The St James's Palace Stakes is a Group 1 contest run over a mile. It takes place at 16:20 on Tuesday 17th June, which is the first day of Royal Ascot 2025. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

5⁽⁶⁾

122-24

Rashabar

J: Sean Levey

T: Brian Meehan

9-2

113

124

Recorded an 80-1 success in the Coventry here last year; finished in front of Field Of Gold on the Arc card but failed to confirm the placings in the Irish 2,000 Guineas most recently, coming home just over 5l behind that improving opponent; remains a very useful and consistent sort (form figures read 3212224) but needs a personal best to grab further Royal Ascot glory.

7⁽⁴⁾

213-28

Windlord

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

9-2

105

118

Two minor honours in Group races, including second at Sandown (1m2f) on seasonal debut; however, dropped away in the closing stages of the Irish 2,000 Guineas and ended up behind three of today's rivals; the cheekpieces worn that day are retained; needs major improvement.

1⁽⁵⁾

14-121

Field Of Gold

J: Colin Keane

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-2

123

137

Ran creditably on soft ground once, raced on good/firmer otherwise; progressive colt who won the Solario as a 2yo and Craven on reappearance; might have collared Ruling Court in the 2,000 Guineas if asked for his effort a tad sooner, then gained compensation in the Irish version where he strode clear for an impressive performance that puts him top rated in this field; bids to emulate his sire Kingman and the last two winners of this race by completing the Irish Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes double; excellent credentials.

6⁽²⁾

13-11

Ruling Court

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

9-2

121

134

Justify colt who was a 2,300,000euros breeze-up purchase as a 2yo; raced only on good/firmer and was a late withdrawal from the Derby this month as the surface was deemed not fast enough; record of 3-4 includes two emphatic wins; held on by half a length from Field Of Gold in the 2,000 Guineas most recently, having got first run on that rival; improving sharply and, with his ceiling probably not yet reached, commands major respect in the rematch.

4⁽⁷⁾

1-317

Officer

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O'Brien

9-2

108

124

Has raced exclusively at the Curragh, most recently coming up well short in the Irish 2,000 Guineas behind two of today's rivals; progressive otherwise and comfortably bagged Listed honours the time before; may do better still but needs to prove he's Group 1 class and Henri Matisse is the stable's chief contender.

2⁽³⁾

22-231

First Wave

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: A P O'Brien

9-2

112

Tad frustrating in maiden races until improving for first-time tongue-tie at Gowran Park (1m, good) most recently, opening his account with a ready win from the front; faces a markedly stiffer task upped in class and is possibly in here as pacemaker for the yard's main hope Henri Matisse.

3⁽¹⁾

251-11

Henri Matisse

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-2

116

133

Ballydoyle colt whose record is 6-8; he is 2-2 over 1m, having won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (by a neck) on firm ground last November and the French 2,000 Guineas (by a head) on good ground last month; ties in closely with Field Of Gold on one piece of 2yo form; could well have even more to offer at this distance and is one of the main contenders, contributing to a gripping clash of Guineas winners; trainer has landed this prize nine times.

RACING POST TIP

Field Of Gold

In a cracking clash of Guineas winners, the percentage call lies with FIELD OF GOLD who is top rated after a brilliant performance in Ireland and continues to improve. Ruling Court (second choice) got first run on the selection at Newmarket but he too is progressive and participates in an enthralling rematch, while Henri Matisse is the other main contender having landed the French version.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2024	Rosallion [1]	3	9-2	5/2	Richard Hannon	Sean Levey
2023	Paddington [8]	3	9-2	11/5	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2022	Coroebus [2]	3	9-2	10/11	William Buick	Charlie Appleby
2021	Poetic Flair [7]	3	9-0	7/2F	J S Bolger	Kevin Manning
2020	Palace Pier [6]	3	9-0	4/1	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2019	Circus Maximus [1]	3	9-0	10/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2018	Without Parole [2]	3	9-0	9/4F	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2017	Barney Roy [4]	3	9-0	5/2	Richard Hannon	James Doyle
2016	Galileo Gold [7]	3	9-0	6/1	Hugo Palmer	Frankie Dettori
2015	Gleneagles [5]	3	9-0	8/15F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2014	Kingman [7]	3	9-0	8/11F	John Gosden	James Doyle

Key race stats 2025

Key trends

From the first three in the market, 9/10
Rated within 7lb of RPR top rated, 8/10
Had won or placed in a Group 1, 7/10
Adjusted RPR of at least 132, 7/10
Had finished in the first three in a 2,000 Guineas, 7/10

Other factors

Winners who had run in a Guineas finished 112112 at Newmarket and 12211 at the Curragh. The 2021 winner Poetic Flare also ran in the French Guineas (sixth) – the first since Excellent Art in 2007 (fourth).

Four of the last ten winners had run in the British and Irish Guineas, with all making the frame in both.

Without Parole in 2018 and Palace Pier in 2020 (both trained by John Gosden) are the only two winners not to have run in a Group 1 that season since Shavian in 1990.

Aidan O’Brien has won nine runnings since the turn of the millennium.

What happened in the St. James's Palace Stakes last year?

Field Of Gold produced one of the performances of the season when landing the St James’s Palace in impressive style. The Juddmonte-owned grey was an unlucky second in the 2,000 Guineas and arrived on the back of Classic success in the Irish equivalent. Sent off the 8-11 favourite, Colin Keane’s mount breezed into contention and quickened clear to score by three and a half lengths from French 2,000 Guineas winner Henri Matisse. Ruling Court, who beat the winner in the 2,000 Guineas, was a further three and three quarter lengths back in third.

St James's Palace Stakes

16:20 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2025

What happened in the St. James's Palace Stakes last year?

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