Hampton Court Stakes
 QuinnBet
Group 3, Ascot 17:35
£150,000 guaranteed,
3yo only,
1m 1f 212y, Class 1   
Thursday 19th June 2025

1 Trinity College 5/2F
2 Torando Alert 9/1
3 Glittering Legend 11/1
12 ran NR: Al Shababi, Jackknife
Distances: 3½l, 1l, nk Time: 2m 4.30s (fast by 0.10s)

If the French Derby hinted at class, this Group 3 confirmed it in emphatic fashion. Trinity College, fresh from a solid fourth in the Prix du Jockey Club, turned the Royal Ascot heat into a solo exhibition, dictating from the front under a masterclass of pace control by Ryan Moore, who brought up his 90th winner at the Royal meeting.

Moore judged it to perfection. Even splits early, no panic mid-race, and then a lengthening move from the three-pole that saw the Dubawi colt stretch away for a three-and-a-half length success, barely coming off the bridle until the job was long done. It was the sort of ride that didn’t just win the race—it stole it.

Runner-up Tornado Alert  bounced back from a Derby sixth, shaping well over this shorter trip, while Glittering Legend, a Listed winner on synthetics, held on for third a length back, having endured a bump early before settling into stride.

For trainer Aidan O’Brien, the result was confirmation of long-held faith. “Ryan gave him a beautiful ride—he had him in a rhythm and when he asked him, he just kept lengthening. You’d be very happy with him now,” said the master of Ballydoyle, who edges ever closer to a century of Royal Ascot winners.

“We’ve always thought a lot of him. Last year things didn’t quite fall right, but he’s matured, he’s stronger, and now you’d have to think of races like the Eclipse or even something in America.”

Indeed, the future looks bright and varied. The colt’s versatility and stamina make him a compelling prospect for middle-distance Group 1 targets on both sides of the Atlantic.

Moore was typically reserved in praise but quietly bullish. “That’s how he likes to run—just like today,” he said. “At Epsom we held onto him and he didn’t enjoy the camber. He’s out of a top mare in Hermosa, and being by Dubawi, he’s only going to get better. It was a quick turnaround from France, but he handled it like a proper horse.”

Co-owner Paul Smith was understandably delighted. “That’s probably Ryan’s first winner in our colours, so it’s a special moment. The French Derby run was huge and he’s backed it up here. He stays, he handles different ground, and now he’s opening a lot of doors.”

Behind him, connections of the placed horses could also reflect with credit. Saeed bin Suroor praised Tornado Alert’s continued improvement: “He’s going the right way. Second in a Group 3 now, we’ll look for a similar target next.”

For James Fanshawe, there was a tinge of farewell about Glittering Legend: “He’s likely heading to Hong Kong now, but he’s run really well here. Got a bump early, which lit him up slightly, but he settled and saw it out well. It’s a race that could work out nicely.”

All told, a race won not just with class but with tactical precision—Moore’s timing, O’Brien’s planning, and a colt who might just be starting to blossom.

Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)
(Formerly The Tercentenary Stakes)
£150,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 1f 212y, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (6)    Trinity College 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 5/2F
2 (4) 3½ Tornado Alert 3 9-2 Saeed bin Suroor James McDonald 9/1
3 (9) 1 Glittering Legend 3 9-2 James Fanshawe Daniel Muscutt 11/1
4 (2) nk Tiberius Thunder 3 9-2 Adrian Murray David Egan 80/1
5 (1) nk Great David 3 9-2 James Tate James Doyle 40/1
6 (13) 1 Sea Scout 3 9-2 Simon & Ed Crisford Harry Davies 66/1
7 (14) 1 Arabian Force 3 9-2 William Haggas Tom Marquand 16/1
8 (8) 1 Reyenzi 3 9-2 J P Murtagh Ben Coen 16/1
9 (10) 2½ Emit 3 9-2 Joseph O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 40/1
10 (5) 5 Detain 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Colin Keane 3/1
11 (12) hd Stardrop 3 9-2 James Owen Sean D Bowen 125/1
12 (7) 10 High Stock 3 9-2 Andrew Balding William Buick 11/1
WD 8 (3) Jackknife 3 9-2 Roger Varian WITHDRAWN
NR 1 (11) Al Shababi 3 9-2 Owen Burrows NON RUNNER

SureWIn

HAMPTON COURT STAKES WINNERS

YEAR GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2024 3 JAYAREBE Brian Meehan Sean Levey Iraj Parvizi 3-9-02 7/1
2023 3 WAIPIRO Ed Walker Tom Marquand P K Siu 3-9-02 7/1
2022 3 CLAYMORE Jane Chapple-Hyam Adam Kirby Mary Slack 3-9-02 7/1
2021 3 MOHAAFETH 3-9-00 William Haggas Jim Crowley Shadwell Estate Company Ltd 3-9-00 11/8F
2020 3 RUSSIAN EMPEROR Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Laurie Macri, Sue Magnier et al 3-9-00 100/30
2019 3 SANGARIUS Sir Michael Stoute Frankie Dettori Khalid Abdullah 3-9-00 13/2
2018 3 HUNTING HORN Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith 3-9-00 5/1
2017 3 BENBATL Saeed bin Suroor Oisin Murphy Godolphin 3-9-00 9/2
2016 3 HAWKBILL Charlie Appleby William Buick Godolphin 3-9-00 11/2
2015 3 TIME TEST Roger Charlton Frankie Dettori Khalid Abdullah 3-9-00 15/8F
2014 3 CANNOCK CHASE Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Saeed Suhail 3-9-00 7/4F
2013 3 REMOTE John Gosden William Buick Khalid Abdullah 3-9-00 9/4F
2012 3 ENERGIZER Jens Hirschberger GER Adrie de Vries Gestut Schlenderhan 3-9-00 15/2
201 3 PISCO SOUR Hughie Morrison Jimmy Fortune Michael Kerr-Dineen 3-9-00 20/1
2010 L AFSARE Luca Cumani Kieren Fallon Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum 3-9-05 9/4F
2009 L GLASS HARMONIUM Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Ballymacoll Stud 3-9-02 8/1
2008 L COLLECTION William Haggas Kerrin McEvoy Highclere Thoroughbred Racing 3-9-02 13/2
2007 L ZAHAM Mark Johnston Richard Hills Hamdan Al Maktoum 3-9-02 7/2F
2006 L SNOQUALMIE BOY David Elsworth John Egan Jeff Smith 3-8-11 33/1
*2005 L INDIGO CAT Aidan O’Brien IRE Kieren Fallon Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 3-8-11 3/1F
2004 L MOSCOW BALLET Aidan O’Brien IRE Jamie Spencer Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier 3-8-11 8/1
2003 L PERSIAN MAJESTY Peter Harris Johnny Murtagh Dr Jamal Ahmadzadeh 3-8-11 8/1
2002 L BURNING SUN Henry Cecil Richard Quinn Khalid Abdullah 3-8-11 14/1
*run at York