Prince Of Wales’s Stakes
QuinnBet
Group 1, Ascot 16:20
£1,000,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
1m 1f 212y, Class 1    
Wednesday 21st June 2023

Boylesports

1 Mostahdaf 10/1
2 Luxembourg 2/1F
3 Adayar 100/30
6 ran Distances: 4l, ½l, 2l
Time: 2m 5.95s (slow by 1.65s)

Mostahdaf beat some of the best middle-distance horses in Europe with a sensational four-length romp.

Having finished fourth behind Japanese star Equinox in the Dubai Sheema Classic last time out, the drop back to ten furlongs on summer ground proved an ideal set-up for Mostahdaf. 

The Frankel five-year-old travelled all over his rivals under Jim Crowley before powering away in the final furlong to post a career-best performance.

It was a fifth success in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes for co-trainer John Gosden, who first won the race in 1994 with Muhtarram, also in the Shadwell colours of the late Hamdan Al Maktoum.

It was a case of Mostahdaf first, the rest nowhere, with 2/1 favourite Luxembourg winning the battle for second. Adayar was half a length further back in third.

John Gosden said: “I was expecting Mostahdaf to pick up well in the straight but not to make them look like they were standing still. But he did that in Riyadh; he won the Neom Cup and just flew away. When the ground dries up, he’s a brilliant horse.

“We were going to run him in the Brigadier Gerard, but he hadn’t quite recovered from his Middle Eastern campaign. If you check the form book, he took on a certain Japanese horse [Equinox] in the Sheema Classic. And a mile and a half is beyond him – he’s a mile-and-a-quarter horse, but he was the one who put it up to them and gave it his best go, but what a horse the Japanese horse is.

Trainers Quotes

“What’s the plan now? That might have been the plan! I always find the Eclipse comes too close. I’d wait for the Juddmonte International; that would be the race for me. He likes to run fresh – too many nights out on the town, we don’t bounce like we used to. I think the Juddmonte International should be the big target.”

Talking about Sheikha Hissa, Gosden said: “She has done amazingly. She rationalised the whole programme after her father died, bringing it all together. She’s here with her husband today – she’s recently married – and it’s a great achievement to put this together. Baaeed last year and this horse now, possibly worthy of going to stud as a stallion – that’s what it’s all about.”

Crowley said: “John and Thady have done an amazing job with Mostahdaf. He bolted in in Saudi over a mile and a quarter on fast ground. He didn't quite stay against Equinox [in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan] when he served it up to the winner, went after him and then got tired.

“John and Thady brought him back fresh and he was bouncing coming into the race today. A mile and a quarter on fast ground, he's fantastic, and it's great for Sheikha Hissa and her family who are here.

“It was a funny race and I had a couple of plans – I could have gone forward if Ryan didn't go on Luxembourg and then I could have sat second to the American horse and maybe got first kick. From my draw, I went with Plan B, took a sit and it worked out really well. We went an even pace and he took he into the race extremely well. I may have gone for home too soon, but I didn't want to disappoint him and he wanted to go.

“I didn't expect him to win like that, although we've always held him in high regard. He's a son of Frankel and probably only just coming to himself now. As you can see, he's a big strong horse.

“He smashed the field in Saudi and he had those conditions today. I'm surprised how well he's won against that opposition, but now we know where we are going with him in all those big 10-furlong races. Top of the ground is his gig."

BetGoodwiin

Luxembourg’s trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “He ran very well, we are very happy. The winner won very well. The plan was that we would have a look at the King George after today anyway, so it’s possible, but we will see how he is. He is always going to get a mile and a half well, as we know.”

Charlie Appleby said of Adayar: “The set-up of the race didn’t probably work out for Adayar and they went steady enough. Take nothing way from the winner, who has picked up well, but on that evidence it looks as though we will step back up to a mile and a half for the King George.

“We have always wanted to try and win over a mile and a quarter, because we know for his CV it would be a good feather in the cap. As we know for all those Derby winners, everyone wants to see them drop back to the 10 furlongs. We’ve tried, tested and unfortunately at the top level, we haven’t succeeded.”

Cleeve Racing £10 trial

Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Group 1)
£1,000,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 1f 212y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (6)    Mostahdaf 5 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Jim Crowley 10/1
2 (1)
4 Luxembourg 4 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 2/1F
3 (3)
½ Adayar 5 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick 100/30
4 (2)
2 My Prospero 4 9-2 William Haggas Tom Marquand 15/2
5 (5)
½ Bay Bridge 5 9-2 Sir Michael Stoute Richard Kingscote 11/5
6 (4)
11 Classic Causeway 4 9-2 Kenneth McPeek Julien Leparoux 100/1

Tebwin

THE PRINCE OF WALES’S STAKES
Past Results

2022-WINNER-STATE OF REST Joseph O'Brien Shane Crosse State Of Rest Partnership 4 9-02 5/1

2021-WINNER-LOVE AP O'Brien Ryan Moore Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier 4 8-11 11/10F

2020-WINNER-LORD NORTH John Gosden James Doyle HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing 4-9-00 5/1

2019-WINNER-CRYSTAL OCEAN Sir Michael Stoute Frankie Dettori Sir Evelyn de Rothschild 5-9-00 3/1

2018-WINNER-POET'S WORD Sir Michael Stoute James Doyle Saeed Suhail 5-9-00 11/2

2017-WINNER-HIGHLAND REEL 5-9-00 Owner-Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-
Ryan Moore; SP-9/4
2ND-Decorated Knight 5-9-00 Owner-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar; Trainer-Roger Charlton; Jockey-Andrea Atzeni; SP-10/1
3RD-Ulysses 4-9-00 Owner-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Jim Crowley; SP-9/2
8 ran; Time-2m 5.04s; Dist-1¼, sh 2/1 Fav Jack Hobbs (8th)

2016-WINNER-MY DREAM BOAT 4-9-00 Owner-Paul & Clare Rooney; Trainer-Clive Cox; Jockey-Adam Kirby; SP-16/1
2ND-FOUND 4-8-11 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-4/1
3RD-Western Hymn 4-9-00 Owner-Robin Geffen & Rachel Hood; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-12/1
6 ran; Time-2m 11.38s; Dist-nk, 31⁄2 8/13 Fav A Shin Hikari (6th)

2015-WINNER-FREE EAGLE 4-9-00 Owner-Moyglare Stud; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen; SP-5/2 Fav
2ND-The Grey Gatsby 4-9-00 Owner-Frank Gillespie; Trainer-Kevin Ryan; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-9/2
3RD-Western Hymn 4-9-00 Owner-Robin Geffen; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-8/1
9 ran; Time-2m 5.07s; Dist-sh, 23⁄4

2014-WINNER-THE FUGUE 5-8-11 Owner-Lord Lloyd-Webber; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-William Buick; SP-11/2
2ND-Magician 4-9-00 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Joseph O’Brien; SP-6/1
3RD-Treve 4-8-11 Owner-Al Shaqab Racing; Trainer-Criquette Head-Maarek FR; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-8/13 Fav
8 ran; Time-2m 1.90s; Dist-13⁄4, 1

2013-WINNER-AL KAZEEM 5-9-00 Owner-John Deer; Trainer-Roger Charlton; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-11/4
2ND-Mukhadram 4-9-00 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-William Haggas; Jockey-Paul Hanagan; SP-14/1
3RD-The Fugue 4-8-11 Owner-Lord Lloyd-Webber; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-William Buick; SP-13/2
11 ran; Time-2m 3.06s; Dist-nk, 3¼ 5/2 Fav Camelot (4th)

2012-WINNER-SO YOU THINK 6-9-00 Owner- Smith/Magnier/Tabor/DatoTan/TunkuYahaya; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-
Joseph O’Brien; SP-4/5F
2ND-Carlton House 4-9-00 Owner-The Queen; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-7/2
3RD-Farhh 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-6/1
11 ran; Time-2m 3.86s; Dist-2¼, ½

2011-WINNER-REWILDING 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-17/2
2ND-So You Think 5-9-00 Owner-Smith/Magnier/Tabor/Dato Tan/Tunku Yahaya; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan
Moore; SP-4/11 Fav
3RD-Sri Putra 5-9-00 Owner-H R H Sultan Ahmad Shah; Trainer-Roger Varian; Jockey-Neil Callan; SP-66/1
7 ran; Time-2m 4.24s; Dist-nk, 6

2010-WINNER-BYWORD 4-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Maxime Guyon; SP-5/2 Fav
2ND-Twice Over 5-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Henry Cecil; Jockey-Tom Queally; SP-11/2
3RD-Tazeez 6-9-00 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Tadhg O’Shea; SP-40/1
12 ran; Time-2m 5.35s; Dist-½, ¾

2009-WINNER-VISION D’ETAT 4-9-00 Owner-Jacques Detre; Trainer-Eric Libaud FR; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-4/1
2ND-Tartan Bearer 4-9-00 Owner-Ballymacoll Stud; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-6/4 Fav
3RD-Never On Sunday 4-9-00 Owner-Daniel-Yves Treves; Trainer-Jean Claude Rouget FR; Jockey-Christophe Lemaire;
SP-7/2
8 ran; Time-2m 6.90s; Dist-½, hd

2008-WINNER-DUKE OF MARMALADE 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-
Johnny Murtagh; SP-Evens Fav
2ND-Phoenix Tower 4-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Henry Cecil; Jockey-Ted Durcan; SP-7/1
3RD-Pipedreamer 4-9-00 Owner-Cheveley Park Stud; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Jimmy Fortune; SP-11/1
12 ran, Time-2m 5.35s, Dist-4, sh

2007-WINNER-MANDURO 5-9-00 Owner-Baron Georg von Ullmann; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Stephane Pasquier;
SP-15/8 Fav
2ND-Dylan Thomas 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Christophe Soumillon;
SP-2/1
3RD-Notnowcato Owner-Anthony & David de Rothschild; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-13/2
6 ran, Time-2m 5.91s, Dist-1¼, 4

2006-WINNER-OUIJA BOARD 5-8-11 Owner-Lord Derby; Trainer-Ed Dunlop; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-8/1
2ND-Electrocutionist 5-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-9/4
3RD-Manduro 4-9-00 Owner-Baron Georg von Ullmann; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Christophe Soumillon; SP-12/1
7 ran, Time-2m 6.92s, Dist-½, ¾ 11/8 Fav David Junior (4th)

2005-WINNER-AZAMOUR 4-9-00 Owner-H H Aga Khan; Trainer-John Oxx IRE; Jockey-Michael Kinane; SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Ace 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Mrs Harry McCalmont; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Kieren Fallon;
SP-7/1
3RD-Elvstroem 5-9-00 Owner-Elvstroem Syndicate; Trainer-Tony Vasil AUS; Jockey-Nash Rawiller; SP-11/1
8 ran Time-2m 8.15s Dist-1½, 5 (run at York)

2004-WINNER-RAKTI 5-9-00 Owner-Gary Tanaka; Trainer-Michael Jarvis; Jockey-Philip Robinson; SP-3/1
2ND-Powerscourt 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-9/2
3RD-Ikhtyar 4-9-00 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Richard Hills; SP-8/1
10 ran Time-2m 04.95s Dist-2, ½ 11/4 Fav Sulamani (4th)

2003-WINNER-NAYEF 5-9-00 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-Marcus Tregoning; Jockey-Richard Hills; SP-5/1
2ND-Rakti 4-9-00 Owner-Gary Tanaka; Trainer-Michael Jarvis; Jockey-Phillip Robinson; SP-50/1
3RD-Islington 4-8-11 Owner-Exors of the late Lord Weinstock; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-7/1
10 ran Time-2m 05.30s Dist-2½, 1 2/1 Fav Moon Ballad (9th)