Norfolk Stakes 2022 Racecard
The Norfolk Stakes is a Group 2 Flat horse race and is the first race run on the Thursday of Royal Ascot – the third day of the five-day meeting.
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2:30 Thu 16 Jun NORFOLK STAKES Distance: 5f 0y Age: 2yo O Prize: £65,120 Going: Good to Firm
This looks a red-hot Norfolk, with THE ANTARCTIC taken to remain unbeaten with a third success. A full brother to the mighty sprinter Battaash, he's not been fully extended as he's won his first 2 starts in Ireland and has plenty more in the locker. Walbank stormed clear at York and looks the obvious danger with further improvement to come. Pillow Talk also won well second time up on the Knavesmire and has more to offer. |
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Analyst's Verdict| ENTRY FORM |
SILKS | HORSE JOCKEY & TRAINER |
AGE WGT |
ODDS | |
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1 |
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1. BAKEEL J: Jack Mitchell T: Andrew Balding |
2 9-3 |
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| €77,000 Sioux Nation colt. 15/2, perfect start in 5-runner C&D novice 7 weeks ago, looking a useful prospect as he went clear over 1f out. More to come. | |||||
2 |
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2. BRAVE NATION (IRE) J: James Doyle T: Michael Bell |
2 9-3 |
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| 57,000 gns Sioux Nation colt. 2/1, made all in good style in 5f Doncaster maiden on debut 7 weeks ago. Should have plenty more to offer. | |||||
3 |
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3. CRISPY CAT J: Silvestre De Sousa T: M. D. O'Callaghan, Ireland |
2 9-3 |
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| £105,000 gns Ardad colt. Another useful juvenile for owners who made a successful debut at Cork (5f) in April. Edged out by Blackbeard at the Curragh next time and went close in the National Stakes also 3 weeks ago. Others might be open to more improvement now. | |||||
4 |
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4. JUNGLE FEVER (IRE) J: Joe Fanning T: Charlie & Mark Johnston |
2 9-3 |
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| €85,000 Bungle Inthejungle colt. Much improved from his debut when winning 5.3f Brighton maiden last month, far more professional than most and never looking like getting caught. Open to further progress but this is a big step up in class. | |||||
5 |
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5. MY FIRST RODEO (IRE) J: Darragh Keenan T: John Ryan |
2 9-3 |
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| Foaled May 20. €9,000 yearling, €30,000 2-y-o, Kodiac colt. Half-brother to 5f/6f winner Saatty and 2-y-o 7f winner Mumayaz. Dam unraced sister to smart winner up to 7f Mushir. Surely up against it on debut. | |||||
6 |
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6. REDEMPTION TIME J: Adam Kirby T: Clive Cox |
2 9-3 |
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| £220,000 Harry Angel colt. Chased home Walbank here on second start and improved slightly when landing thin 5f Bath contest in first-time tongue tie a fortnight ago. Should have more to offer again. | |||||
7 |
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7. THE ANTARCTIC (IRE) J: Ryan Moore T: Aidan O'Brien, Ireland |
2 9-3 |
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| 750,000 gns Dark Angel colt. Has made the perfect start with victories in 5f events at Tipperary and Naas. More in the locker and big run surely on the way from this full brother to the mighty sprinter Battaash. | |||||
8 |
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8. THE RIDLER J: Paul Hanagan T: Richard Fahey |
2 9-3 |
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| Progressive Brazen Beau colt who won 5f Ripon novice last month. Good third at Beverley 3 weeks ago, finishing well, but needs another big step forward to feature in this. | |||||
9 |
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9. THUNDER MOOR (IRE) J: Daniel Tudhope T: Kevin Ryan |
2 9-3 |
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| Dandy Man colt. Much improved from debut (well backed, proved far too green) when winning 5f York novice 5 weeks ago with a bit in hand. Should have more to come again. | |||||
10 |
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10. WALBANK (IRE) J: Rossa Ryan T: David Loughnane |
2 9-3 |
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| 525,000 gns Breeze Up purchase, by Kodiac. Promising start in hot C&D novice before taking a big step forward as he easily won 5f 4-runner York event, storming clear. Smart prospect. | |||||
11 |
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11. PILLOW TALK (IRE) J: Kieran Shoemark T: K. R. Burke |
2 9-0 |
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| 80,000 gns Kodiac filly. Shaped really well on debut at Nottingham before impressively winning 5f York listed fillies' event 5 weeks ago. More to come. | |||||
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Betting Forecast : 5/2 2.5 THE ANTARCTIC, 11/4 2.75 WALBANK, 8/1 8 BAKEEL, 17/2 8.5 BRAVE NATION, 12/1 12 PILLOW TALK, 14/1 14 CRISPY CAT, 25/1 25 THUNDER MOOR, 28/1 28 THE RIDLER, 40/1 40 REDEMPTION TIME, 66/1 66 JUNGLE FEVER, 250/1 250 MY FIRST RODEO |
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The race is open exclusively to two-year-old horses (juveniles), and is a sprint race run over a distance of 5 furlongs. This is the shortest permitted distance for Flat horses under UK rules.
The race has been run annually since 1843, although it only gained its current name in 1973, having previously been known as the New Stakes. It has also been upgraded within that time, being raised from a Group 3 to a Group 2 contest in 2006.
As of 2018, it is also part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, as a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, which has a $1million purse. This means that the winner will gain free entry and travel allowance to the Breeders’ Cup, held at the end of the American season in early November.
For all that the race’s status as a Breeders’ Cup qualifier has added to its status, the prestige of the contest itself shouldn’t be underestimated; after all, it commonly features entries who cross the Atlantic in the opposite direction. In the past decade, US trainer Wesley Ward – a man best-known here for his ability in training juveniles – has become a recognised face at Ascot, and has had plenty of success at the fixture, saddling ten winners. They include the 2013 and 2018 Norfolk Stakes winners No Nay Never and Shang Shang Shang.
There have been several jockeys to have won the race multiple times, with Frankie Dettori managing three wins (1995, 1999 and 2014).
Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien is amongst the trainers who’ve won the Norfolk Stakes on three occasions (2001, 2015, 2017) and he and retained rider Ryan Moore (2015, 2017) will no doubt be bidding to add to their respective tallies in this year’s race, for the Ballydoyle yard. Another trainer and jockey team who could have a big chance at the Norfolk hattrick will be Wesley Ward and Joel Rosario (2013, 2018), should they again decide to bring an entry over from California.
Norfolk Stakes 2022 FAQs
What distance is the Norfolk Stakes?
5 furlongs
What day of the Royal Ascot meeting is it on?
Thursday
What time is the Norfolk Stakes?
14:30
What weights are carried in the Norfolk Stakes?
9 st 1 lb for colts. 8 st 12 lb for fillies
What is the purse for the Norfolk Stakes?
£50,000 (2020)
Who is the leading jockey in the Norfolk Stakes*?
Of those still riding, Frankie Dettori has the most wins with three
Who is the leading trainer in the Norfolk Stakes*?
The leading active trainers are Aidan O’Brien and Sir Michael Stoute, with three apiece
Who won the Norfolk Stakes?
You can check out our Norfolk Stakes results page here to see a List of previous winners.
