Hardwicke Stakes

The Hardwicke Stakes is a Group 2 race over a mile and a half on the final day of Royal Ascot.

Sir Michael Stoute has trained a remarkable eleven winners of the Hardwicke Stakes.

Harbinger was a very impressive winner in 2010 and he saddled Her Majesty The Queen’s Dartmouth to win in 2016. His most recent victory came with Crystal Ocean in 2018.

Other famous winners of the Hardwicke Stakes include St Paddy (1961), Park Top (1969), Rheingold (1973) and Stanerra (1983).

Find out more about the Hardwicke Stakes:

Hardwicke Stakes

Race Overview

The Hardwicke Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race for horses aged four and higher held in the United Kingdom. It takes place at Ascot in June over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards.

Check out our guides to all the other Group 2 horse races.

Hardwicke Stakes 2023 Odds

Here are the latest odds for the Hardwicke Stakes in June 2023:

These odds have not yet been released.

Here is the full list of betting odds at Royal Ascot Races today.

Hardwicke Stakes Tips

Here are some tips for Hardwicke Stakes in June 2023:

  • 2 points to win for TBC
  • 1 point each way for TBC

Some of the horses in the Hardwicke Stakes will run in other events later in the year. Stay updated on the horses and place ante-post bets if you want to wager on them.

Check out our guide for additional tips on races at Ascot Racecourse.

Our top racing analysts provide free racing predictions for all Ascot racing events!

Hardwicke Stakes Previous Winners

Check out the previous winners below:

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time
1923Chosroes3G SmithAtty Persse
1924Chosroes4George ArchibaldAtty Persse
1925Hurstwood4Vic SmythAlec Taylor Jr.
1926Lancegaye3Steve DonoghueAlec Taylor Jr.
1927Coronach4Joe ChildsFred Darling
1928Foliation5Bobby JonesJoseph Lawson
1929Posterity3Leslie CordellFrederick Sneyd
1930Alcester4Joe ChildsWilliam Jarvis
1931Orpen3Bobby JonesJoseph Lawson
1932Goyescas4Steve DonoghueBasil Jarvis
1933Limelight4Joe ChildsWilliam Jarvis
1934Cotoneaster4George NicollFred Templeman
1935J R Smith3Gordon RichardsCecil Boyd-Rochfort
1936Corrida4Charlie ElliottJohn Evelyn Watts
1937Mid-day Sun3Michael BearyFrank Butters
1938Maranta4Tommy WestonJoseph Lawson
1939Pointis3Doug SmithFrank Butters
1940-45no race
1946Priam4Charlie ElliottCharles Semblat
1947Nirgal4Charlie ElliottCharles Semblat
1948Sayajirao4Charlie SmirkeSam Armstrong
1949Helioscope3Joe SimeCecil Boyd-Rochfort
1950Peter Flower4Bill RickabyJack Jarvis
1951Saturn4Doug SmithGeorge Colling
1952Dynamiter4Charlie ElliottCharles Semblat
1953Guersant4P BlancGeoffroy Watson
1954Aureole5Eph SmithCecil Boyd-Rochfort
1955Elopement4Lester PiggottNoel Murless
1956Hugh Lupus4Rae JohnstoneNoel Murless
1957Fric5Jean DeforgeJoseph Lawson
1958Brioche4Edgar BrittCharles Elsey2:28.60
1959Impatient4Jimmy LindleyTowser Gosden2:31.10
1960Aggressor5Jimmy LindleyTowser Gosden2:29.90
1961St Paddy4Lester PiggottNoel Murless
1962Aurelius4Scobie BreasleyNoel Murless
1963Miralgo4Bill WilliamsonHarry Wragg
1964no race, course waterlogged[a]
1965Soderini4Geoff LewisStaff Ingham2:59.70
1966Prominer4Des LakePaddy Prendergast2:37.50
1967Salvo4Ron HutchinsonHarry Wragg
1968Hopeful Venture4Sandy BarclayNoel Murless2:35.00
1969Park Top5Geoff LewisBernard van Cutsem2:59.00
1970Karabas5Lester PiggottBernard van Cutsem2:30.60
1971Ortis4Duncan KeithPeter Walwyn2:48.20
1972Selhurst4Geoff LewisNoel Murless2:32.60
1973Rheingold4Yves Saint-MartinBarry Hills2:36.80
1974Relay Race4Lester PiggottHenry Cecil2:31.00
1975Charlie Bubbles4Pat EdderyPeter Walwyn2:29.90
1976Orange Bay4Pat EdderyPeter Walwyn2:30.00
1977Meneval4Lester PiggottVincent O'Brien2:37.20
1978Montcontour4Yves Saint-MartinMaurice Zilber2:33.30
1979Obraztsovy4Brian TaylorRyan Price2:32.30
1980Scorpio4Philippe PaquetFrançois Boutin2:32.20
1981Pelerin4Brian TaylorHarry Wragg2:28.40
1982Critique4Lester PiggottHenry Cecil2:29.90
1983Stanerra5Brian RouseFrank Dunne2:27.00
1984Khairpour5Steve CauthenFulke Johnson Houghton2:30.79
1985Jupiter Island6Lester PiggottClive Brittain2:45.40
1986Dihistan4Pat EdderyMichael Stoute2:29.32
1987Orban4Steve CauthenHenry Cecil2:43.03
1988Almaarad5Willie CarsonJohn Dunlop2:30.30
1989Assatis4Pat EdderyGuy Harwood2:29.04
1990Assatis5Ray CochraneGuy Harwood2:32.53
1991Rock Hopper [b]4Pat EdderyMichael Stoute2:30.20
1992Rock Hopper5Pat EdderyMichael Stoute2:29.19
1993Jeune4Ray CochraneGeoff Wragg2:39.43
1994Bobzao5John ReidTerry Mills2:27.36
1995Beauchamp Hero5John ReidJohn Dunlop2:29.22
1996Oscar Schindler4Michael KinaneKevin Prendergast2:27.84
1997Predappio4Gary StevensSaeed bin Suroor2:32.14
1998Posidonas6Pat EdderyPaul Cole2:34.79
1999Fruits of Love4Olivier PeslierMark Johnston2:28.70
2000Fruits of Love5Olivier PeslierMark Johnston2:31.10
2001Sandmason4Willie RyanHenry Cecil2:29.59
2002Zindabad6Kevin DarleyMark Johnston2:31.18
2003Indian Creek5Richard QuinnDavid Elsworth2:27.24
2004Doyen4Frankie DettoriSaeed bin Suroor2:26.53
2005Bandari [c]6Willie SuppleMark Johnston2:26.28
2006Maraahel5Richard HillsMichael Stoute2:29.25
2007Maraahel6Richard HillsMichael Stoute2:35.47
2008Macarthur4Johnny MurtaghAidan O'Brien2:31.29
2009Bronze Cannon4Jimmy FortuneJohn Gosden2:27.59
2010Harbinger4Ryan MooreMichael Stoute2:27.36
2011Await the Dawn4Ryan MooreAidan O'Brien2:38.40
2012Sea Moon4Ryan MooreMichael Stoute2:29.60
2013Thomas Chippendale4Johnny MurtaghLady Cecil2:30.65
2014Telescope4Ryan MooreMichael Stoute2:27.45
2015Snow Sky4Pat SmullenMichael Stoute2:31.51
2016Dartmouth4Olivier PeslierMichael Stoute2:32.06
2017Idaho4Seamie HeffernanAidan O'Brien2:28.94
2018Crystal Ocean4Ryan MooreMichael Stoute2:28.08
2019Defoe5Andrea AtzeniRoger Varian2:31.09
2020Fanny Logan4Frankie DettoriJohn Gosden2:34.49
2021Wonderful Tonight4William BuickDavid Menusier2:35.31
2022Broome6Ryan MooreAidan O'Brien2:30.07
2023Pyledriver6P. J. McDonaldWilliam Muir & Chris Grassick2:29.60

Hardwicke Stakes Previous Result

Check out this result from the Ascot Racecourse:

More results from Royal Ascot Racecourse can be found here.

Famous Hardwicke Stakes Winners

The Hardwicke Stakes was first run in 1879 and quickly became established as a key trial for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Her Majesty The Queen’s Aureole became the first horse to win both races in the same season in 1954. Aureole was the sire of 1960 Derby and St Leger winner St Paddy who would also win the Hardwicke Stakes in 1961.

Park Top was another top class Hardwicke Stakes winner in 1969. She went on to win the King George and finished runner-up to 52-1 outsider Levmoss in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Rheingold (1973) had been beaten a short-head by Roberto in the Epsom Derby the previous season and went on to win the Arc.

Tristan (1882 – 1884) is the only horse to win the race three times. There have been several two-time winners include Assatis (1989-1990), Rock Hopper (1991-1992), Fruits Of Love (1999-2000) and Maraahel (2007-2008).

Harbinger (2010) had always promised to be a top class performer and he followed up by defeating Derby winner and stable companion Workforce in the King George. He beat the track record set by Grundy in 1975 when storming 11 lengths clear. Unfortunately he suffered a career-ending injury when being trained for the International Stakes at York.

Stoute continued his dominance of the race with the likes of Sea Moon (2012) and Telescope (2014). Aidan O’Brien’s Idaho won in 2017, placed in the Derby the previous season and beaten at odds-on in the St Leger at Doncaster where he stumbled and unseated his rider. Stoute’s record eleventh Hardwicke Stakes victory came courtesy of Crystal Ocean in 2018. He next ran in the King George where he lost out narrowly to stable companion Poet’s Word.

Key Hardwicke Stakes Trials

Significant prep races for the Hardwicke include the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown in April and the Aston Park Stakes at Newbury in May. The Ormonde Stakes and Huxley Stakes at the Chester May meeting are also useful guides for your Hardwicke Stakes tips.

The Hardwicke Stakes is a recognised trial for the Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Harbinger in 2010 was the only horse to win both races in recent seasons, although several have been placed. Telescope (2014) and Crystal Ocean (2018) were both runner-up while Maraahel (2007), Dartmouth (2016) and Idaho (2017) all finished third.

Hardwicke Stakes Betting Trends

Four-year-olds have the best record in this race, winning thirteen out of fourteen renewals from 2008 to 2021. Posidonas (1996), Bandari (2005) and Maraahel (2007) did win the race at the age of six but only Defoe, successful as a five-year-old in 2019, has interrupted the run of winning four-year-olds.

Favourites have a good record in this race and shock results are rare. Six of the last twelve renewals were won by the market leader including the odds-on Harbinger (2010), Await The Dawn (2011) and Crystal Ocean (2018). Four of the twelve came from outside of the first three in the Hardwicke Stakes odds; Thomas Chippendale (2013) returned at 8-1, Snow Sky (2015) was a 12-1 chance and Dartmouth (2016) won at 10-1. The most recent was John Gosden’s Fanny Logan at 17-2 in 2020.

The last twelve Hardwicke Stakes winners all had at least one previous victory at Group race level. Many had won or been placed in their previous race, often within two months of Royal Ascot. Previous winning form at a mile and a half is another key factor. Only two of the last twelve winners had yet to win at a mile and a half.

An official rating of 114 or higher is usually required to win this race. Only Thomas Chippendale (111) fell below this mark in the last twelve years. The highest rated winner was Crystal Ocean (2018) on 122, 1lb higher than Sea Moon (2012) and 2lbs higher than Harbinger (2010) and Await The Dawn (2011).

Hardwicke Stakes – Top Trainers and Jockeys

Sir Michael Stoute recorded the first of his eleven Hardwicke Stakes wins with Dihistan in 1986. He also trained dual winners Rock Hopper (1991 and 1992) and Maraahel (2006 and 2007). His other winners were Harbinger (2010), Sea Moon (2012), Telescope (2014), Snow Sky (2015), Dartmouth (2016) and Crystal Ocean (2018).

Irish-trained runners to enjoy success here include the brilliant mare Stanerra (1983), trained by Frank Dunne. Oscar Schindler won for Kevin Prendergast in 1996 while Aidan O’Brien won the Hardwicke for the first time in 2008 with Macarthur. He has since been successful with Await The Dawn (2011) and Idaho (2017).

The leading jockeys in the history of the Hardwicke Stakes are Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery with seven winners apiece. Piggott’s first winner was Elopement in 1955 while his last was thirty years’ later aboard Jupiter Island. Ryan Moore won the race for three successive seasons from 2010 to 2012 and added a fourth in 2014 on Telescope. He took his tally to five when riding Crystal Ocean in 2018.

Betting on the Hardwicke Stakes

The Hardwicke Stakes often provides an excellent guide to the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes as well as other top middle-distance races. The record of Sir Michael Stoute speaks for itself and anything he saddles here is clearly worth a second look. Always a top quality contest and one of the highlights of Royal Ascot.

Summary of Hardwicke Stakes

Thank you for reading our Hardwicke Stakes guide. We hope you enjoyed it.

Popular Questions

What distance is the Hardwicke Stakes?

The Hardwicke Stakes is 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards long.

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James Dooley is a UK entrepreneur who founded British Racecourses because of his love for horse racing. James owns 14 racehorses through Dooley Thoroughbreds, so he understands all aspects of horse racing, from wagering bets, and booking jockeys to sourcing the best horse racing trainers. James Dooley's connections give him inside information on horse racing tips and best chances of a winner.