The Golden Gates Stakes is a handicap run over 1m2f. It takes place at 17:35 on Saturday 20th June, which is the fifth day of Royal Ascot 2026. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

Predict the Winner

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

11⁽⁸⁾

1-272

Amadeus Mozart

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-2

113

Won a 7f Curragh maiden last June in his only race as a 2yo; never dangerous in 1m2f Group 3 this May but useful form when second in small-field events over 1m2f/1m4f on starts either side (last time 7l behind Thursday's Listed second Endorsement); lightly raced but needs to show something new for a prominent finish on this handicap debut.

1⁽¹²⁾

322-30

Bourbon Blues

J: Joe Leavy

T: Brian Meehan

9-9

103

109

Reappeared with creditable third of seven in 1m1f Listed race at Newmarket; short of room at a crucial stage in the London Gold Cup at Newbury (1m2f, good; 16-1) and basically given an easy time from over 1f out, so he's a good deal better than last of ten in that hot contest suggests; however, after 11 races, he is more exposed than most of today's rivals.

9⁽⁶⁾

143-83

Sunset On Leros

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Marco Botti

9-3

107

His win was in a 7f novice at Doncaster (good) last July; subsequent efforts include minor honours in a Listed race and two Italian Group 3s, latterly emerging in third of 14 with first-time cheekpieces in their version of the 2,000 Guineas (1m, good); that does not make him well handicapped today but his sire gives plenty of hope for 1m2f.

2⁽¹⁷⁾

1-522

Sahara King

J: James Doyle

T: Richard Hannon

9-7

101

113

AW winner in November on debut and, coming from the back, good form in defeat this season; no real threat to Evanesco in five-runner handicap at Newmarket (1m2f, good to firm) on penultimate start but better when launching a strong challenge for the London Gold Cup at Newbury (1m2f, good) last time, losing out narrowly in a duel with Lost Boys; both Newbury principals have since been snapped up by Wathnan Racing; up 6lb but cheekpieces go on (perhaps some hesitation in front last time) and he's one to take seriously.

3⁽¹⁶⁾

617-41

Evanesco

J: David Egan

T: Charlie Johnston

9-6

100

111

Mixed bag as 2yo but improved form in two 1m2f Newmarket handicaps this term; had it all his own way up front in five-runner race last time (good to firm) but stretched clear impressively from over 1f out; 8lb higher in a much more competitive affair today, but runner-up Sahara King went close in the always-strong London Gold Cup next time; considered.

16⁽⁴⁾

-19111

Folk Pageant

J: Rowan Scott

T: Charlie Johnston

8-10

112

Last of nine on handicap debut (1m, AW) in April but won her other four starts this season; they were 1m2f handicaps at Newmarket, Chester (good) and Epsom (soft) on last three occasions and she's seen those races out strongly; raised another 10lb since that attritional contest two weeks ago, and she's never raced on firmer than good, but it's hard to knock one who's been finding such improvement.

4⁽²⁾

214-54

Spyce

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

9-6

100

113

Stays 1m2f and acts on good to firm; put firmly in his place when 20-1 for Group 3 Classic Trial at Sandown on reappearance but made late headway into fourth of ten off this mark to Lost Boys in the London Gold Cup at Newbury (1m2f, good) on handicap debut, despite racing freely in rear early on; could have more to give and a stronger pace today may suit.

13⁽¹⁾

117-49

Allegresse

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

8-13

112

Won from the front in two Kempton novices (1m, AW) as 2yo; beat just one rival in the course of three starts since, still showing useful form on reappearance (last of four in a 1m conditions stakes) but eased right down once pursuit was in vain at Epsom (1m2f, soft) two weeks ago on handicap debut; plenty to prove but at least stamina in the family suggests he should stay.

14⁽⁷⁾

53-311

Perisher

J: William Buick

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

8-11

114

11-8 favourite in cheekpieces when he won a maiden at Gowran Park (1m, soft) and conditions event at Naas (10.4f, good; unraced on firmer) on his last two starts; made all and put 4.5l between himself and his rivals over the last 2f on the latest outing; revised mark could still be favourable, including as he's not fully exposed at this trip.

17⁽³⁾

42-41

Echo Of Stars

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Oliver Cole

8-10

111

Tongue tied first time and improved when off the mark in eight-runner novice at Chepstow (1m2f, good to firm) three weeks ago, leading over 2f out and comfortably seeing off Thursday's tailed-off King George V longshot Blue Hercules; more to offer, which is needed on this handicap debut; non-runner (very stiff task) in Friday's 1m4f Group 2 here.

12⁽¹⁴⁾

331-11

Lost Boys

J: James McDonald

T: David Menuisier

9-2

114

Won the last three of his five starts; this season they were 1m2f handicaps (good; unraced on firmer) at Sandown and Newbury, latterly in the London Gold Cup in which he travelled very strongly before squeezing through over 1f out and prevailing virtually on the nod against Sahara King, as the pair drew about 2l clear; these powerful owners have acquired both horses since; up 7lb but improving and capable of better.

7⁽¹¹⁾

435-31

Nil Bua Gan Dua

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-3

107

Unraced on firmer than good; pitched into Group 2 and Group 3 events for minor roles on the last two of his three outings as 2yo; it wasn't until second start this term that he got off the mark (made all over 10.4f at Roscommon) and he had to knuckle down seriously, but that even-money success from a stablemate (who was 13th in Thursday's King George V) brings improved form into this much harder task for handicap debut.

NR⁽¹⁹⁾

311-

Accredit

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-5

107

Bred to stay 1m2f; all three 2yo starts were on softer than good, with a promising debut before he easily justified long odds-on favouritism over 1m in a maiden at Sandown and novice at Haydock; scampered 11l clear last time, admittedly against greatly inferior opposition and this opening mark for reappearance is a stiff one on the face of it, but it's hard to say just how good he is.

10⁽¹⁵⁾

3-1330

Balzac

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

9-3

109

AW novice winner who was third in 1m2f Listed race at Epsom and 11.6f Derby Trial at Lingfield (good to firm); same fate as many when tailed off in the Derby (1m4f, soft; 66-1) two weeks ago; improvement is also needed if he's to make a splash on this handicap debut, but return to 1m2f can help.

15⁽¹⁸⁾

22-14

Princling

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

8-11

113

Reappeared at 1-4 with a ready novice win; 2-1 favourite when good fourth of 14 for the rearranged Silver Bowl at Carlisle (also 1m on good to firm) three weeks ago on handicap debut, making inroads too late but that experience of a hot handicap at right-handed track could stand him in good stead and, in accordance with the dam's side, 1m2f now looks well worth exploring.

8⁽¹⁰⁾

511

Harmonics

J: Shane Foley

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-3

111

Made low-key start in April but a totally different proposition in his two races since, emerging best in a bunched finish for maiden at Southwell (1m, AW) and pulverising the opposition in a novice at Doncaster (1m2f, good to firm); changed hands since; very useful prospect going into this handicap debut.

6⁽⁵⁾

1-21

Bayaann

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

9-4

112

He made a smooth start with 7f AW win in November and built substantially on that when second in a novice at Newmarket (1m, good) last month; didn't reproduce that form when having to work hard for his win at 1-4 in a novice at Windsor (1m, good to soft) 12 days ago but the major plus point for this handicap debut is that his performance and pedigree both shout that 1m2f will suit him much better.

RACING POST TIP

Lost Boys

Wathnan Racing have stepped in to buy LOST BOYS and Sahara King since they moved clear to be separated by a head in first and second for the London Gold Cup at Newbury five weeks ago and it's easy to see why. Lost Boys may well be more straightforward and gets the vote to complete his four-timer, although Sahara King's finishing effort could be helped by the first-time headgear. Harmonics is far less exposed and was so impressive in a novice event last time, so he is feared most among the rest, ahead of Evanesco and the Haggas pair Princling and Bayaann.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

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Past Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2025	Quai De Bethune [14]	3	9-2	12/1	Andrew Balding	Oisin Murphy
2024	Hand Of God [17]	3	9-0	9/4F	Harry Charlton	William Buick
2023	Burdett Road [9]	3	8-13	20/1	Michael Bell	Neil Callan
2022	Missed The Cut [13]	3	9-3	5/2F	George Boughey	James McDonald
2021	Foxes Tales [13]	3	8-11	13/2	Andrew Balding	Oisin Murphy
2020	Highland Chief [16]	3	9-7	20/1	Paul & Oliver Cole	Rossa Ryan

Key race stats 2026

Key trends

Double-figure draw, 5/6
Won previous start, 3/6
Carried 9st 3lb or less, 5/6
Making handicap debut, 3/6
Sent off favourite, 2/6

Other factors

All six winners of this race have been trained in Britain.

What happened in the Golden Gates Stakes last year?

Coming from the ever-strong London Gold Cup, Quai De Bethune swooped from last to just get up and beat race favourite Seraph Gabriel. Winning at 12-1 for Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding from a draw of 14, he became the second winner for the trainer-and-jockey combination after winning with Foxes Tales in 2021. The French raider Best Secret was back in third.

Golden Gates Stakes Handicap

17:35 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Past Winners

Key race stats 2026

What happened in the Golden Gates Stakes last year?

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