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St. James' Palace Stakes
The St. James' Palace Stakes is a part of the magnificent Royal Ascot Festival, which is held every year in June and includes seven Group 1 races. It is the opening event of this legendary meeting.
The race was inaugurated in 1834 and was named after St. James' Palace, one of the Royal Residences established during the Tudor period. The first running of the race was a little anticlimactic, a walkover with only one contestant.
The race is run over the distance of one mile at the historic Ascot Racecourse, and it is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts only. It has an unusually high purse for a juvenile race with a total prize money of £250,000.
When the classification system was introduced in 1971, the St. James' Palace Stakes was initially classified as a Group 2 event. It was elevated to Group 1 status in 1988.
Horses competing in the St. James' Palace Stakes frequently perform in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, the Poule D'Essai Des Poulains or the Irish 2,000 Guineas Stakes before moving on to run at the Royal Ascot Festival. With such an impressive set of unofficial preparatory races, it is no surprise that this juvenile race is one of the most anticipated and prestigious events of his kind on the British flat racing calendar.
Recent Winners of the St. James' Palace Stakes:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
2010 |
Canford Cliffs |
Richard Hughes |
Richard Hannon |
1:39.55 |
2009 |
Mastercraftsman |
Johnny Murtagh |
Aidan O'Brien |
1:39.21 |
2008 |
Henrythenavigator |
Johnny Murtagh |
Aidan O'Brien |
1:38.70 |
2007 |
Excellent Art |
Jamie Spencer |
Aidan O'Brien |
1:39.33 |
2006 |
Araafa |
Alan Munro |
Jeremy Noseda |
1:39.59 |
2005 |
Shamardal |
Kerrin McEvoy |
Saeed Bin Suroor |
1:37.18 |
St James's Palace Stakes Odds and News
16 Jun 2010: Canford Cliffs Can Indeed – Revenge In St. James’s Stakes
With his favourite nemeses sharing the track, Canford Cliffs had more than enough motivation to blow the competition off in the St. James’s Stakes. After having suffered a series of defeats to Makfi and stable mate Dick Turpin in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and the Bahtwick Tyres Greenham Stakes respectively, the three-year-old chose the St. James’s Palace Stakes as the scene of his revenge.
Under regular jockey Richard Hughes the colt took off smoothly, biding his time in the field of nine tailing the pace makers – Steinbeck, Ecompassing and Beethoven of Ballydoyle and later on arch-rival Dick Turpin. Hughes proved himself to be a rider of sublime timing, waiting for the perfect moment and opening to charge and take the lead. Canford Cliffs responded more than willingly, zooming to the front of the field with fierce determination.
Racing Dick Turpin, ridden by Ryan Moore, into submission on the final furlong of the race, the three-year-old crossed the line with one length to spare – making trainer Richard Hannon fairly jump for joy. His charge’s winning performance in the Irish 2,000 Guineas this May had been an indicator for Canford Cliffs returning fire, but the win at the St. James’s Palace Stakes still came as a most pleasant affirmation of the colt’s ability.
Makfi, the three-year-old sensation to win the 2,000 Guineas Stakes earlier on this season, was clearly not having the time of his life on the track. Struggling to keep the pace under jockey Olivier Peslier, Mikel Delzangles’ big Ascot hope scored a disappointing seventh place out of nine runners. After the race Delzangles announced Makfi seemed to be struggling with minor health issues and would be examined by his vet as soon as possible.
Illness or no illness, Canford Cliffs finally seems to be back on the road to greatness, after a brief detour. The colt ran an amazing race for his connections, allowing himself to be guided as well as added self-motivation to take the lead. The St. James’s Stakes are Canford Cliffs second win at the Royal Ascot Festival, he ran to victory in the Coventry Stakes in his two-year-old season, 2009; and if this race is anything to go by, Canford Cliffs is a runner to keep an eye on.
View complete Results of the St. James’s Palace Stakes.
15 Jun 2010: St. James’s Palace Stakes – O’Brien Chases 7th Heaven
11 Jun 2010: Royal Ascot Ascending – Get Ready For Regal Racing
10 Jun 2010: Follow the Odds as the Royal Ascot Festival Approaches
