Next Stop… Royal Ascot
Stridyl are delighted to be heading back to the UK and can’t wait to showcase some of Australia’s best chances at Royal Ascot! The team will be traveling between Lambourn and Newmarket. We will be keeping our Australian audience up to date on everything from trackwork to being trackside for some of the UK’s most prestigious racing.
Quick Recap
Last year saw the story of Artorius and his UK campaign. We were lucky enough to be able to capture his final track gallop with Jamie Spencer. The stallion by Flying Artie was brave in defeat finishing 3rd in two of his three starts, one of these being behind the $10 million purchase Alcohol-Free. View the Artorius story in our entertainment library.
We also saw Nature Strip dominate in the Group 1 King Stand Stakes proving himself as the best sprinter in the world.
History Of Royal Ascot
Undoubtedly, Royal Ascot stands as one of the most esteemed racing carnivals worldwide. Tracing back to the 1700s, Royal Ascot came to be after Queen Anne rode on horseback from Windsor Castle and declared that the field would be a fine place to hold a race. The British Monarch has made an appearance yearly since 1825, which has become a steady tradition. This year will see King Charles III in attendance along with many other members of the Royal family.
Approximately 300,000 people attend the carnival each year, featuring multiple group races over the five-day carnival. Although Racing enthusiasts are in attendance each year, Royal Ascot is notorious for its high fashion and stringent dress code.
Royal Ascot introduced a dress code in the 19th century and reflected tradition and the vast history of the carnival. Beau Brummell who was one of Britain’s first fashion icons in the early 19th century. He was the inspiration for the dress code. Very different to Australian racing where you will see the odd suit or simple dress, Royal Ascot has a very modest approach. Men are seen wearing a top hat and waistcoat, while women will wear a dress below the knee or even a trouser coat. Fascinators or hats to be the highlight of their outfits.
Magic Millions Graduates
Magic Millions graduates will be out in force this year with 5 graduates racing alone this carnival. This is the highest amount of graduates to race overseas from the auction house.
The Astrologist will contest the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes alongside Artorious. He was sold as a yearling at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $150,000. However, in 2021 he was then sold on in an online auction for only a fraction of his original price. Subsequently, he has now gone on to win more than $2.1 million.
At the other end of the spectrum, Cannonball was purchased at the same sale in 2021. The hammer went down to James Harron Bloodstock for $975,000. He is already a Group winner and will be looking to gain that elusive G1 status. You can read more about Cannonball’s plans in our previous blog.
Artorius will be back competing also in the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes. A win will add international form to his stallion portfolio and at $27,500 will be a steal for Australian breeders. The son of Flying Artie was a $120,000 purchase from the 2020 MM GoldCoast Yearling Sale. You can read more about these horses in our previous blog.
We will get our first look at Wellington, a 6yo son of All Too Hard. He was a $70,000 purchase from Kia Ora Stud. He is a multiple Group 1 winner in Hong Kong and has amassed over $63 million. We are excited to witness this horse and be able to capture it for our audience.
Lastly, Coolangatta will be taking on Cannonball in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes. She was a $280,000 purchase from the 2021 Yearling Sale. From only 8 career starts she has already taken home over $3 million for her small group of owners.
To be able to get a horse overseas is a fantastic opportunity and the diversity of price points showcases you don’t always need to spend a lot to have a horse as good as this group.
Cool, Calm, Coolangatta
Stridyl’s sister company Rorison Media will be embedded throughout Coolangatta’s Royal Ascot campaign to feed news and racing publications footage of her work and grabs from the team.
The Rorison Media team is very excited to have the opportunity to follow superstar filly Coolangatta during her campaign in the UK. We are lucky enough to be the only media to have exclusive access to her during her campaign. We will be documenting all aspects of Coolangatta’s preparation and the experience of the connection as they compete at the world’s most prestigious racing carnival.
Some final words…
Our team are excited to be coming full circle and travelling back to where it started 15 years ago. Stridyl’s directors Hayley and David both met and started their careers in Lambourn. Creating content in the Valley of the Racehorse is an exciting and privileged adventure.
Stridyl can’t wait to capture all the action over the British racing season! Make sure to keep up to date on what we are up to via our Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube Channels.