Seven Countries With Ascot Entries

Seven countries are represented among the initial entries for Royal Ascot's Group 1 races. The potential visitors include 12 from the U.S., three each from Australia and Japan and one, G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize winner Lucky Bubbles (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), from Hong Kong.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Communications at Ascot, said, “We're very pleased with the variety and quality of the Royal Ascot entries this year. Seven countries, including Britain, are represented, and amongst them a Hong Kong Chairman's Sprint Prize winner, two U.S.-trained Breeders' Cup winners and a dual winner of the Group 1 Newmarket H. in Australia. One of the great storylines of the 2017 meeting was the owners' title, which went to the final race, the Queen Alexandra S., with Coolmore just pipping Godolphin. With a record 110 entries from Ireland, a large number of them naturally from the Coolmore team, and after the flying start to the year by Godolphin, it looks like the 2018 competition will be just as competitive.”

The U.S. contingent is led by defending G1 King's Stand S. winner Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) as well as 2017 Breeders' Cup winners Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic) and Rushing Fall (More Than Ready). Australian Group 1-winning sprinters Redkirk Warrior (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}), Shoals (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Merchant Navy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) are expected to face off on the meeting's final day in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. Japanese trainer Kazuo Fujisawa could send two for the G1 St James's Palace S.: Godolphin's Tower Of London (Jpn) (Raven's Pass) , as well as Fast Approach (Jpn) (Dawn Approach {Ire}).

Hong Kong's Lucky Bubbles will attempt to defend his Chairman's Sprint Prize title on Sunday, and trainer Francis Lui said, “Royal Ascot is one of the most prestigious race meetings in the world and it will be a great honour for us to participate. As we have a suitable horse to be entered for the meeting, I decided to have an entry and would say that Lucky Bubbles will have a great chance to go.”