Few operations boast a Royal Ascot record that even comes close to that of Coolmore. Crowned Leading Owners for a fifth time since the award’s inception in 2017 last year, the global breeding and racing powerhouse has become synonymous with success on flat racing’s grandest stage.
With a glittering roll of honour that includes nine Gold Cups, nine St James’s Palace Stakes, and five Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, Coolmore’s influence runs deep in Berkshire—and their horses are often worth backing with any free bets.
Ahead of the upcoming 2025 renewal, over 25 of their horses feature among the early closers, so which names could be set to add to Tom Magnier and co.’s legacy? Here’s a look at some of their most exciting prospects for the Royal meeting—several of which could be worth backing with free bets.
Illinois – Ascot Gold Cup
Having your leading Gold Cup charge ruled out just weeks before Royal Ascot would be disastrous for most owners, but not for Coolmore.
Instead, Illinois charged to the top of the market to replace his retired stablemate—being slashed to as short as 11/8—which is tempting if you have any Ascot betting offers.
The versatile son of Galileo’s longest win to date came in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp over one mile and seven furlongs in October.
While his reappearance in the Ormonde at York was down in trip, he certainly looks capable of staying two miles and four furlongs and landing Aidan O’Brien a record-extending 10th Gold Cup.
Lake Victoria – Coronation Stakes
A very classy filly as a juvenile, Lake Victoria went unbeaten in all five of her starts at two—including an impressive three Group 1s in a row.
The daughter of Frankel kick-started her career with a victory over Red Letter in a maiden at the Curragh, and rapidly progressed all the way to a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner at sunny California’s Del Mar.
Lake Victoria disappointingly suffered a setback that meant she didn’t reach optimal fitness for the 1000 Guineas, where she was a close enough sixth when less than three lengths behind Desert Flower, but she bounced back immediately in the Irish edition.
The three-year-old is odds-on for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, which could be her fifth Group 1 win in eight starts but faces competition from the in-form French raider Zarigana.
Henri Matisse – St James’s Palace Stakes
Another one of the top races of the meeting, French Guineas winner Henri Matisse could go up against Irish Guineas champion Field Of Gold in a mouth-watering renewal of the St James’s Palace Stakes.
John and Thady Gosden’s colt is the worthy favourite for the mile contest after claiming victory at the Curragh following the upset at Newmarket, but O’Brien’s chief rival can’t be ruled out after his recent form.
Henri Matisse, an offspring of Wooton Bassett, ended last season with a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf win before lowering his sights in the Group 3 Red Rocks on reappearance and then holding on for French Guineas glory from Jonquil at Longchamp last time out.
General odds of 7/2 could be worth taking on against the odds-on Field Of Gold, especially when you consider the success O’Brien and Ryan Moore have had in this race over the years.
—
Los Angeles, who is two for two in Group company at the Curragh this season, is another worth noting in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at 4/1.
Written by Emma Greene
