The third and final Group One on the opening day of Royal Ascot is the St James's Palace Stakes. This race is open only to three-year-old colts and is staged over a trip of one mile.
As this is a race for three-year-olds, many horses who ran in the British and Irish 1000 Guineas often run in the St James's Palace Stakes, and great horses like Gleneagles, Rock Of Gibraltar and Brigadier Gerard have completed a famous double at Royal Ascot.
St James's Palace Stakes Key Facts
Date
Tuesday June 20, 2023
Track
Royal Ascot
Distance
1m
Class
Group 1
Race Type
Set weights
Prizemoney
£400,000
Age
3YO colts
2023 St James's Palace Stakes Odds
No odds are available for the 2023 St James's Palace Stakes.
2023 St James's Palace Stakes Tips
Once the field has been finalised, we'll publish our guide to the 2023 St James's Palace Stakes.
2022 St James's Palace Stakes Result
Position
Name
SP
1st
Coroebus
10/11f
2nd
Lusail
28/1
3rd
My Prospero
4/1
St James's Palace Stakes History
The St James's Palace Stakes is named after the royal residence during the Tudor period.
First run in 1934 when won by Plenipotentiary, it was then elevated to Group 1 status in 1988 and it has since been won by many of Europe's best three-year-olds.
Frankel, Gleneagles and Canford Cliffs are all recent winners of the race and the likes of Frankel and Canford Cliffs would later win at the Royal Ascot festival in the following seasons.
The St James's Palace Stakes has been dominated by champion trainer Aidan O'Brien. O'Brien has scored seven wins (Giant's Causeway, Black Minnaloushe, Rock of Gibraltar, Excellent Art, Henrythenavigator, Mastercraftsman, Gleneagles).
O'Brien stands above the rest and his record of producing three-year-old classic winners is quite incredible.
The St James's Palace Stakes has been a popular option for both the sprinter/milers and the Guineas entrants.
Frankel was a popular winner in 2011. The champion colt was almost caught by Zoffany on the line after using plenty of petrol early in the race but he called upon his champion qualities to get the job done.
Horses who win the St James's Palace Stakes often go on to be top sires. Kingman, Dawn Approach and Galileo Gold being prime examples.
Just days after finishing down the field in the Epsom Derby, Circus Maximus powered home to hand Aidan O'Brien another St James's Palace Stakes win in 2019. John Gosden was celebrating again the following year, as Palace Pier swept home to claim an impressive win.
The 2000 Guineas winner followed up in the St James's Palace Stakes in both 2021 and '22. First, Poetic Flare ran out a comfortable winner at Royal Ascot, before Charlie Appleby's Coroebus claimed a narrow victory 12 months later.
St James's Palace Stakes Betting Guide
The St James's Palace Stakes has been dominated by the favourites.
Barney Roy paid 5/2 in 2017 when beating favourite Churchill and Galileo Gold paid 6/1 when beating The Gurkha in 2016, but it has been predominantly the well-fancied types winning.
Gleneagles scored in 2015 at 8/15. The O'Brien-trained colt only had to beat a small field and punters were quick to jump on the odds.
Kingman landed a big betting move in 2014. The John Gosden-trained colt won by 2.25 lengths and returned 8/11 with bookmakers after it was heavily-backed throughout the week.
Dawn Approach won in 2013 as the 5/4 favourite, making it three consecutive wins for the favoured runners.
James Doyle is a jockey to follow in the race, having won in 2014 aboard Kingsman and in 2017 aboard Barney Boy.
Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy rode for Godolphin in 2005 when piloting Shamardal to victory but most of the winning jockeys hail from the UK.
