A face-off between 2023 Breeders’ Cup winners Auguste Rodin and Inspiral looms Wednesday in the Group 1, US$1.27 million Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, with the field vying for a free berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf through the Breeders’ Cup challenge series.

In addition to Wednesday’s 1 1/4-mile Prince of Wales’s Stakes for 4-year-olds and up, Thursday’s Norfolk Stakes (G2) for 2-year-olds is an automatic qualifier into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).

Auguste Rodin and Inspiral chase return to winner’s circle

Auguste Rodin ended his 3-year-old campaign on a supreme note for Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Westerberg when he landed the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park under an inspired ride from Ryan Moore. Although the five-time Group 1 winner has not returned to the winner’s circle yet in two starts in 2024, trainer Aidan O’Brien anticipates that his last-out second to White Birch in the May 26 Gold Cup (G1) at The Curragh will have Auguste Rodin rounding into top form.

O’Brien, who won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes most recently with Love in 2021, said: “We were happy with his run in the Gold Cup. The hope going into it was that he’d win, but the rain sent the ground in a direction that wasn’t ideal for him. Even though he was beaten, the run was always going to bring him on. Royal Ascot has been a big part of the plan with him, and we couldn’t be happier with where he is at the minute.”

Cheveley Park Stud’s 5-year-old mare Inspiral wrapped up an impressive 2023 season by winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). She made her 2024 debut with a fourth-place finish in the Lockinge Stakes (G1) going one mile, and returns to 1 1/4-mile distance for the first time since her Breeders’ Cup success. The six-time Group 1 winner won at this meeting as a 3-year-old in the Coronation Stakes (G1).

Horizon Dore looks the pick of four French contenders set to challenge. The 4-year-old gelding comes into this race after a hugely encouraging run when beaten just a short head in the Prix D’Ispahan (G1) last time out. Finishing two lengths behind him that day was Blue Rose Cen, and the duo will reoppose at Ascot.

Alflaila will make a belated seasonal debut after finishing fifth behind Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champions Stakes (G1) in September. Meanwhile, Royal Rhyme got his year off to the perfect start with a comfortable one-length win in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) last month. Connections hope for ease in the ground given the 4-year-old’s excellent record on softer going.

Whistlejacket leads Norfolk Stakes lineup

Whistlejacket is the star name in Thursday’s US$190,526 Norfolk Stakes (G2) for 2-year-olds, with the winner guaranteed a starting position in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Aidan O’Brien is hoping to add the son of No Nay Never to his list of Norfolk winners that includes 2001 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Johannesburg and more recently in 2017, Sioux Nation.

Whistlejacket built on a debut defeat over six furlongs to run out a dominant winner of the First Flier Stakes at The Curragh on May 6 over soft ground in his latest start for Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.

O’Brien said: “We thought he couldn’t be beaten on his debut, and he ran great, but he bumped into what looked like a really good horse in Cowardofthecounty. His full brother Little Big Bear was beaten on debut and went on to win the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and we think this fella will go there with a big chance.”

O’Brien could saddle as many as three in the five-furlong contest with two more sons of No Nay Never, Treasure Isle and Celtic Chieftain, joining the field. Treasure Isle won the five-furlong Calyx Race at Naas on May 19 and Celtic Chieftain won on debut June 8 in the five-furlong Irish EBF Maiden at Navan.

Wathnan Racing have invested heavily into British racing ahead of Royal Ascot and have two leading contenders in the Norfolk. The Richard Fahey-trained Shadow Army was a standout winner of the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at York and was subsequently purchased by the Qatari-based ownership group. Meanwhile, Aesterius was bought for US$482,600 at the Goffs UK breeze-up sale ahead of his impressive debut in the Novice Stakes at Bath over 5 furlongs.