ROYAL ASCOT REVIEW
The Dream Remains Alive
by Frances de Haan
Royal Ascot never disappoints. Widely regarded as the crown jewel of the British Flat racing season, this five-day festival, featuring eight Group 1 races, brings together the world's finest thoroughbreds, jockeys and trainers to compete at the very highest level.
Each year we arrive with excitement, hope and anticipation, and every year Royal Ascot reminds us why racing is such an extraordinary sport. The atmosphere, the pageantry, the quality of competition and the sheer thrill of seeing your colours carried on one of racing's grandest stages make it a week unlike any other.
One of the highlights came before a race had even been run. Seeing so many Highclere shareholders gathered at our annual picnic was a wonderful reminder that ownership is about far more than racing alone. It is about friendships, shared experiences and creating memories that last a lifetime.
We were enormously proud to have four runners represent Highclere during the week.
Our opening runner was the William Haggas trained Rhapsody, a striking daughter of Ghaiyyath, who lined up in the Kensington Palace Stakes. Returning from a lengthy absence, she produced a tremendous effort to finish fourth, beaten just over two lengths by stablemate Alobayaah. In a deeply contested twenty-four -runner field, she showed courage and determination, doing her best work late on. Cieren Fallon reflected afterwards that she would have finished even closer with a clearer passage. To find yourself fourth at Royal Ascot after such a layoff was a superb performance and there is no doubt that there are more exciting days ahead for this black-type filly.
Rhapsody impressing with a determined effort to finish fourth in the Kensington Palace Stakes
Next to take the stage was Conclave who lined up in the Britannia Stakes. The progressive son of Sioux Nation came into the race having won two of his three starts and acquitted himself admirably in one of the meeting's most competitive handicaps. Drawn favourably on the stand side, he travelled strongly throughout and made the most of every opportunity that came his way, finishing a highly respectable sixth, beaten just two and a quarter lengths. PJ McDonald felt he would improve further over a longer trip, while Andrew Balding has already identified a valuable target in Deauville this August.
Day four brought a double helping of excitement, beginning with Topaz in the Albany Stakes. The daughter of Persian Force had shaped with considerable promise on debut at Newmarket when finishing runner up denied only a neck to the hot favourite in a competitive Class 2. Royal Ascot is always a stern test for a young horse and, although she met trouble in running and found herself further back than ideal, she stayed on well in the closing stages to pass several rivals. Fifteenth may not tell the full story, but no doubt she gained valuable experience that should stand her in good stead for the future.
Our final runner of the week was Awaken in the Sandringham Stakes, her second year at Royal Ascot having impressed when finishing in runner up spot in the Albany Stakes as a two-year-old in 2025. Sadly she did not have such luck in running this time around. While the result was a little disappointing, she ran with credit to finish midfield in a 30-runner contest. Billy Loughnane felt the final furlong stretched her on the day, but she still showed plenty of promise before tiring late on. George Boughey is keen to get her back on the track, likely back in trip and we look forward to seeing where she takes us next.
Awaken Albany Stakes (2025)
As we reflect on another memorable Royal Ascot, there is an enormous sense of pride. Pride in our horses, trainers and jockeys, and pride in our shareholders. Results will always matter and perhaps having had a winner two years running we forget how difficult it is to secure those victories. But Royal Ascot is about something bigger than results alone, it is about ambition, excitement, friendship and the pursuit of excellence.
Most of all, it is a celebration of the sport we all love. A sport capable of bringing people together from around the world and creating truly special memories. To compete at this level, against the very best, is a privilege that never loses its magic.
Highclere continues to sit proudly at racing's top table, competing with the sport's biggest names on its grandest stage.
That is what racing is all about.
And as Royal Ascot reminded us once again, the dream remains very much alive.
