The Duke of Cambridge Stakes is a Group 2 flat race open to fillies and mares aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile. The race is one of several for older fillies which were introduced across Europe in 2004. These were designed as an incentive to keep more of their gender from being exported or prematurely retired to stud.
It was originally titled the Windsor Forest Stakes and was renamed the Duke of Cambridge Stakes in 2013 in honour of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Let’s go through the runners ahead of the race and see which horses offer the best Royal Ascot odds on the market.
Grand Dame
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Grand Dame hasn’t been seen since finishing an unlucky third in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket last October. She has proven that she can go well fresh and this mile trip is just about perfect for her. Jamie Spencer was placed on her last time in that Group One last time. If her jockey can keep her out of trouble she has solid place credentials once more.
Honey Girl
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: Dylan McMonagle
She seemed to fluff her lines when finishing fifth of eight in a Group Two at the Curragh last month where she was beaten over five lengths by Just Beautiful. This extra furlong could prove to be her undoing as she is fully comfortable over seven furlongs. Others look open to further progression and she is passed over on this occasion.
Internationalangel
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Another whose stamina is not guaranteed to last home although the six-year-old does represent last year’s winning trainer. She hasn’t been seen since finishing third in a listed race at Lingfield last autumn but she has a tendency to go well fresh after a break. This opposition could well prove a little too hot to handle for her though and others are preferred.
Jumbly
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
She has the beating of Honey Girl based on their most recent meeting at the Curragh last month. It was a pleasing enough seasonal reappearance where she found only the Paddy Twomey trained Just Beautiful too strong. She is fully entitled to come on for that run and is already proven over this course and distance as she won here when trained by the Charltons last season. The booking of Ryan Moore is an eye-catching one and they genuinely do look like the ones that the rest have to beat.
Lightship
Trainer: Kevin Phillipart De Foy
Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
Still without a win on turf and looked out of her depth in a listed race at Goodwood last month when trailing home in second last place. This looks far too strong a race for her and she would undoubtedly prefer a return to the all-weather tracks. Although placed behind Laurel in a listed race at Kempton racecourse two starts ago, this looks beyond her.
Potapova
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Is without a win since scoring at Sandown last summer when beating the re-opposing Grand Dame. Her two most recent starts have not been the most complimentary having been pulled up and then finishing fifth of six in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom. She has a lot of work to do in order to reverse form with Prosperous Voyage and will have better chances in lesser company down the line.
Prosperous Voyage
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Returned to form with a vengeance when winning the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom earlier in the month. Did disappoint at this meeting last year when badly beaten nine lengths by Inspiral. This should be more her cup of tea as it is a lower grade. Frankie Dettori has been retained following the win on her last time and they have every right to be involved in the finish here.
Queen Aminatu
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Won a listed race at Lingfield over a mile last season, but most of her winning has come at seven furlongs. She ran a sound race in the Group Three Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes again at Lingfield where she found Sacred and Sandrine too strong. There has been a bit of money around for her in recent days which is notable, but she would likely have a stronger claim in lesser company.
Random Harvest
Trainer: Ed Walker
Jockey: Saffie Osborne
Has struggled to get back to her best since winning over this course and distance last summer. Her run behind Prosperous Voyage was a bit more like her old self and she defied her odds of 22/1 to finish a solid runner-up. She should be able to confirm the form with Potapova on that basis. Minor honours look like the best she can do once more.
Rogue Millennium
Trainer: Tom Clover
Jockey: Danny Tudhope
Has been a model of consistency since making her seasonal reappearance at Kempton back in April. She backed that up with another fine performance at York where she found only Free Wind too strong. Expect plenty of use to be made of her guaranteed stamina and she could well have a few of these off the bridle early on if going a strong enough gallop. Live each way claims despite having never been tried over as short a trip as this in the past.
Duke of Cambridge Stakes Betting Tips
It really is hard to get away from the obvious claims of Jumbly. She has clearly settled in well with Joseph O’Brien and ran a hugely positive race at the Curragh on her seasonal reappearance. She is fully entitled to come on for that and Ryan Moore is a big jockey booking for the yard.
Prosperous Voyage came back to form in style at Epsom and if turning up here in the same mood, she will go close again. Grand Dame has every right to run well as she has proven herself to go well fresh in the past. Team Gosden has the yard in great shape and she cannot be fully ruled out.
1. Jumbly @ 9/4 with BetVictor
2. Prosperous Voyage @ 11/4 with William Hill
3. Grand Dame @ 8/1 with Bet365
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
