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The St James’s Palace Stakes will be back run at Royal Ascot on a Tuesday.
It changed last year when Palace Pier was sublime. Who can win the 2021 St James's Palace Stakes (1603m) at Royal Ascot on Tuesday?
2021 ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The St James's Palace Stakes is a Group 1 race run under Set Weights conditions for three year old colts at Royal Ascot conducted by the Ascot Racecourse.
The St James's Palace Stakes is run over the round course mile starting near Swinley Bottom. It was first run in 1834 and was won by Plenipotentiary.
Named after the Tudor Royal residence, it attracted a Derby winner in Plenipotentiary with the colt the only runner and consequently was allowed a walkover.
The most wins as a jockey is with Michael Kinane at six while Aidan O'Brien has the most wins as trainer with seven.
Originally classed as a Group 2 in 1971, it was upgraded to Group 1 in 1988.
The 2005 running took place at York.
There was great anticipation in the lead up to the 2011 edition with the extraordinary Frankel coming off the back of one of the greatest 2000 Guineas performances ever and maybe in all racing in general.
This time, instead of leading by over ten lengths himself mid-stages, he had a lead out but it nearly brought him unstuck as he produced perhaps the most inconclusive result of his career to date. Zoffany and Excelebration got close to him but they failed and despite some criticism of the ride, Tom Queally retained the mount and is still undefeated on him into his four year old season.
For 2012, it had to be a downgrade on the previous year just because of the name involved. But added to that was this field of 3yos were very even.
With Most Improved having run big odds in the French Derby and finishing 14th there, the fact he ran only 9-1 was a fair reflection. He took up a good spot behind the speed, then ranged up outside the leader to hit the front a long way out. Looking a sitting shot, he boxed on well to fight them off by just under a length.
A year on and we got a cracking renewal. It was built up so well in the lead up with Toronado and Magician looking to be the two main hopes but then out of the blue (so to speak), brilliant 2000 Guineas winner and Epsom Derby flop Dawn Approach was entered.
He was still doing many things wrong in his races and tracked up Magician in the run. Just as he pulled out to made the go for home, the inside horses veered out and he bumped into Toronado who was surging. They came away and the Richard Hannon horse got in front but the Godolphin runner fought back to win by a nose.
Frankel had just fallen in to win this race but there were no such problems for his ownership-mate Kingman in 2014. He reversed the 2000 Guineas result on Night Of Thunder with an emphatic victory.
2015 was another win for Ballydoyle. Gleneagles had won the two Guineas before this and he got the job done again in a very small field without being overly impressive.
We then saw the 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold rebound after losing the replica race at The Curragh. Dettori rode him to perfection and in hindsight started amazing odds. In 2017 saw Barney Roy for Godolphin exacted revenge for defeat in the 2000 Guineas.
Amongst all his top horses, John Gosden won another feature with Frankie Dettori as Without Parole scored by a half-length. Then in 2019 Aidan O'Brien produced a great feat of training as Circus Maximus dropped back in trip from the Derby inside three weeks to score over the mile.
Kingman won in 2014 and his son Palace Pier came of age beating off the 2000 Guineas foes including the much touted Pinatubo in 2020 for Dettori and Gosden.
The St James's Palace Stakes was worth £350,000 in 2021.
It was moved to the final day due to the English carnival revamp regarding the effect of coronavirus but in 2021 reverted to its traditional spot on Day 1.
Notable winners of the St James's Palace Stakes include Palace Pier (2020), Gleneagles (2015), Kingman (2014), Dawn Approach (2013), Frankel (2011), Canford Cliffs (2010), Mastercraftsman (2009), Henrythenavigator (2008), Sharmardal (2005), Rock Of Gibraltar (2002), Giant's Causeway (2000), Grand Lodge (1994), Brief Truce (1992) and Brigadier Gerard (1971).
The 2020 St James's Palace Stakes was won by Palace Pier from Pinatubo and Wichita.
