RacingBetter News
	Friday 30th May 2025

Four Horses who Could Feature at Royal Ascot Following the Guineas Festival

The Guineas Festival at Newmarket often acts as a springboard for future stars of the summer, and the 2025 renewal has proven no different.

With Royal Ascot now firmly on the horizon, several horses caught the eye at flat racing’s HQ that could make their mark at the showpiece meeting in June.  

With Ascot tips starting to gain traction as the big festivals continue, here are four winners from Newmarket who could step up again on the grand stage in Berkshire.

Ruling Court – St James’s Palace Stakes

Ruling Court confirmed his status as one of the season’s top three-year-olds with a decisive victory in the 2000 Guineas, powering home from favourite Field Of Gold and stablemate Shadow Of Light to land the first Classic of the season.

Now connections are eyeing a potential crack at the prestigious Epsom Derby at the start of June—he’s currently 4/1 for that contest—but a return to a mile could follow swiftly after, with the St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot also still on the radar for Godolphin.

Desert Flower – Coronation Stakes

If Ruling Court stole the show for Charlie Appleby and William Buick on Saturday, then Desert Flower dazzled later to give the prominent trainer-jockey duo their first win in the 1000 Guineas.

She was a dominant winner of the fillies’ Classic, travelling beautifully and quickening clear of Ollie Sangster’s two outsiders—Flight (28/1) and Simmering (33/1)—to score in impressive style.

The Epsom Oaks is an obvious next target for the daughter of Night Of Thunder, but the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot is another option for the filly.

Cosmic Year – St. James’s Palace

Juddmonte and Harry Charlton opted to skip the 2000 Guineas with the exciting Cosmic Year, with connections favouring Field Of Gold for that assignment.

Given how that panned out for the market leader and Cosmic Year making a big statement of his own in the Listed King Charles II Stakes, the major operation may have been left to rue that decision.

Cosmic Year stayed on to beat 16/1 outsider Marvelman on the opening day of the Festival, and a step up to a mile for a potential showdown with Ruling Court would be a compelling matchup.

Rumstar – King Charles III Stakes

Rumstar landed the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at odds of 7/1 for jockey Rob Hornby and trainer Jonathan Portman.

It marked his first Group win since 2022, taking the lead from one furlong out and staying for a comfortable win over She’s Quality.

He’s entered in the King Charles III Stakes and has already shown his liking for Ascot’s straight track with a Listed win in the Rous Stakes over course and distance on his final start last Autumn.

Portman remains grounded about his horse’s chances at the Royal meeting despite paying the £4,000 entry fee, claiming: “Do I think he’s a Group One sprinter? Probably not, but with these sprinters you never know. There’ll probably be plenty from overseas, but this is where we want to be.”