Royal Ascot Hosts Four Breeders' Cup Challenge Races

Britain will host Europe's first Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races of the year when the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting opens at Ascot Racecourse June 18.

Tuesday's $762,000 (£600,000) Queen Anne Stakes (G1), a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), provides the traditional curtain-raiser to the Royal Meeting set to feature a field of leading older milers headed by Mustashry, who finished 11th behind Sir Michael Stoute-trained stablemate Expert Eye in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.

Mustashry emerged again this year to gain his first top-level success when he won the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1) in May and is set to face a number of his rivals from the Newbury race, including five-time group 1-winning filly Laurens, who finished second.

Speaking at a Royal Ascot media event June 13 Stoute said: "I was thrilled with him in the Lockinge and his preparations have gone fine. He is impervious to ground conditions, which is very handy, and we are hopeful."

The June 19, $953,000 (£750,000) Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) represents a qualifier for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). While the one-two finishers of last year's Turf, Enable and Magical, are both ruled out of the Wednesday feature, top-class filly Sea of Class will be a stern challenge. The William Haggas trainee was a neck short of denying Enable a second success in last year's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1).

Enable's rider Frankie Dettori will partner the Stoute-trained Crystal Ocean.

Crystal Ocean has won two group 3 races this year but is yet to win at group 1 level. He came closest when beaten a neck by 2018 Prince of Wales's winner Poet's Word in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1).

"He has to go for group 1 races now and he has won plenty of group 2 and group 3 races," Stoute said of Crystal Ocean. "He has run creditably in group 1 races and has decent 10-furlong form. It is a very tough race, but he goes there in great form."

Adding an international dimension to a contest, which could also feature Waldgeist from the stable of André Fabre is Japan's Deirdre, winner of the  2017 Shuka Sho (G1).

Wesley Ward claims to have shipped his strongest team of juveniles from the United States to England. One of the races the 10-time Royal Ascot-winning trainer is targeting is the $127,000 (£100,000) Norfolk Stakes (G2), a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T). The Norfolk is the first race June 20.

Ward has won the Norfolk twice with No Nay Never in 2013 and Shang Shang Shang in 2018. This year he's engaged two fillies—Anna's Fast and Karak, debut winners at Keeneland and Belmont Park, respectively—and colt Maven, the first offspring of 2015 Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner American Pharoah  to win in North America in his first start at Aqueduct Racetrack in April.

By post time, the Ward-bred Maven could be in new ownership as he is entered in the Goffs London Sale on the eve of the Royal Ascot meeting.

Opposition will be led by Sunday Sovereign, trained in Ireland by Paddy Twomey, who has been acquired by King Power Racing since the first of two impressive wins at the Curragh and Tipperary.

Ward could also have a say in the outcome of the $762,000 (£600,000) Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1), the headline race June 22, the final day of the royal meeting. The winner will earn a guaranteed start in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).

Ward saddles Bound For Nowhere, a Royal Ascot regular who finished third in the race last year and will be the mount of Tyler Gaffalione, rider of Preakness Stakes (G1) winner War of Will. Gaffalione will ride in England for the first time.

The Diamond Jubilee is likely to feature an international cast headlined by challengers from New Zealand in Enzo's Lad, who is likely to contest Tuesday's King's Stand Stakes (G1) as well, and Singapore-trained Lim's Cruiser.

However, the betting is headed by Invincible Army, emphatic winner of the Duke of York Stakes (G2) in May for trainer James Tate, and Godolphin contender Inns of Court, who has been refashioned as a sprinter this year by Fabre. Inns of Court is joined by French-trained compatriot City Light, who was short-headed in last year's contest for trainer Stephane Wattel.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of 86 stakes races, whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled for Nov. 1-2 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Breeders' Cup will also provide a $40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.