Royal Ascot 2025: The Full Day Four Wrap

Welcome to Idol Horse‘s live coverage of Day 4 of Royal Ascot.

Check out the storylines to watch from David Morgan, Andrew Hawkins and Jack Dawling ahead of the third day.

Stay tuned throughout the card as this page updates with results and post-race analysis from the Idol Horse team.

---

2025 G3 Albany Stakes

The G3 Albany Stakes over six furlongs is the second of two races strictly for the two-year-old fillies, following the Queen Mary Stakes. Its winners will often harbour 1,000 Guineas aspirations for the following year.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	17. VENETIAN SUN	Clifford Lee
2nd	1. Awaken	Billy Loughnane
3rd	2. Balantina	Tom Marquand
4th	5. Fitzella	Oisin Murphy

Analysis

As can so often happen later in the week at Royal Ascot, the Albany Stakes marked a significant shift back towards low draws down the straight after high draws dominated early in the week. The first three came from draws one, three and four, potentially marking an important change ahead of the final two days. Venetian Sun, in Tony Bloom’s blue and white, was an impressive winner at Carlisle last month. The pace developed on the stands side behind Magny Cours and Ipanema Queen, leaving Venetian Sun just ahead of midfield without cover up the centre of the course. However, she was always travelling well within herself for Clifford Lee and when he asked for an effort at the two-furlong mark, she looked like an older mare sprinting against babies. She did drift slightly to her left, allowing Awaken to follow her through and momentarily look a chance, but Venetian Sun was too strong late. Gold Digger ran a bold third after missing the start by four lengths, while Fitzella was best of those drawn high. Favourite Signora was quickly beaten when pressure was applied.

The Quote

Clifford Lee (jockey, Venetian Sun): “When she ran first time at Carlisle, she did that very nicely. She’s turned out to be a rocket. Carlisle is a very stiff trick and she was very babyish that day. She wasn’t quite switched on. The stable said she had come on for that run, she’d put on almost 20 pounds.

“I’m delighted to get another Royal Ascot winner for the team and fingers crossed for the rest of the day. It’s so hard to get a winner, you think you come here with a very big chance but so do 20 other runners in the same race. It’s a bit of a lottery really unless you’re riding a top horse, but we knew we had a good filly on our hands.”

Karl Burke (trainer, Venetian Sun): “I think she’s a very special filly. The work she’s done at home, I haven’t had a two-year-old filly do work like it. She’s kicking older Group horses out of the way at home. I worked a good old work horse with her about a month ago, just after her debut, and it was so good that I had to work her with another horse who I knew was reliable and she did the same to him. I’m talking 110-rated horses. I think she’s very special.”

Tony Bloom (owner, Venetian Sun): “We are looking ahead to next season’s 1,000 Guineas and it’s fair to say we are already very excited.”

The Stat

Venetian Sun’s win in the Albany Stakes was a first black type victory at Royal Ascot for both jockey Clifford Lee and owners Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy. Lee won the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap on Significantly in 2021 while Bloom’s Stratum landed the Queen Alexandra Stakes in 2021 and 2022.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	VENETIAN SUN
2024	FAIRY GODMOTHER
2023	PORTA FORTUNA
2022	MEDITATE
2021	SANDRINE
2020	DANDALLA
2019	DAAHYEH
2018	MAIN EDITION
2017	DIFFERENT LEAGUE
2016	BRAVE ANNA
2015	ILLUMINATE

---

2025 G1 Commonwealth Cup

The Commonwealth Cup at six furlongs is the newest of the Group 1 races across the week. Introduced in 2015, it is the only age-restricted Group 1 sprint for three-year-olds before they are forced to tackle their elders at the highest level. It is also open to southern hemisphere two-year-olds but none has yet taken up the challenge.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	22. TIME FOR SANDALS	RICHARD KINGSCOTE
2nd	3. Arizona Blaze	David Egan
3rd	18. Rayevka	Mickael Barzalona
4th	19. Sayidah Dariyan	Billy Loughnane

Analysis

All the talk pre-race was about Shadow Of Light but the champion two-year-old, third in the G1 2,000 Guineas over a mile last time, failed to pick up on the fast ground when the speedsters really got going and was only fifth. While the Godolphin horse was struggling on the stands’ side with two furlongs to run, the 25-1 shot Time For Sandals was swinging along easily, second in the far side group, under Richard Kingscote. When the filly was left in front on that far side soon after, Kingscote asked her to go. Time For Sandals quickened smartly, running solo, edging towards the centre to chase down and pass the near side leader Arizona Blaze who held on for second from the fast-closing French filly Rayevka. It was the second win of the meeting for trainer Harry Eustace after Docklands took the G1 Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday, while Shadow Of Light’s trainer Charlie Appleby continued his run without a win at the meeting stretching back to 2022.

The Quote

Richard Kingscote (jockey, Time For Sandals): “I’ve had nice horses to ride but since Sir Michael (Stoute) retired, this year was up in the air and it was always going to be a year of building back up. I had a nice bit of support and I’m delighted to get on a filly like her. Last year she was a very unlucky placed horse in the Super Sprint, she’s progressed all the way through, unlucky last time I felt. She did a spectacular bit of work a couple of weeks ago in Newmarket. I’m delighted to ride Harry a big winner because he’s a gentleman and his yard is such a happy yard, it’s really nice to ride a good winner for him. I’ve been very fortunate with that stint (in Hong Kong), it came out of the blue and it ended up going very well.” 

Harry Eustace (trainer, Time For Sandals): “It was very smooth: we had planned to follow the American horse. Prior to today the draw was a concern and then obviously Karl Burke’s filly (Venetian Sun) came out and won and it gave us the confidence to stick to our side, stay there, we didn’t have much choice anyway. She’d just been training very well and we didn’t feel we’d seen the best of her just yet, we felt a good strong pace is what she needed. Great ride by Richard, delighted he’s won this, it’s fantastic.”

The Stat

Harry Eustace has had only four Group 1 starts in Britain for two wins (Time For Sandals and Docklands this week), one second (Docklands in the Queen Anne Stakes last year) and one seventh (Docklands in the Juddmonte International last year).

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	TIME FOR SANDALS
2024	INISHERIN
2023	SHAQUILLE
2022	PERFECT POWER
2021	CAMPANELLE
2020	GOLDEN HORDE
2019	ADVERTISE
2018	EQTIDAAR
2017	CARAVAGGIO
2016	QUIET REFLECTION
2015	MUHAARAR

---

2025 Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes

The Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes is a mile and a half handicap that has produced a number of stayers in recent years that have gone on to win Group races. It was named for the late Prince Philip, then the Duke Of Edinburgh, in 1999.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	18. ETHICAL DIAMOND	RYAN MOORE
2nd	5. Mutaawid	Jim Crowley
3rd	6. Naqeeb	Ryan Sexton
4th	11. Siege Of Troy	Oisin Murphy

Analysis

Ethical Diamond emerged as a legitimate Melbourne Cup prospect with a commanding victory in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap. A strong but even tempo set by Shane Foley on Satin ensured that every horse had its chance over the mile and a half. Ethical Diamond settled midfield just off the rail and was always travelling strongly for Ryan Moore, occasionally getting the head up but nothing out of the ordinary for a horse notoriously difficult to settle. On the climb out of Swinley Bottom Ethical Diamond travelled sweetly and it looked a matter of whether anything ahead of him would be able to steal a margin. Hand Of God and Mutaawid pounced on the lead at the two-furlong marker, Naqeeb switched back to the inside and finished well, but within a matter of strides Ethical Diamond had raced up to challenge. It took him time to get his mind on the task at hand but he stretched out nicely to score by two lengths, giving Willie Mullins a first victory in the race. It was Moore’s sixth Duke Of Edinburgh success.

The Quote

Willie Mullins (trainer, Ethical Diamond): “I thought he might have been a bit far back but the horse was keen, Ryan said he got a bump and he got a bit keen but he got him to settle again. He was going well enough turning for home to go whenever he wanted to go, unlike last year when the stalls opened and he just ran too free; things didn’t work out for him but he still ran a cracker to finish fourth. I thought if he could get things right this year, he’d have a real live chance and it worked out that way.

“We’ll give him a little break now, bring him home. You’d have to look at York, that’s normally where we’d go from here. We’ll possibly look at the Ebor, it would look the race and we’d love to be able to qualify him for the Melbourne Cup. It’s been a great day – starting in the royal procession and then getting a winner, it’s the cherry on the cake.”

The Stat

Ireland had only won the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes once between 1977 and 2022 – John Oxx took the handicap with Katiykha in 2000 – but they have now won three in a row with Okita Soushi, Crystal Black and Ethical Diamond, all for different trainers.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	ETHICAL DIAMOND
2024	CRYSTAL BLACK
2023	OKITA SOUSHI
2022	CANDLEFORD
2021	QUICKTHORN
2020	SCARLET DRAGON
2019	BAGHDAD
2018	DASH OF SPICE
2017	RARE RHYTHM
2016	KINEMA
2015	ARAB DAWN

---

2025 G1 Coronation Stakes

First run in 1840, the G1 Coronation Stakes was initiated to celebrate the coronation of Queen Victoria two years earlier. Run over the round mile, it is the fillies’ equivalent of the St James’s Palace Stakes earlier in the week.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	2. CERCENE	GARY CARROLL
2nd	11. Zarigana	Mickael Barzalona
3rd	8. January	Ryan Moore
4th	1. Cathedral	David Egan

Analysis

It was a fairytale win for trainer Joseph Murphy and jockey Gary Carroll with both nailing a first Group 1 success with 33-1 outsider Cercene, the longest-priced winner in Coronation Stakes history going back to 1840. But while the €50,000 yearling showed heart and toughness, the blue-blooded race favourite Zarigana did not. Cercene missed the break by a stride but Carroll urged her forward and the filly box-seated the front-running Falakeyah, while Mickael Barzalona settled Zarigana mid-pack, one off. Cercene switched out into the home straight and quickened to the lead. Zarigana was travelling strongly though and delivered an immediate challenge that looked like justifying market support as she in turn went a neck in front. But the French filly is known for being difficult and with her ears flat back, she changed legs, her head went up, her stride shortened and she ducked the challenge. Cercene, willing and brave, took advantage and regained the lead to win.

The Quote

Gary Carroll (jockey, Cercene): “I’ve been riding a long time, been placed in plenty of Group 1s, if I was ever to ride a Group 1 winner it was for Joe Murphy. I’ve been riding for him since I was a seven-pound claimer, he’s been very, very good to me, I’m delighted I could repay him. She ran a blinder at the Curragh, the slow pace at the Curragh didn’t suit, went a bit better gallop there today, got to the front a furlong and  half out and she waited.

“The French horse came and headed me, to be fair to this one, she’s not bog, she’s very tough, she wants to win and she stuck it out for me. They’re so hard to come by, good horses are very hard to come by, someone like me there might only be one in a lifetime.”

Joseph Murphy (trainer, Cercene): “I suppose it’s 50 years of work by the family, and my wife, and growing from a small yard and switching from that to the Flat. I always believed in buying horses and believing that they’re going to be good, eventually. It’s a lifetime’s ambition to have a Group 1 winner. She’s by Australia who is a sire I love; her half-brother (Perotto) won the Britannia, so the pedigree was there and if she was an inch bigger, I wouldn’t have her.”

Francis-Henri Graffard (trainer, Zarigana): “(Mickael Barzalona) said she came easily on the bridle but as soon as she hit the front she completely changed her attitude and shortened up her action and put her head up. Very frustrating, we try our best, she’s a very talented filly, she didn’t disgrace herself; you always think you can win easily and I think she has the ability to win easily but unfortunately we didn’t get the job done today. She’s owned by a fantastic breeding operation … we don’t need to put yellow blinkers on her to make her win a Group 1, she’s earned her place at the stud.”

The Stat

There had never been a winner priced above 25-1 for the Coronation Stakes, dating all the way back to when it was first run in 1840. Cercene became the longest-priced winner in race history at 33-1.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	CERCENE
2024	PORTA FORTUNA
2023	TAHIYRA
2022	INSPIRAL
2021	ALCOHOL FREE
2020	ALPINE STAR
2019	WATCH ME
2018	ALPHA CENTAURI
2017	WINTER
2016	QEMAH
2015	ERVEDYA

---

2025 Sandringham Stakes

The Sandringham Stakes is a handicap for three-year-old fillies over the straight mile. Like the Coronation Stakes, this event was created as an equivalent to another event for the colts and geldings – in this case, the Britannia Handicap.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	12. NEVER LET GO	Kieran Shoemark
2nd	19. Cajole	Saffie Osborne
3rd	1. Tabiti	Colin Keane
4th	15. Oolong Poobong	Connor Beasley

Analysis

It has been a tough few weeks for Kieran Shoemark, losing his role as retained rider to John and Thady Gosden and watching on as Field Of Gold has developed into the best three-year-old on the planet. It may not have been a Group 1 win, but a Sandringham victory on Ed Walker-trained Never Let Go will suffice as consolation for the 29-year-old. Drawn low, as has proven important on Day Four, Never Let Go was one of four horses to race in a small group on the far side as the majority of the 25-horse field came up the centre. Eventual third Tabiti, ridden by Shoemark’s replacement on Field Of Gold Colin Keane, led that far side cohort. At the furlong, it looked as though Saffie Osborne may become the fifth female rider to win a Royal Ascot race when she loomed large on Cajole. However, Shoemark had timed his run to perfection and came through to win by a length.

The Quote

Kieran Shoemark (jockey, Never Let Go): “I was always looking over to the near side and I felt we were well-positioned. Colin Keane was making the running, I got a lovely tow into the race. She’s got a high cruising speed and she stays this trip really well. She’s a progressive filly and I was on the right one. She was ridden to get the 10 furlongs at Goodwood but she’s a filly that’s not short of speed. She had the perfect profile coming into today.

“It’s a very competitive place, it’s very difficult to ride winners and you need to be riding for the powerhouses. I’m very fortunate to get the ride on this filly, Ed Walker has been very loyal and it’s good to repay him.

“You’ve just got to remain positive as a professional athlete, believe in yourself and believe that your luck will change. It’s just changed.”

Ed Walker (trainer, Never Let Go): “When Kieran lost the job with John and Thady [Gosden], I said, ‘I don’t mean to be selfish, but I’m thrilled because it means I can use you more!’ He is a great jockey, a great guy and he will bounce back.

“It has been a rough old week, really, in many ways, but that was an absolute thrill. These races are cavalry charges. I was tempted to scratch this morning looking at all the draws yesterday. Then a few low numbers popped in earlier and confidence came back a little bit.

“Never Let Go is a filly we have always believed in. I thought this race would be ideal. We were not getting in the race at one stage because she didn’t win at Wetherby or Haydock. I was desperate to run her here, so we ran in a Listed race and Hollie [Doyle] gave her an absolute peach. She nicked some black type and went up enough to get in, which I was thrilled about.

“I think she can go on. The family get better with time. She is still very raw, unfurnished and leggy. She is a homebred of the Keswicks, who have supported me for a few years now. We had a really good year for them last year with Celandine being the highlight.”

The Stat

Ed Walker became the seventh trainer to have had Royal Ascot winners across 2023, 2024 and 2025. The others are Aidan O’Brien, John and Thady Gosden, Richard Hannon, Willie Mullins, Roger Varian and William Haggas. A race later, Ralph Beckett would make it eight.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	NEVER LET GO
2024	SOPRANO
2023	COPPICE
2022	HEREDIA
2021	CREATE BELIEF
2020	ONASSIS
2019	THANKS BE
2018	AGROTERA
2017	CON TE PARTIRO
2016	PERSUASIVE
2015	OSAILA

---

2025 G2 King Edward VII Stakes

The G2 King Edward VII Stakes – formerly known as the Ascot Derby – is for the three-year-old colts and geldings over a mile and a half. With the Derby at Epsom restricted to colts, this is often an opportunity for the geldings to star at the trip.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	1. AMILOC	ROSSA RYAN
2nd	11. Zahrann	Ben Coen
3rd	3. Galveston	Ryan Moore
4th	10. Wimbledon Hawkeye	Silvestre de Sousa

Analysis

Amiloc made up for the defeat of his owner’s Pride Of Arras in the Derby at Epsom two weeks ago, with a gutsy success in ‘the Ascot Derby’. The gelding made it five wins from five, this time under Rossa Ryan who was left chasing in second when Ryan Moore kicked on aboard Galveston and stretched the field down the back. Galveston held a two and a half-length advantage into the home turn but Amiloc stuck to the pursuit and ground down the flagging Ballydoyle runner to lead two out. Amiloc kept on galloping as Zahrann, wandering and green at the chase, was a closing second. 

The Quote

Ralph Beckett (trainer, Amiloc): “Rossa reported (the ground is) quick, it felt quick on him, and you could see his stride shortening, I thought, the last half-furlong he was looking for the line, but he was feeling the ground more than anything else. I think we’ll bear that in mind in future, but he’s a gelding and we had conversations last night and this morning about whether we should come. Patrick Cooper, Mr Aykroyd’s nephew and Mrs Aykroyd’s racing manager decided this was a good idea and I agreed. It all worked out. I wouldn’t be afraid to take anybody on with him on slower ground: he is in everything, he’ll take a bit of getting over today looking at him. If it came up soft next month, or came up with a bit of juice next month, I’m sure we’ll be in (the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes).”

Rossa Ryan (jockey, Amiloc): “He travelled great, he’s done very well because he hated that ground out there, it was just too lively for him. He’s tough and he’s hardy … it’s a plan well executed and he’s prevailed. He’s had a busy enough spring, he’s had a hard race there on ground that he wasn’t happy on: I’ll leave it to Ralph and everyone at home to decide what they want to do but he’s done nothing wrong yet, so we’ll keep going as we’re going.”

The Stat

While it is Ralph Beckett’s seventh Royal Ascot win, it’s his first Group victory at the meeting. His other six wins all came in handicaps.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	AMILOC
2024	CALANDAGAN
2023	KING OF STEEL
2022	CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD
2021	ALENQUER
2020	PYLEDRIVER
2019	JAPAN
2018	OLD PERSIAN
2017	PERMIAN
2016	ACROSS THE STARS
2015	BALIOS

---

2025 Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes

One of a number of handicaps introduced in 2020, this five-furlong handicap for three-year-olds is named for the monarch’s official residence in Scotland.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	23. ADRESTIA	Oisin Murphy
2nd	1. Hammer The Hammer	Tom Eaves
3rd	9. Redorange	Rossa Ryan
4th	7. Zayer	Hollie Doyle

Analysis

Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al-Khalifa recorded his second winner of the week under his KHK Racing banner as Adrestia took the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes, joining Royal Hunt Cup winner My Cloud. Allowed by Oisin Murphy to find her feet in the five-furlong cavalry charge, Adrestia was nevertheless only two lengths from the lead when called on for her effort. Blocked for a run entering the final two furlongs, she was quickly over heels and chasing, hitting the lead at the furlong marker and sprinting sharply. It was Murphy’s fourth winner of the week and he looks the only rider capable of stopping Ryan Moore from winning his fourth consecutive title as the week’s leading jockey; Murphy won it for the first and only time in 2021 before Moore won it in 2022, 2023 and 2024, taking him to 11 titles overall.

The Quote

Oisin Murphy (jockey, Adrestia): “She was in a great spot for her. The Crisford camp was very confident about her. I’m delighted for His Highness Sheikh Khalid and all his team in Bahrain. She had a good run at Windsor behind older horses. Back against her own age group, she was dominant. She was probably a black-type filly last year but it didn’t happen for her. Today, she had her ideal conditions and gave me a nice, easy ride.”

The Stat

Simon and Ed Crisford are the fifth training partnership to win a Royal Ascot race and the third father-son combination, joining John and Thady Gosden and Paul and Oliver Cole.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	ADRESTIA
2024	PILGRIM
2023	RHYTHM N HOOVES
2022	LATIN LOVER
2021	SIGNIFICANTLY
2020	ART POWER

---

The Idol Horse team will return for Day 5 on Saturday.  ∎