The Mandarin’s Royal Ascot Racecard for Wednesday 18th June 2025

The Mandarin’s Royal Ascot Racecard for Wednesday June 18th

Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) 2.30
Zelaina
It looks that last year’s winning team, Karl Burke, Wathnan Racing and James Doyle that all combined to win with Leovanni can do it again with Zelaina. The expensive Breeze-Up purchase wouldn’t have to improve much from her all the way win at Nottingham to score here. The interesting one to look out for is Patrick Biancone’s Lennilu, the American raider who is typically bred for speed, so expect Lennilu to set the early fractions, but with Zelaina in close attendance with just the one horse between them in the draw, she can get pulled into that early pace and repeat her Nottingham success. Michael Bell’s Spicy Marg completes my shortlist, but Zelaina looks the one to follow.

Queen’s Vase (Group 2) 3.05
Carmers
A case can be made for a few of these, but I think I’ll stick with Paddy Twomey’s Carmers and hope he copes with this quick surface. Of course, Francis-Henri Graffard is no stranger to the winner’s enclosure at Royal Ascot, so Asmarani gets a mention, but like the selection it has to be taken on trust that he’ll act on this good to firm ground. With Ryan Moore aboard, Shackleton looks like Aidan O’Brien’s first string, but Carmers has form over this sort of trip so gets my vote.

Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) 3.40
Cinderella’s Dream (nap)
The globetrotting Cinderella’s Dream makes plenty of appeal for this Group 2 contest. Just look at a replay of her imposing win in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket last month to see why she’s topped the ante post markets this week, despite the drop in trip not being an obvious move, as I think she’ll be better over further this year. However, the fast surface is sure to suit, so even though she has to take on the 2024 Irish 1,000 Guineas winner, Fallen Angel, I think she can do just that for the in form Moulten Paddocks yard. Oisin Murphy might go out hard from the front on Running Lion, hoping to catch Cinderella’s Dream too far back, so with Elmalka and Soprano all having claims, a real cracker of a race.

Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1) 4.20
See The Fire (nb)
The Tattersalls Gold Cup was a brilliant showdown between Los Angeles and Anmaat, so with a run under his belt now, Owen Burrows will be hoping Anmaat can get closer. However, if Ryan Moore and Jim Crowley are keeping tabs on each other, then they might get caught out when See The Fire gets first run under Oisin Murphy. I would expect Map Of Stars to be raced prominently under James Doyle, and Los Angeles won’t be too far off that pace, but See The Fire showed a devastating change of gears to destroy the opposition in the Middleton at York, cruising home 12 lengths clear of a quality field, and that’s enough for me. John & Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman can only come on for his run in the Brigadier Gerard, and completes the list of possibles, but See The Fire is the one they all have to look out for.

Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) 5.00
Qirat
It could be that Roger Varian’s My Cloud is a Group horse lining up in a handicap, but in such a big field, he does look a skinny price. I do like the appeal of Ralph Beckett’s Qirat, sixth in the Britannia over course and distance at last year’s Royal meeting, after just getting pipped on he line by Hickory in the Victoria Cup last month on this track should have Qirat fully tuned up for this on fast ground that will suit. Charlie Appleby’s top weight Arabian Light should give a good account, so these are my three, with Qirat getting the nudge.

Kensington Palace Stakes (Fillies’ Handicap) 5.35
Sky Safari
A trappy race all in all, but I’ll trust Saffie Osborne to get a nice run from Stall 1 on Sky Safari. She can aim straight at the winning post, keeping this Zoustar filly out of trouble so she doesn’t get as lit up as she did last last time out at Salisbury, when she burnt her chance too early. I suppose that the main threats are John & Thady Gosdens’ Rainbows Edge, going in the Royal silks, and Harry Charlton’s Arolla, who will be better at this trip thuogh the ground is an unknown. Sky Safari to make the most of a wide draw, ahead of Rainbows Edge.

Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) 6.10
Rogue Legend
Another tricky one to end proceedings on Wednesday, but I’ll take a chance on Paddy Twomey’s Rogue Legend. This Havana Grey colt has won on good ground, back home in Ireland, but is unproven on this zippy surface, so the gamble is on that things don’t happen too quickly for him. My suspicion is that Eve Johnson Houghton’s Havana Hurricane is the speedy type that will make plenty of pace in this race, so if Rogue Legend copes with this ground, then the pace tactics should work out well for the in form Irish trainer.

The Mandarin