The first five in the betting for the June 21 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot features two horses trained in France and one each in Britain, Japan, and Ireland.
The home team is led by last year's dominant Commonwealth Cup (G1) winner Inisherin. Two disappointing efforts, when favored, followed that brilliant course-and-distance success, but a wind operation over the winter appeared to have done the trick when he won last month's Duke of York Stakes (G2).
Adam Ryan, assistant trainer to his father Kevin, said: "He was a good winner last year in the Commonwealth Cup and it was good to see him back on track in the Duke of York. We felt he'd come on for that, so he goes there in great order. He has a big chance. It's a top-quality field but we couldn't be happier with him."
The Hambleton yard also saddles Grand Grey and Ryan added: "He ran very well in the Abernant (Stakes April 16) and it just didn't happen for him over in Ireland (in the Greenlands Stakes). He should be suited by a strongly run contest and hopefully he can run a big race."
Wathnan Looks for Fourth Royal Win
Wathnan Racing's uncanny knack of delivering on this most royal of stages has continued this year. Two winners from three runners in 2023 was bettered by four last year and they are on the verge of matching that with three already in 2025.
To the Wolferton, Copper Horse, and Duke of Cambridge (G2) stakes victories they would dearly love to add a group 1, and in 3-1 favorite Lazzat and 10-1 chance Flora of Bermuda they have two strong chances.
"He's a thoroughly consistent, admirable gelding," Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan Racing, said of the French-based favorite Lazzat. "We've been watching him a long time and we were very taken with his seasonal debut. I think six furlongs on the straight course up the hill will be perfect for him.
"The going is a concern for most horses because it's specialist quick ground, but I personally feel he'll be okay on it. He's one of our big guns for the week and we're all very excited about seeing him run."
Of the recently purchased Andrew Balding-trained Flora of Bermuda, who was a neck behind Inisherin at York, he added: "She ran a great race in the Duke of York and was arguably a bit unlucky. If the gaps had opened a bit earlier, she might have got up. Andrew Balding has been very happy with her since and with a bit of luck she can run a big race."
Storm Boy Aims for Return to Form
With such Australian-breds as Black Caviar and Starspangledbanner among the list of Jubilee winners, another Australian-bred attempts to land the six-furlong group 1. Storm Boy will look to add his name to the list and live up to the potential shown in his 2-year-old season when he was 4-0-1 in six starts with two group wins.
Owned by Storm Boy Partners, which includes John Stewart's Resolute Racing, Storm Boy made his first start in Europe May 24 for new trainer Aidan O'Brien. Finishing ninth in that group 2 contest, his connections are hoping for improvement.
"We knew he would need his run at the Curragh, we were only getting to know him at that stage, but we think he has come forward a lot since then," O'Brien said. "He's a fast horse and has shown us plenty of speed at home. We hope you will see a different horse here."
