Royal Ascot Day 3

Yes now it's time to check out the Thursday race fixture ...

Norfolk Stakes' History

The Norfolk Stakes is a Group Two race run at Royal Ascot over five furlongs for two-year-old horses.  Established in 1843 and originally run as the New Stakes, this contest gives the chance for the juvenile brigade to gain a coveted prize and run on the third day of the Royal meeting often attracts some of the leading two-year-olds in the UK & Ireland.

It continued to grow in stature as time went on and in 2006 was eventually given Grade Two status and is now an integral part of Royal Ascot and recently it has seen some classy winners of the contest.

One name that stands is Aidan O'Brien's Johannesburg, who bagged a sublime victory in the 2001 Norfolk Stakes before going on to bag multiple Group victories during a superb two-year-old campaign.

Success in the Prix Morny was followed by victory in the Middle Park Stakes before the Ballydoyle speedster went on to bag victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to round off a terrific season and shows that some classy raiders can come out of this contest.

Peter Chapple-Hyam won back-to-back contests in 2006 and 2007 with Dutch Art and Winker Watson, whilst William Haggas' Approve bagged glory in 2010 to add yet more gloss to an illustrious roll of honour.

Recent Winners of Norfolk Stakes

2000 - Superstar Leo
2001 - Johannesburg
2002 - Baron's Pit
2003 - Russaian Valour
2004 - Blue Dakota
2005 - Masta Plasta
2006 - Dutch Art
2007 - Winker Watson
2008 - South Central
2009 - Radiohead
2010 - Approve
2011 - Bapak Chinta
2012 - Reckless Abandon
2013 - No Nay Never
2014 - Baitha Alga

Tercentenary Stakes' History

The Tercentenary Stakes is a Group Three race run at Royal Ascot over one mile, two furlongs for horses aged three-years old.  With the Royal meeting originally taking place over four days, the Hampton Court Stakes used to take place on the Saturday fixture, which was known as the Ascot Heath meeting, but it was moved to become part of the Royal extravaganza in 2002 when Royal Ascot became five days long to commemmorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee Stakes.

Now an integral part of the third day's festivities, the Tercentenary Stakes is targeted by trainers who have horses that drop just below Group level and it is often a hotly-contested race in which several runners are in with a feasible chance.

Sir Henry Cecil has an excellent record in the race and the Warren Place handler trained the winners in 1987 and 1989 with Russian Steppe bagging victory in the former with Spritsail regaining the title for the legendary handler in the latter, whilst Middle Kingdom lifted the title in 1990.

Peter Chapple-Hyam is another man who has managed to train three winners in the race and he notched up his first victory in 1993 with White Muzzle, whilst Astor Place and Dark Moondancer completed the hat-trick for the Derby-winning trainer in 1996 and 1998, respectively.

Aidan O'Brien is the only man who has managed to win back-to-back Hampton Court prizes as the master of Ballydoyle managed to win the 2004 renewal with Moscow Ballet, whilst Indigo Cat retained the title 12 months later for the Irish legend with another impressive victory.

Other notable winners in more recent times include William Haggas' Collection who went on to greater glory in Hong Kong, whilst Glass Harmonium was a classy winner for Sir Michael Stoute in 2008.

Recent Winners of Tercentenary Stakes

2000 - Port Vila
2001 - Freefourinternet
2002 - Burning Sun
2003 - Persian Majesty
2004 - Moscow Ballet
2005 - Indigo Cat
2006 - Snoqualmie Boy
2007 - Zaham
2008 - Collection
2009 - Glass Harmonium
2010 - Afsare
2011 - Pisco Sour
2012 - Energizer
2013 - Remote
2014 - Cannock Chase

Ribblesdale Stakes' History

The Ribblesdale Stakes is a Group Two race run at Royal Ascot over one mile and four furlongs for three-year-old fillies.  Established in 1919, this contest has long attracted some classy performers and often welcomes some fillies who have already competed in the Epsom Oaks earlier in the season.

Not only do trainers target this as another Group possibility following the Oaks, but with the Irish Oaks taking place the following month, fillies can be aimed at this contest and looking to use it as a stepping stone to Classic glory.

Barry Hills' Bolas was the last filly who managed to win the Ribblesdale before going on to Ireland and lifting the Irish Oaks title and this feat was accomplished in 1994.

A plethora of trainers have a good record in the race with Sir Henry Cecil, John Dunlop and Saeed Bin Suroor all having a terrific return in the race and all three of them have trained five or more winners of the Ribblesdale Stakes.

Another man that stars in the race that takes place on day three of Royal Ascot is Frankie Dettori, who has a great record in the 1m 4f contest. Mainly partnering Saeed Bin Suroor and Godolphin, the diminutive Italian has managed to bag six victories in the race during his illustrious career to cement his place as the leading jockey in the history of the race.

Recent Winners of Ribblesdale Stakes

2000 - Miletrian
2001 - Sahara Slew
2002 - Irresistible Jewel
2003 - Spanish Sun
2004 - Punctillious
2005 - Thakafaat
2006 - Mont Etoile
2007 - Silkwood
2008 - Michita
2009 - Flying Cloud
2010 - Hibaayeb
2011 - Banimpire
2012 - Princess Highway
2013 - Riposte
2014 - Bracelet

Ascot Gold Cup History

The Ascot Gold Cup is a Group One race run at Royal Ascot over two miles, four furlongs and is open to horses aged four years or older.  Established in 1802, the Ascot Gold Cup is the most prestigious staying event in the flat racing fixture list and sees the best stayers around competing for Group One glory.

It is the opening leg of the British Stayer's Triple Crown which also includes the Goodwood Cup and Doncaster Cup and Double Trigger was the last to achieve the feat of bagging all three races in 1995 for trainer Mark Johnston.

There have been multiple winners of the Ascot Gold Cup down the years and a legendary stayer who won the race three times during the 1970's was Sagaro for jockey Lester Piggott. Incidentally, Piggott has an astonishing record in the race as he has amassed 11 victories during his illustrious career.

A man who has dominated the race since the turn of the century is Ballydoyle master Aidan O'Brien, who has trained five winners of the race since 2006. This is mainly down to one of the greatest stayers ever to be seen on a racecourse as Yeats dominated the staying ranks during his career.

After winning the 2006 Ascot Gold Cup, Yeats dominated the Royal meeting for the following three years in 2007, 2008 and 2009 to break all records in the event that is staged on day three of Royal Ascot.

Another top class winner who lifted the crown was Fame and Glory who stormed to success in 2011. The former Irish Derby and Coronation Cup winner was stepped up massively in distance and duly sauntered to victory for O'Brien to bag him his fifth win in six years.

Recent Winners of Ascot Gold Cup

2000 - Kayf Tara
2001 - Royal Rebel
2002 - Royal Rebel
2003 - Mr Dinos
2004 - Papineau
2005 - Westerner
2006 - Yeats
2007 - Yeats
2008 - Yeats
2009 - Yeats
2010 - Rite of Passage
2011 - Fame and Glory
2012 - Colour Vision
2013 - Estimate
2014 - Leading Light

Britannia Stakes' History

The Britannia Stakes is a handicap race run at Royal Ascot over one mile for three-year-old colts and geldings.  It may follow the Ascot Gold Cup on the third day of the five-day meeting, but this has always been one of the most competitive races of the entire week and down the years there have been some big priced winners, as highlighted in 2007 when Eddie Jock won at 33/1 and 12 months later when Fifteen Love won at 28/1 for Roger Charlton.

Renewals of the race have seen 30 horses go to post to battle it out over the straight mile and to win the Britannia Stakes you will need to gain some luck in running and avoid potential traffic problems throughout the race.

John Gosden was the last trainer to bag back-to-back renewals of the Britannia Stakes when he first won the contest in 2000 with the 4/1 shot El Gran Papa, who was expertly ridden by Franny Norton, whilst the pair teamed up 12 months later to win the 2001 running with 14/1 Analyser, who edged out Ecclesiastical.

Barry Hills' Ransom Note was a classy winner of the 2010 running and he went on to become a solid Group performer and it is sometimes used by a trainer as a springboard to bigger and better things and no doubt this contest will continue to unearth future black-type winners.

Recent Winners of Britannia Stakes

2000 - El Gran Papa
2001 - Analyser
2002 - Pentecost
2003 - New Seeker
2004 - Mandobi
2005 - Mostashaar
2006 - Sir Gerard
2007 - Eddie Jock
2008 - Fifteen Love
2009 - Fareer
2010 - Ransom Note
2011 - Sagramor
2012 - Fast Or Free
2013 - Roca Tumu
2014 - Born in Bombay

King George V Stakes' History

The King George V Stakes is a handicap race run at Royal Ascot over one mile, four furlongs for three-year-old horses.  Taking place on the third day of the five-day meeting this race draws the curtain on Thursday's action and is often a hotly-contested race with many trainers hoping that their three-year-olds can use it as a stepping stone up to Pattern company and many have used the contest as a springboard to Group races.

It is highlighted well with the winner of the 2011 renewal as runaway winner Brown Panther was sensational when recording victory for Tom Dascombe and he used the race as a prep for the St Leger and Doncaster and he went on to finish second in the Classic at the end of the season to show that this race can unearth future stars.

Twelve months previous, James Given's Dandino was another classy winner of the King George V Stakes and he managed to win the Group Two Jockey Club Stakes to add yet more substance to the illustrious roll of honour that has seen other top notch runners grab victory including Geoff Wragg's Heron Bay in 2007 and John Dunlop's Munsef in 2005.

Attracting double-figured fields annually this is one of the classiest handicaps of the entire Royal Ascot and no doubt as it continues to grow in stature it will provide yet more future black-type winners who go on to bigger and better things later on in their career.

Recent Winners of King George V Stakes

2000 - Give The Slip
2001 - Beekeeper
2002 - Systematic
2003 - Fantastic Love
2004 - Admiral
2005 - Munsef
2006 - Linas Selection
2007 - Herons Bay
2008 - Colony
2009 - Cosmic Sun
2010 - Dandino
2011 - Brown Panther
2012 - Fennell Bay
2013 - Elidor
2014 - Elite Army