Top 10 takeaways from 2025 Royal Ascot

“This place tames lions. It is so special to win here because it's so tough.”

So declared Godolphin’s ace jockey William Buick after guiding Ombudsman to a new career high in the Prince of Wales’s (G1) at Royal Ascot. But his quote has a timeless ring to it that sums up the intense competition and high stakes of the five-day spectacle, for both the racing and breeding worlds alike.

Here are my top 10 takeaways:

Field of Gold justifies comparison to sire Kingman.

With his devastating victory in the St James’s Palace (G1), Juddmonte’s Field of Gold not only confirmed his ranking as the top three-year-old. The John and Thady Gosden colt fired a shot across the bow of the older milers, especially after Docklands upset the Queen Anne (G1) earlier on the Tuesday opener. Judging by how he picked up off a strong pace, Field of Gold won in the manner of a horse who might stay further. 

But for now, Field of Gold justified the comparisons to his sire Kingman, who raced for the same connections. Both father and son lost the 2000 Guineas (G1) narrowly, rebounded in the Irish 2000 Guineas (G1), and conclusively avenged their Newmarket losses in the St James’s Palace. Kingman went on to boss his elders in the Sussex (G1) at Glorious Goodwood and the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) at Deauville, and Field of Gold may follow suit. 

Ombudsman comes of age in stunning Prince of Wales’s.

The Gosdens unleashed another monster in Wednesday’s feature, although Ombudsman had a bit more to prove in his Group 1 debut than the accomplished Field of Gold did. Unraced at two, the Godolphin colt signaled great potential in a flawless sophomore campaign that proceeded gradually up the ranks. Even his first career loss, a runner-up effort in the May 29 Brigadier Gerard (G3), was full of merit. 

Yet Ombudsman was set for a trial by fire in the Prince of Wales’s. How would he cope with the searing cauldron, not just of his first serious class test, but an unrelenting pace designed to help Ballydoyle favorite, Los Angeles?

Ombudsman didn’t just cope with it; he thrived on it. While Los Angeles was hoisted on his own petard by chasing his rabbit too enthusiastically, Ombudsman switched off kindly at the rear and delivered an explosive turn of foot. Even a checkered stretch run in traffic, that forced Buick to keep altering course, couldn’t faze him. 

As a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), the Prince of Wales’s offers a fees-paid ticket to Del Mar. Connections are in no rush to stretch Ombudsman out to 1 1/2 miles, describing him as a 1 1/4-mile horse, but U.S. conditions would not exactly put a premium on stamina. Indeed, the Turf strikes me as an attractive spot for Ombudsman. 

Rebel’s Romance enhances legend.

Just when I thought that Rebel’s Romance might be on the declining side of his career trajectory, the globetrotting seven-year-old added a new chapter to his remarkable story in the Hardwicke (G2). Making his first appearance at the Royal meeting, the fan favorite comfortably disposed of a solid field. 

Rebel’s Romance’s worldwide exploits have endeared him to trainer Charlie Appleby, who said that he has a photo of the Godolphin homebred on his night table. The Hardwicke will only deepen his affection. Appleby had gone winless at Royal Ascot since 2022, and Rebel’s Romance was his last chance to end the skid until 2026. The Godolphin operation as a whole had a banner meeting, with runners trained by the Gosdens and Saeed bin Suroor, so Appleby’s relief to get in the win column was palpable. 

Trawlerman pays ultimate compliment to Kyprios.

The Gold Cup (G1) furnished a retirement gift of sorts to the great stayer Kyprios. Forced to bow out before bidding for a third trophy, the Aidan O’Brien star nevertheless loomed large in the result. 

Old foe Trawlerman, a gallant second to Kyprios here last year, turned in a front-running masterpiece in course-record time. Moreover, runner-up Illinois was a stablemate of Kyprios, just pressed into Gold Cup duty as a pinch-hitter.

Trawlerman has the distinction of being the last horse ever to beat Kyprios. The Godolphin stalwart prevailed by a neck in the 2023 British Champions Long Distance Cup (G2), when Kyprios was making his second start back on the comeback trail. 

A Coronation in absentia for Lake Victoria.

Lake Victoria skipped the Coronation (G1), but because her form was upheld, you might say that she strengthened her claim to the throne. Indeed, Coronation upsetter Cercene and third-placer January were both exiting losses to Lake Victoria in the Irish 1000 Guineas (G1). 

Cercene, a better-than-appearing third that day at the Curragh, outgamed Coronation favorite Zarigana to spring a 31-1 surprise. After scoring a first career Group 1 win for both trainer Joe Murphy and jockey Gary Carroll, Cercene will hunt for more, reportedly including the Breeders’ Cup. January, a Ballydoyle stablemate of Lake Victoria’s, was a ring-rusty eighth in her Irish Guineas reappearance. Like so many O’Brien pupils, January improved markedly second off the bench here. 

Lazzat and Satono Reve’s historic Jubilee advertises international form.

As Lazzat and Satono Reve fought their way home in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee (G1), history was sure to be made one way or the other. Satono Reve was trying to give Japan its first-ever Royal Ascot victory, and Lazzat was striking a rare blow for France. According to the Royal Ascot media guide, no French-trained sprinter had won this race in the post-World War II era. 

But Lazzat had proven himself further afield when an arguably unlucky second in the Golden Eagle at Rosehill in Australia. Several Group 1 winners have emerged from that about 7 1/2-furlong prize, and now the list extends to Europe. Lazzat’s ability to navigate a bit beyond the traditional sprint distance served him well over the stiff six furlongs at Ascot. Trainer Jerome Reynier was correct that the quick ground was no obstacle for him, and a determined Lazzat fended off the late rally of Satono Reve by a half-length. 

Satono Reve came the closest of any Japanese runner in Royal Ascot history. Agnes World, second in the 2000 King’s Stand (G2) (now the King Charles III [G1]), went down by 1 1/2 lengths. But beyond its meaning for Japan, Satono Reve’s performance underscores the off-the-charts ability of the world’s best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising, who dusted him twice at Sha Tin.

Juvenile races reveal depth of Ballydoyle squad.

Even with the highly-regarded Albert Einstein on the sidelines, Ballydoyle captured three juvenile races. Two of their winners graduated from the same maiden at Navan, where the colt Gstaad had upset the favored filly, True Love. 

Both moved forward at Royal Ascot. Gstaad in particular jumped up to dominate the Coventry (G2), while True Love cut back in trip to take the Queen Mary (G2). Each has the scope to go on to better things. 

Norfolk (G2)-winning stablemate Charles Darwin shapes up as a true sprinting type. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) is a logical port of call, especially since he booked his spot via the “Win and You’re In” Norfolk. But he could have bolder ambitions. Jockey Ryan Moore told Nick Luck that he has the feel of one who might be able to try older sprinters at the top level. 

No Nay Never sires four winners.

Ballydoyle’s success on the racecourse was also a boost to Coolmore sire No Nay Never. Himself the star of the 2013 Norfolk for Wesley Ward, No Nay Never was responsible for both Charles Darwin and True Love. But they were just half of his total over the course of the week. 

No Nay Never also sent out a pair of handicap winners for British trainers. Ed Walker’s Never Let Go took the Sandringham, and Andrew Balding’s Never So Brave impressed in the Buckingham Palace.

Royal Palm Juvenile winners fare best among American shippers.

Once again, Gulfstream Park’s juvenile qualifiers for Royal Ascot unearthed contenders who ran well in their races of choice. Royal Palm Juvenile hero Sandal’s Song was a respectable third to Charles Darwin in the Norfolk, and Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies winner Lennilu placed third in the Queen Mary. 

This marks the third straight year that the Royal Palm has factored at Royal Ascot. Moreover, Crimson Advocate reiterated that it can have legs beyond the juvenile scene. The heroine of the inaugural Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies went on to win the 2023 Queen Mary, and now she’s developed into a miler for the Gosdens. By rolling in time in the Duke of Cambridge (G2), Crimson Advocate became a two-time winner at Royal Ascot. 

Wathnan continues ascent on the world stage.

Crimson Advocate and Lazzat were just two of five winners for Wathnan Racing, along with Haatem (Wolferton S.), French Master (Copper Horse H.), and Humidity (Chesham S.). The Qatari emir’s outfit tied Coolmore in the win column, but that wasn’t quite enough to wrest the leading owner title away from the Irish-based empire. Coolmore won the tiebreaker, the number of placed horses.

Still, Wathnan’s ascent is nothing short of meteoric in only a couple of years. Their strategy of purchasing leading contenders is paying dividends now, with the promise of more to come.