected to be firm once.
Celebrating the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes: A Rich Heritage
Khadeem. Ascot Photo
The final day’s feature is the six-furlong Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (GIT), a race for all sexes aged four and up named for the late and much beloved longtime British monarch, who was a big fan of horse racing. The race, first run in 1868 as the All-Aged Stakes before morphing into the Cork and Orry Stakes in the late 1920s in honor of the Earl of Cork and then the Golden Jubilee in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s 50th anniversary of her ascension to the throne. Seven years ago it was renamed again to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s rise to lead the British monarchy and the name remains today.
Some of the most outstanding European sprinters in history have won the race over the many decades of its existence, but none so prominent as 2012 winner and worldwide fan favorite Black Caviar, who shipped in from Australia to claim a narrow victory. Other notable names include Blue Point, Hello Youmzain, Dream of Dreams, Naval Crown and Khaadem a year ago returning to defend his title this year.
Top Contenders Return for the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Stakes
The filly Believing, fourth in the King Charles III Stakes (G1T) returns off short rest and the George Boughey-trained 4-year-old will be adding an extra furlong on the trip off the defeat at five furlongs, which is significant in that three of her four career wins have come at 1200 meters.
Vadream, another filly, also returns from a Tuesday run in the King Charles, but was only across the finish in front of one rival. Mill Stream wheels back off his Duke of York win five weeks ago over Shouldvebeenaring, second, and Washington Heights, fourth, who will join him in the stalls here today. The Wizard Of Eye lines up with a win in last month’s Victora Cup and will have leading jockey Ryan Moore up for the first time.
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Stakes is the day’s third race with a post time of 3:45 p.m. local time.