22 June 2026
ROYAL ASCOT WRAP
The Ashes have sadly remained in England after William Haggas yet again upset the Australasian apple cart with a terrific win from ALMERAQ (Dark Angel) in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
Sitting third on the podium is unusual for Australian sprinters at the Royal meeting but both JOLIESTAR (Zoustar) and OVERPASS (Vancouver) were gutsy in defeat and no doubt gave connections memories to last a lifetime.
WATCH THIS SPACE
Trends often creep up on you before looking plainly obvious in hindsight – but watch out for the rise of the Japanese sprinter over the next decade.
Their broodmare band has been quietly gathering speed influence from across the world, throw in efforts to build stronger foals and something as quick as KA YING RISING (Shamexpress) may well be coming from the land of the rising sun. Worth reading Malcolm Gladwell’s ‘The Tipping Point’.
As highlighted in DUBAWI DOWN UNDER last week, NIGHT OF THUNDER (Dubawi) reinforced what ‘could have been’ for Australian breeders by siring three individual Group One winners across the Royal meeting.
Worth noting that only one sire of a Royal Ascot winner shuttles to Australia – ST MARK’S BASILICA (Siyouni) – although STARSPANGLEDBANNER (Choisir), who made his name in Australia before returning to Ireland full time, did sire the Group One winner PRECISE.
BREEDING A ROYAL ASCOT WINNER
A pleasing result for breeder Mr Hiroyuki Nagata, who bred the winner of the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes over 1200m on Wednesday with KING OF CLOUGHAN (St Mark’s Basilica).
WJB purchased the dam, MYSTIC EYES (Maclean’s Music), with the assistance of Jes Sikura in the United States before she was exported to the McCalmont’s Norelands Stud in Kilkenny, Ireland.
Mated with ST MARK’S BASILICA, KING OF CLOUGHAN is the first foal of the mare and sold to Joseph O’Brien as a yearling at last year’s Goffs Orby Sale for €110,000.
Many thanks to Harry, Hamish McCalmont and Matt Gielson for their efforts in raising yet another stakes winner on the same pastures his sire was bred on.
CAPITALISE ON THE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR
While stubbornly high inflation remains a headache for the economy, a genuine opportunity for Australians has been the strength of the dollar.
Whether it’s broodmares in the United States, a trip to Hokkaido for the JRHA Select Sale or a sharper service fee in New Zealand – the margins are there and worth investigating.
You might even stretch to a European import to get a result beyond 1600m…
