The Group I St James’s Palace Stakes (1m) is one of the highlight races on Day 1 at Royal Ascot and this year features a rematch between two outstanding 3YO colts coming off last start G1 Guineas victories and one of them has a pedigree that owes a lot to Australia.
At the head of the market is unbeaten Night of Thunder colt Bow Echo, who is looking to protect his undefeated four wins from four starts record when he heads out to tackle Gstaad, who chased him home for second in the Group I Newmarket 2000 Guineas last month.
Bow Echo is trained by George Boughey, whose name is well known to Australians as he was the original trainer for our two time Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE).
A homebred for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Bow Echo has not raced since his Guineas victory and is yet run at Ascot, while his main opponent Gstaad has been kept up to the mark by Aidan O’Brien winning the Group I Irish 2000 Guineas
Gstaad is no stranger to Royal Ascot having thrashed a field of 20 to win the Group II Coventry Stakes last year and ended his busy juvenile season with a win in the Group I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (1m) at Del Mar.
His win in the Irish 2000 Guineas was a ripper and it’s probably worth noting that the past three colts to win this race – Field of Gold, Rosallion and Paddington – all came to Royal Ascot and won the St James Palace after winning the Irish classic.
Gstaad might carry the (GB) suffix, but he does fly the flag for Australian breeding.
He is by Starspangledbanner, who conquered Royal Ascot in 2010 to win the Group I Golden Jubilee Stakes and his dam is by our champion sire Exceed and Excel.
The Bow Echo vs Gstaad is the third G1 on the opening day that will also feature Aussie bred and trained sprinters Overpass and Asfoora in the Group I King Charles II Stakes (5f) and Aussie owned Docklands (GB) (OTI Racing) looking to go back to back in the Group I Queen Anne Stakes he won last year.
The Henry Dwyer trained Asfoora won this race in 2024 and was fifth last year, while the Bjorn Baker trained Overpass is coming in fresh after a fourth back in April in the Group I ATC TJ Smith behind Joliestar, who runs at Royal Ascot on the last day of the carnival.
Australia’s reigning champion sire Zoustar has a couple of interesting King Charles runners in Starlust (GB), who covered a book of 102 mares at Riverstone Lodge in the Hunter Valley last spring before being returned to training and the temperamental mare Mgheera.
Owned by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber (Watership Down Stud) and Yarraman Park’s Arthur Mitchel, Mgheera refused to load at Royal Ascot last year leaving connections disappointed and wondering what might have been.
She was flying leading into last year with stakes wins at her two previous starts and while her form this year is not as good, there is no doubting Mgheera has plenty of talent.
