It’s Royal Ascot week and along with the top-class horse racing action much of the attention will also be on which of the monarchy will be in attendance – and in particular are there are any King Charles horses at Royal Ascot to look out for in 2025.
Will We See Any King Charles Horses At Royal Ascot In 2025?
Horse racing fans last saw a King Charles winner at Royal Ascot in 2023 – more on that below – but there is a good chance we could get another in 2025 with THREE regal runners.
Yes, at this stage we can expect to see a trio of King Charles horses at Royal Ascot this week as his majesty has runners on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
We can, therefore, expect to see King Charles III in attendance over these three Royal Ascot dates in 2025.
But, as well as Queen Camilla – the pair are anticipated to be at the course for ALL five days.
The King Charles Royal Ascot Horses 2025
- REACHING HIGH (Ascot Stakes, Tues 17th June)
- RAINBOW’S EDGE (Kensington Palace Stakes, Weds 18th June)
- PURPLE RAINBOW (Sandringham Stakes, Fri 20th June)
REACHING HIGH (Tues, 17th June – 5:00pm Ascot Stakes)
From the three King Charles Royal Ascot horses, many people will see Ryan Moore riding and this one also trained by Willie Mullins – and make this one of his majesty’s Royal Ascot bankers.
Why? This is because Ryan Moore and trainer Willie Mullins have teamed up to win the Ascot Stakes three times in the past (2012, 2015 and 2017).
While Mullins also won the race in 2018.
This 4 year-old was a close second on debut for Mullins at Leopardstown last time out and was formerly with Sir Michael Stoute.
That last run came over 1m4f but is now upped significantly in trip to 2m4f.
However, this Sea The Stars gelding has won over 1m6f in the past which will give connections and backers more confidence he’ll stay.
Plus he’s also the son of the Queen’s former 2013 Ascot Gold Cup winner Estimate.
WATCH: Reaching High Winning At Wolverhampton in August 2024
RAINBOW’S EDGE (Weds, 18th June – 5:35pm Kensington Palace Stakes)
The next King Charles Royal Ascot to look for in 2025 is Rainbow’s Edge, who runs on day two in the Kensington Palace Stakes.
This 4 year-old is trained by John and Thady Gosden and will head to the race having won at Ascot last time out.
That came over this 1m trip and beat another rival here in Arisaig by 3/4 of a length.
He’s run four times, and his only defeat came with a second over 1m2f at Salisbury two runs ago.
WATCH: Rainbow’s Edge Winning On Debut At Newcastle in March 2024
PURPLE RAINBOW (Fri, 20th June – 5:00pm Sandringham Stakes)
The final 2025 King Charles Royal Ascot horse to have on your radar is Purple Rainbow, who will be looking to give his majesty a pot of gold in the Sandringham Stakes on Friday.
This 3 year-old filly is trained by William Haggas and being by Night Of Thunder is also a half-sister to one of the other Royal Ascot King Charles horses – Rainbow’s Edge. Which probably explains the similar names.
She’s raced only three times but has won once already. This win came in a maiden at Kempton over 1m.
While she was last seen running 4th in a Novice Fillies race at Ascot at the end of April, so that track experience is a plus.
When Is Royal Ascot 2025? 🎩🍾
📅Date: Tues 17th – Sat 21st June 2025
⌚Times: First race 2:30pm, Last race 6:10pm
🏇Racecourse: Ascot
💷Purse: £10.5m
📺 TV: ITV Racing/SkySports
How Many Royal Ascot Winners Has King Charles Had?
King Charles III has had just the one Royal Ascot winner so far.
This came in 2023 when the William Haggas-trained Desert Hero won the King George VI Stakes (watch below).
It was Tom Marquand that ride that day – just getting the horse up on the line to win by a head.
How Many Royal Ascot Winners Did Queen Elizabeth II Have?
With just one Royal Ascot winner, the King Charles horses have a long way to go if he wants to match his mum.
Queen Elizabeth II owned 24 winners at Royal Ascot over the years.
Her first came in 1953 with a horse called Choir Boy in the Royal Hunt Cup.
While other big Royal Ascot winners for Queen Elizabeth II came in the 2013 Gold Cup when Estimate won for jockey Ryan Moore (watch below).
And her most last Royal Ascot win was with a horse called Tactical in 2020, who took the Windsor Castle Stakes.
To commemorate that last win, artist Nichola Eddery, daughter of former champion jockey Pat, recently unveiled a painting of the horse. Who was ridden that day by James Doyle and trained by Andrew Balding.
