Norfolk Stakes 2021 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 17 Jun NORFOLK STAKES Distance: 5f 0y Age: 2yo O Prize: £47,360 Going: Firm
Wesley Ward again has a strong hand in this race with NAKATOMI and Lucci. The former needs to prove his effectiveness on turf, but he was well on top of a subsequent stakes winner when making a successful start at Keeneland and can take this step up in class in his stride. Instinctive Move impressed at Bath and also looks very promising, as does Cadamosto for Ballydoyle. |
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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. ANDREAS VESALIUS (IRE) J: S. M. Crosse T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien, Ireland |
2 9-1 |
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| Showed improved form to get off the mark at the third attempt in 5-runner novice at Naas 32 days ago, making all. Should do better still. | |||||
2 |
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2. CADAMOSTO (IRE) J: Ryan Moore T: Aidan O'Brien, Ireland |
2 9-1 |
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| Made plenty of appeal on paper and made a successful debut in 9-runner maiden at Dundalk (5f, 7/4) 42 days ago, scoring comfortably after showing plenty of early dash. Sure to improve. | |||||
3 |
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3. GO BEARS GO (IRE) J: Silvestre De Sousa T: David Loughnane |
2 9-1 |
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| Cost 150,000 gns at the breeze up sales and justified that price tag with an impressive debut success over C&D 40 days ago. Open to improvement. | |||||
4 |
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4. INSTINCTIVE MOVE J: Adam Kirby T: Clive Cox |
2 9-1 |
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| Is out of a mare who was useful at 2 (won 5 times) and looked potentially smart himself when making a winning debut at Bath (5f) last month, well on top finish. Seems sure to do better. | |||||
5 |
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5. KHUNAN J: Daniel Tudhope T: Richard Fahey |
2 9-1 |
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| Left debut form well behind to get off the mark in good style at Ripon in April. Good efforts under a penalty since, though was beaten fair and square last time and has a lot more on his plate here. | |||||
6 |
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6. KING OF SPEED (IRE) J: Hollie Doyle T: Robert Cowell |
2 9-1 |
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| Built on debut promise when making all in 5f novice at Redcar 17 days ago. May do better again but this is a big ask. | |||||
7 |
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7. KORKER (IRE) J: Clifford Lee T: K. R. Burke |
2 9-1 |
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| Showed plenty of ability first time up when runner-up at York and didn't need to match that form to go one better in workmanlike fashion at Carlisle (5f) next time. Remains with potential. | |||||
8 |
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8. LITTLE EARL (IRE) J: Ray Dawson T: Robert Cowell |
2 9-1 |
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| Bred to be sharp and quick and soon up to speed second time up when landing 5f Catterick maiden in May. Progressed again when second in Sandown listed race 3 weeks ago but more needed here. | |||||
9 |
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9. LUCCI (USA) J: John R. Velazquez T: Wesley A. Ward, USA |
2 9-1 |
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| Knew his job fitted with blinkers for debut when winning 4-runner maiden at Belmont (5f) with the minimum of fuss 39 days ago. 1 of 2 for yard that won this race in 2013 and 2018. Tongue tied. | |||||
10 |
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10. NAKATOMI (USA) J: Oisin Murphy T: Wesley A. Ward, USA |
2 9-1 |
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| Knew his job (blinkered) when coming clear for a cosy success in 11-runner maiden at Keeneland (4.5f) on debut 64 days ago. Like his stablemate Lucci, he seems sure to improve. Tongue tied. | |||||
11 |
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11. NAVELLO J: Nicola Currie T: George Boughey |
2 9-1 |
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| Has quickly made up into a useful 2-y-o, completing a hat-trick at Chester (5f) in May. Disappointed in pursuit of the 4-timer in Sandown listed event last time but may bounce back. | |||||
12 |
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12. PERFECT POWER (IRE) J: Paul Hanagan T: Richard Fahey |
2 9-1 |
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| Ardad colt who looks at least a useful 2-y-o in the making, still green but scoring with plenty in hand on second start at Hamilton (5f) last week. Open to more progress. | |||||
13 |
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13. PROJECT DANTE J: Graham Lee T: Bryan Smart |
2 9-1 |
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| Showcasing colt who showed a good attitude to get off to a winning start in 7-runner novice at York 36 days ago. That form has been franked and he's entitled to do better. | |||||
14 |
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14. SECOND WIND (IRE) J: Tom Marquand T: William Haggas |
2 9-1 |
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| Made a winning start in professional style at Yarmouth and then showed improved form to follow up under a penalty at Salisbury (5f) 19 days ago. In excellent hands and should go on improving. | |||||
15 |
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15. STRAITS OF MOYLE (IRE) J: Luke Morris T: Richard Fahey |
2 9-1 |
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| Cost 105,000 gns at breeze-ups. Half-brother to useful 2-y-o 5f/6f winner Royal Address, but was just too green to show anything worthwhile on debut at Beverley 19 days ago. Should do better in time. | |||||
16 |
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16. TWILIGHT JET (IRE) J: L. F. Roche T: M. D. O'Callaghan, Ireland |
2 9-1 |
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| Showed much improved form to get off the mark back at 5f in 8-runner novice at Tipperary 16 days ago, suited by strong pace and well on top finish. Makes each-way appeal. | |||||
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Betting Forecast : 5/1 5 LUCCI, 6/1 6 CADAMOSTO, 15/2 7.5 NAKATOMI, 10/1 10 INSTINCTIVE MOVE, 14/1 14 SECOND WIND, 16/1 16 ANDREAS VESALIUS, 16/1 16 PROJECT DANTE, 16/1 16 GO BEARS GO, 16/1 16 TWILIGHT JET, 18/1 18 NAVELLO, 20/1 20 PERFECT POWER, 25/1 25 KORKER, 33/1 33 LITTLE EARL, 33/1 33 KHUNAN, 66/1 66 KING OF SPEED, 80/1 80 STRAITS OF MOYLE |
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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 2021 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.
