All Eyes on Royal Ascot for the Latest Instalment of Royal Event

Horse racing fans in the Baltic nations will be counting down the days to Royal Ascot 2024 to see some of the world’s best thoroughbreds in action at the five-day meeting in the UK. The Group One races have attracted some strong entries this year.

Here is a look at some of the horses who will be in action at the meeting.

Australian Superstar Chain Of Lightning Added to Sprint Races

The horse many horse racing supporters are looking forward to seeing the most at Royal Ascot this year is Chain Of Lightning. The Australian sprinter is the +700 favorite in the horse racing odds for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

Peter Moody's and Katherine Coleman’s runner shone in the prestigious James Squire R. J. Smith Stakes at Randwick back in April, booking her spot at the royal meeting with victory in that Group One contest. She could run twice on her trip to the UK, as she is also entered in the King Charles III Stakes where she has Ascot odds of +800.

Australia has produced some exceptional sprinters this century. Black Caviar was one of the first to prevail at Royal Ascot for her country. Connections of Chain Of Lightning will be hoping their horse can follow the great mare at the leading international fixture. 

French Star Milers Set for Queen Anne Stakes

Big Rock and Facteur Cheval finished first and second respectively in the 2023 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day. They beat a strong field from Europe, including Classic winner Paddington.

The French duo are set to feature in the opening race on Royal Ascot 2024 in the Queen Anne Stakes. Big Rock will be making his first appearance since moving to Maurizio Guarnieri’s yard. The four-year-old has not finished outside the front two in his last eight outings, in what has been a consistent stretch for the colt.

Facteur Cheval, who is fifth in the world rankings, will travel to the UK-based racecourse with a run behind already this year. He was victorious in the Group One Dubai Turf in the UAE back in March. That was a career-best performance from the five-year-old, who beat some of the leading Japanese raiders in that 1m1f contest.

Fandom May Be Next Wesley Ward Star

Royal Ascot would not be the same without a Wesley Ward runner at the meeting. The legendary US-based trained horse has two entries across the five days this year, with Fandom entered in the Commonwealth Cup, a sprint contest for three-year-olds, and the King Charles III Stakes.

The son of Showcasing prevailed on his debut at Keeneland last season. He then finished in mid-division in the Coventry Stakes on his first overseas trip to Royal Ascot. Ward will be hoping his horse settles better this year, as he ran too freely in the Group Two contest in 2023.

Ward has yet to reveal which race his sprinter will line up in, but the Group One King Charles III Stakes is also an option, should he decide to take on the older horses in the sprint division. The American won that race in 2017 with Lady Aurelia. His talented filly was just three years old when she prevailed.

The final declarations for Royal Ascot 2024 will be announced 48 hours before each race, and the meeting is scheduled to take place between June 18-22.