At twenty past four this afternoon, Bound For Nowhere will stand in the stalls a matter of inches away from Redkirk Warrior as both await their Royal Ascot destiny in the illustrious Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
A few months ago, American trained Bound For Nowhere would be trotting in his Kentucky home with today’s rival almost ten thousand miles away – this afternoon the pair meet both on away soil in Europe.
Australian and American runners are no stranger to Royal Ascot, it’s a ‘must do’ meeting for the world’s biggest trainers and owners, and the place where a winner is on every jockey’s bucket list – quite frankly there is nowhere on earth like the five days at Ascot.
This season over thirty runners came from outside the UK, with horses travelling from France, USA, Germany, Ireland and Australia. In previous years runners have come from Canada, Spain, New Zealand and Japan.
For Ascot it’s not just the top quality races that makes it globally so attractive, but the meeting’s rich culture and Britishness is attractive as the prize money itself.
The elegance of the fashion, the delicate details of the track such as the strawberries in champagne flutes and the flowers dotted around the track, and of course the way that the Royal family acts as a central figure in the entire meeting.
Ascot must continue to make its signature meeting remain a must for foreign raiders, as it has huge potential of becoming one of the biggest global racing festivals.
Perhaps a few races being upgraded would establish it’s place at the very top, the Coventry Stakes is a prime example of a Group Two that should become a Group One – elsewhere the Hardwicke, King Edward VII, Ribblesdale and Duke Of Cambridge are all worthy of becoming races at the top level.
If British racing could promote these races, it would continue to attract the best horses, and establish an even bigger foreign appeal.
The meeting is being broadcasted to millions around the world with live viewing figures in Ireland, the USA and Australia growing at a rapid rate – and of course will continue to grow in popularity.
The new ‘win and you’re in’ with America’s iconic Breeder’s Cup Meeting is a great link, allowing world-class horses to use Ascot as a potential stepping stone to the USA.
Although Ascot will welcome an international field on Saturday, it’s a progressive meeting and the international charge is only going to continue growing and developing.
The quality of the races are improving, and thus the desire for a winner here grows for everyone connected in horses – Royal Ascot is one of the greatest meetings in racing, and it’s only getting better, more competitive and more exciting. I’m already counting down to next year!
