The Diamond Jubilee Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race held on the final day of the famous Royal Ascot meeting, open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is a sprint run over a distance of six furlongs.
The event was established in 1868, and it was originally called the All-Aged Stakes. It was renamed the Cork and Orrery Stakes in 1926, in honour of the 9th Earl of Cork, who served as the Master of the Buckhounds in the 19th century.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Cork and Orrery Stakes was initially classed at Group 3 level. It was promoted to Group 2 status in 1998.
The event was renamed to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002. From this point it held Group 1 status. In 2012 after ten years, the race was renamed to the current name Diamond Jubilee Stakes to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Diamond Jubilee Stakes became part of a new international race series, the Global Sprint Challenge, in 2005. It is currently the fifth leg of the series, preceded by the King’s Stand Stakes and followed by the July Cup.
For this year’s contest, hot favourite Black Caviar – the great mare who they call ‘The Wonder from Down Under’ – will make her first public appearance in the Northern Hemisphere when she takes on Europe’s best sprinters in this eagerly-anticipated contest on June 23.
Second in the betting is Bated Breath but there is a possibility he will go for the King’s Stand Stakes on the opening day.
Of the others, French filly Moonlight Cloud looks to have decent claims also. The daughter of Invincible Spirit had Classic hopes but failed to stay eight furlongs against Europe’s best milers, so she dropped down in trip to devastating effect and could be the one to push Black Caviar.
Image credit: James Marwood
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