- Five-year-old previously triumphed in the Coronation Stakes and Breeders Cup
- Inspiral had previously been ante-post favourite for the Queen Anne Stakes
Inspiral, one of the most popular horses in training, has been dramatically rerouted and set a new target at Royal Ascot.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden for owners Cheveley Park Stud, Inspiral had been ante-post favourite for the Queen Anne Stakes – the Group One contest over a mile for older horses, which traditionally kicks-off the meeting.
But the five-year-old mare, whose glittering CV includes a Royal Ascot success in the 2022 Coronation Stakes and a stunning triumph at the Breeders Cup last November, is now set for a showdown with the outstanding Auguste Rodin in Wednesday’s Prince Of Wales Stakes.
Connections believe the step up to a mile-and-a-quarter is something which will bring more improvement from Inspiral and John Gosden has long had it in mind that her prime target for the year is the Juddmonte International over that distance at York in August.
Still, it has come as a surprise that the decision has been made at this late stage. Inspiral worked on Newmarket’s July Course last Saturday morning, with two other Ascot-bound stablemates Laurel and Lord North, and her odds have been slashed for the Prince of Wales.
John and Thady Gosden-trained Inspiral will have a shot at glory in the Prince of Wales Stakes
Inspiral will go toe-to-toe with Ryan Moore’s titanic 2023 Derby winner Auguste Rodin
The five-year-old previously won the 2022 Coronation Stakes (pictured) and Breeders Cup
Chris Richardson, Managing Director of Cheveley Park Stud, explained: ‘We learnt last year in California where she ran over ten furlongs at Santa Anita that she needed every yard that day.
‘We’ve been looking forward to stepping her up in trip again after her comeback race over a mile at Newbury in the Lockinge. She was slow away that day and was in need of the run that day and shaped as if she needs a bit further these days.
‘That’s what John and Thady Gosden have been saying this spring. I know it’s a very exciting race in terms of quality but she deserves to take her chance there and we’ll learn a bit more and hopefully this will open up many more avenues going forward.’
