Royal Ascot 2025 roared through its third day on June 19 with thrilling races and standout performances that have already marked this meeting as one for the history books. The highlight, the prestigious Gold Cup, saw Trawlerman, ridden by William Buick and trained by John and Thady Gosden, deliver a breathtaking front-running masterclass to claim victory by seven lengths, setting a new track record in the process.
The five-day festival, held at the iconic Berkshire track, drew over 60,000 racing enthusiasts on Ladies’ Day, with temperatures soaring to 30 degrees Celsius, prompting organizers to provide 16 hydration stations and free water bottles to ensure the safety and comfort of attendees. Despite the heat, the going remained good to firm, offering perfect conditions for fast racing.
Trawlerman, the 85-40 favourite, lived up to expectations and then some. Leading from the start, Buick never had to ease his mount, crossing the line in an astonishing 4 minutes, 15.02 seconds, breaking the previous 15-year-old record held by Rite Of Passage. "I was just a passenger. I didn't have to touch the brakes once," Buick said after his first Gold Cup win. "It's an extreme distance, two and a half miles, so you need an extraordinary horse with an extraordinary set of skills. He's got that lung capacity and stamina. He got in a great rhythm, but he's so genuine." This victory marked the Gosdens’ fifth win at Royal Ascot this week, cementing their dominance in the meeting.
Illinois, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, finished second, unable to match Trawlerman’s relentless pace, while Dubai Future secured third place. The French contender Candelari, also highly fancied, could only manage sixth, trailing 29 lengths behind the winner. The Gosdens’ success in the Gold Cup continues a remarkable run, with John Gosden now boasting five wins in the last eight years, including three with the legendary Stradivarius and last year’s triumph with Courage Mon Ami, trained alongside his son Thady.
Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien were among the stars of the day, achieving a treble with wins on Charles Darwin in the Norfolk Stakes, Garden Of Eden in the Ribblesdale Stakes, and Trinity College in the Hampton Court Stakes. Moore’s victory on Charles Darwin, the 8-13 favourite in the opening Norfolk Stakes, was commanding as he broke sharply from the stalls and pulled clear in the final furlong to win by over two lengths. O'Brien praised the colt, saying, "He's a big, powerful, strong horse. He really looks like a four-year-old racing against two-year-olds." This win marked Moore’s 90th Royal Ascot victory, elevating him into the top ten all-time Flat jockeys in Britain with 2,595 British winners.
Garden Of Eden’s triumph in the Ribblesdale Stakes at 7-1 odds was a tactical masterclass from Moore, who capitalized on a strong gallop set by stablemate Island Hopping to secure the win. Trinity College, also ridden by Moore, dominated the Hampton Court Stakes with a front-running performance that left the field behind by three and a half lengths. Moore commented on the colt’s style: "It's the way he's been ridden most of the time, he likes it that way. He's a smart colt and had a big run in the French Derby with a quick turnaround." The Gosdens and O'Brien continue to be the defining trainers of this Royal Ascot meeting.
Tom Marquand also made his mark, piloting Merchant to victory in the King George V Stakes, overcoming Serious Contender and Pantile Warrior. Merchant was the 3-1 favourite and gave trainer William Haggas and owners Highclere Racing a notable win. Additionally, Oisin Murphy doubled up on the day, guiding Arabian Story to a powerful finish in the Britannia Stakes and Never So Brave to victory in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, the latter being the fifth winning favourite of the day at 4-1. Murphy described Never So Brave as "a Group horse in a handicap," underscoring the quality of the field and the race’s competitiveness.
The day’s results heavily favored the punters, with bookmakers like Star Sports reporting significant losses, approximately £350,000, due to the succession of winning favourites. A notable £50,000 bet was placed on Charles Darwin in the Norfolk Stakes, highlighting the high stakes and intense betting interest surrounding the meeting.
Royal Ascot organizers are mindful of the heat and its impact on both horses and spectators. A course spokesperson revealed that on June 18, one person was hospitalized and 42 received treatment for heat-related conditions. With temperatures expected to remain high, the venue is considering relaxing its traditionally strict dress code to accommodate attendees better. Overnight watering of the track has been scheduled to maintain optimal conditions, with 6mm planned for the straight and 5mm for the round course.
Other notable races on June 19 included the Britannia Stakes, won by Arabian Story, and the Hampton Court Stakes, where Trinity College’s emphatic front-running performance further highlighted the dominance of the O'Brien-Moore partnership. The Buckingham Palace Stakes concluded the day’s racing, with Never So Brave’s decisive win adding to a day filled with exciting finishes and standout performances.
Looking ahead, Royal Ascot Day 4 promises more thrilling action, featuring two Group 1 races: the Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs and the Coronation Stakes over a mile. Falakeyah enters as a hot favourite for the Coronation Stakes, while Shadow Of Light is the strong 2-1 favourite for the Commonwealth Cup. Expert tipsters have highlighted contenders like Babouche and Jonquil as potential disruptors in these high-stakes races.
As Royal Ascot continues to captivate racing fans worldwide, the blend of historic achievements, record-breaking performances, and fierce competition ensures that the excitement is far from over. With the Gosdens and O'Brien leading the charge and jockeys like Buick, Moore, and Murphy showcasing their exceptional skills, the 2025 meeting is shaping up to be one of the most memorable in recent history.
