Royal Ascot 2025 reached its thrilling conclusion on Saturday, June 21, with the final day packed full of high-stakes racing drama and memorable performances at the Berkshire track. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, the last Group 1 race of the meeting, where international sprinting talent clashed in a fiercely competitive six-furlong dash.
Among the star-studded field were Japan's Satono Reve, last year’s Commonwealth Cup winner Inisherin, Ballydoyle’s Storm Boy, and French raider Lazzat. Satono Reve, ridden by the legendary Joao Moreira, was backed as the favourite after arriving in Newmarket in early May and carrying strong form that put him close to the world’s top sprinter, Ka Ying Rising. The race promised to be a historic moment as Satono Reve aimed to become the first Japanese winner at Royal Ascot.
However, it was Lazzat, part-owned by the Emir of Qatar, who emerged victorious in a thrilling finish, holding off a late surge from Satono Reve to claim the win by half a length. James Doyle, Lazzat’s jockey, celebrated the win but was unseated just minutes after crossing the line, though thankfully he was unharmed. This victory marked Wathnan Racing's fifth Royal Ascot winner of the week, underscoring their impressive presence at the meeting.
Timeform ratings had placed Lazzat at the top of the sprinting pile, a couple of pounds ahead of Inisherin and Topgear, with Satono Reve and Flora Of Bermuda close behind. The race was a true international contest, drawing top sprinters from France, Britain, Asia, and Australia, and lived up to its billing as one of the most competitive events of the festival.
In the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes, Rebel’s Romance secured a significant victory for trainer Charlie Appleby, ending a three-year Royal Ascot drought for the Newmarket handler. The seven-time Group One winner, known for his successes in Germany, Hong Kong, Dubai, and the US, showcased his class by winning by nearly two lengths over Al Riffa and Ghostwriter, the latter recently acquired for £2 million by Amo Racing. Rebel’s Romance is now poised for a Group One breakthrough in Britain, with the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the horizon.
The Chesham Stakes opened the day’s racing with Humidity taking a narrow win, holding off Thesecretadversary and Moment Of Joy. Aidan O’Brien, who has won five of the last nine runnings of this race, was represented by Moments Of Joy, his only runner this year, who had won a Leopardstown maiden just over two weeks prior. The race highlighted the depth of two-year-old talent on display at Royal Ascot.
The Wokingham Stakes, a heritage handicap and one of the meeting’s big-field contests, produced a surprise winner in Get It, who defied 28/1 odds to edge out favourite More Thunder, who was bidding for a hat-trick of wins for jockey Tom Marquand and trainer William Haggas. Holkham Bay finished a strong fourth, proving his excellent course form remains intact. The race was a heart-stopping finish and a potential week-saver for punters after a challenging week of betting.
Noble Champion claimed the Jersey Stakes with a commanding performance, pulling clear to secure a smooth victory over Spy Chief and Comanche Brave. The race featured several promising three-year-olds, including Marvelman and Remmooz, who had been tipped by top racing pundit Hugh Taylor as contenders to watch.
The Golden Gates Stakes saw a dramatic photo finish between Quai De Bethune and Seraph Gabriel, with the judges awarding the win to Quai De Bethune. Seraph Gabriel, a favourite among punters, had impressed with strong form earlier in the season, while Best Secret, a French raider and recent recruit to Wathnan Racing, also ran well. Ernst Blofeld, another Wathnan purchase, finished strongly, underscoring the stable’s formidable presence at the meeting.
The traditional Queen Alexandra Stakes, the longest race in the flat racing calendar, was won comfortably by Sober, a six-year-old gelding recently transferred to Willie Mullins from André Fabre. Sober, who had two Group Two wins over staying trips in 2023, was well supported and justified his odds-on favouritism, holding off rivals including Samui, who finished third in the Copper Horse Handicap on the opening day.
The day was run on official going described as Good to Firm, with GoingStick readings favouring the stands’ and far sides of the track. Temperatures climbed to a high of 31 degrees Celsius, marking the second consecutive sweltering day at Ascot. Despite the heat, the crowd turnout was impressive, with attendance rising each day and the course expected to be full for the second year running on the final day.
Television coverage was provided live by ITV Racing and Virgin Media, with additional streaming available via the Paddy Power website and app, allowing fans worldwide to catch every moment of the action.
Royal Ascot 2025 also saw some controversy off the track, with French trainer Jerome Reynier launching a scathing critique of US-based jockey Flavien Prat’s ride on Facteur Cheval in the Prince of Wales Stakes earlier in the week. Reynier labelled the ride as “perhaps the worst” he had seen, criticizing tactical decisions that he felt compromised the horse’s performance.
Expert tipsters, including Hugh Taylor and the team of Charlie Brooks, Marcus Armytage, and Marlborough, provided insightful selections throughout the day. Taylor’s top bets included Thesecretadversary in the Chesham Stakes, Marvelman in the Jersey Stakes, Holkham Bay in the Wokingham Stakes, and Seraph Gabriel in the Golden Gates Stakes, alongside a confident pick of Lazzat for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
As the curtain fell on Royal Ascot 2025, the meeting was marked by outstanding international competition, record-breaking performances, and a vibrant atmosphere that lived up to the event’s prestigious reputation. With top trainers and jockeys showcasing their best, and thrilling races across the card, the final day encapsulated the spirit and excitement that define Royal Ascot.
