King Edward VII Stakes

The King Edward VII Stakes is a Group 2 mile and a half race at Royal Ascot confined to three-year-old colts and geldings.

Sometimes referred to as the Ascot Derby, it can sometimes attract horses defeated at Epsom or perhaps a late contender for the Irish Derby.

Notable past winners include Ile de Bourbon (1978), Shareef Dancer (1983), Cacoethes (1989), Pentire (1995), Nathaniel (2011) and Japan (2019).

Find out more about the King Edward VII Stakes:

King Edward VII Stakes

Race Overview – King Edward VII Stakes

The King Edward VII Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race for three-year-old colts and geldings 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.

King Edward VII Stakes 2023 Odds

Here are the latest odds for the King Edward VII Stakes in June 2023:

These odds have not yet been released.

Check out all of today’s betting odds for Ascot Races.

King Edward VII Stakes Tips

Here are some tips for King Edward VII Stakes in June 2023:

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

Some of the horses in the King Edward VII 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.

For all Ascot events, our best horse racing tipsters offer free racing tips!

For more tips on races at Ascot, take a look at our guide.

King Edward VII Stakes Previous Winners

Take a look at the previous winners from the King Edward VII Stakes:

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Time
1965ConvamoreJoe MercerRon Smyth2:43.00
1966PretendrePaul CookJack Jarvis2:39.50
1967MarinerGreville StarkeyJohn Oxley
1968ConnaughtSandy BarclayNoel Murless2:35.50
1969VervainEddie HidePeter Nelson2:33.90
1970Great WallBill WilliamsonScobie Breasley2:32.30
1971Sea FriendJoe MercerPaddy Prendergast2:40.40
1972Lord NelsonBill WilliamsonGeorge Todd2:34.40
1973KlairvimyR ParnellDermot Weld2:43.20
1974English PrincePat EdderyPeter Walwyn2:29.90
1975Sea AnchorJoe MercerDick Hern2:32.10
1976Marquis de SadeBrian TaylorRyan Price2:31.30
1977Classic ExamplePat EdderyPeter Walwyn2:39.70
1978Ile de BourbonJohn ReidFulke Johnson Houghton2:34.70
1979Ela-Mana-MouGreville StarkeyGuy Harwood2:31.68
1980Light CavalryJoe MercerHenry Cecil2:33.90
1981BustomiWillie CarsonDick Hern2:29.30
1982Open DayWillie CarsonDick Hern2:30.70
1983Shareef DancerWalter SwinburnMichael Stoute2:31.15
1984Head for HeightsWillie CarsonDick Hern2:31.91
1985LanfrancoSteve CauthenHenry Cecil2:28.70
1986BonhomieSteve CauthenHenry Cecil2:31.88
1987Love the GroomPat EdderyJohn Dunlop2:32.05
1988Sheriff's StarTony IvesLady Herries2:29.27
1989CacoethesPat EdderyGuy Harwood2:29.67
1990Private TenderSteve CauthenHenry Cecil2:31.94
1991Saddlers' HallLester PiggottMichael Stoute2:31.63
1992BeytonMichael KinaneRichard Hannon Sr.2:29.41
1993BeneficialMichael HillsGeoff Wragg2:33.88
1994FoyerMichael KinaneMichael Stoute2:31.06
1995PentireMichael HillsGeoff Wragg2:28.75
1996AmfortasBrett DoyleClive Brittain2:29.85
1997Kingfisher MillPat EdderyJulie Cecil2:38.36
1998Royal AnthemKieren FallonHenry Cecil2:34.53
1999MutafaweqFrankie DettoriSaeed bin Suroor2:29.48
2000Subtle PowerRichard QuinnHenry Cecil2:35.92
2001Storming HomeMichael HillsBarry Hills2:30.31
2002BalakheriJohnny MurtaghSir Michael Stoute2:30.45
2003High AccoladeMartin DwyerMarcus Tregoning2:28.45
2004Five DynastiesJamie SpencerAidan O'Brien2:32.26
2005Plea Bargain [a]Jimmy FortuneJohn Gosden2:29.44
2006Papal BullKieren FallonSir Michael Stoute2:28.02
2007BoscobelJoe FanningMark Johnston2:37.13
2008CampanologistFrankie DettoriSaeed bin Suroor2:31.24
2009Father TimeEddie AhernHenry Cecil2:27:37
2010MonterossoFrankie DettoriMark Johnston2:30.06
2011NathanielWilliam BuickJohn Gosden2:34.48
2012Thomas ChippendaleJohnny MurtaghSir Henry Cecil2:35.41
2013HillstarRyan MooreSir Michael Stoute2:30.09
2014Eagle TopWilliam BuickJohn Gosden2:27.98
2015BaliosJamie SpencerDavid Simcock2:29.05
2016Across the StarsFrankie DettoriMichael Stoute2:35.18
2017PermianWilliam BuickMark Johnston2:30.10
2018Old PersianWilliam BuickCharlie Appleby2:29.95
2019JapanRyan MooreAidan O'Brien2:29.16
2020PyledriverMartin DwyerWilliam Muir2:32.21
2021AlenquerTom MarquandWilliam Haggas2:41.31
2022ChangingoftheguardRyan MooreAidan O'Brien2:30.44
2023King of SteelKevin StottRoger Varian2:35.30

King Edward VII Stakes Previous Result

Check out the latest result on the Ascot Racing Track:

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Famous King Edward VII Stakes Winners

Ile de Bourbon won this race for Fulke Johnson Houghton in 1978. He returned to Ascot in July to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He later started favourite for the St Leger but could finish only sixth behind Julio Mariner. He stayed in training at four and won the Coronation Cup at Epsom.

There were numerous high class winners in the 1970’s and 1980’s including multiple Group 1 winner Ela-Mana-Mou (1979) and St Leger winner Light Cavalry (1980). 1983 winner Shareef Dancer carried the huge price tag of $3.3 million. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he missed Epsom but won this race before taking the Irish Derby at the Curragh.

Cacoethes (1989) won the Lingfield Derby Trial and then finished third to Nashwan at Epsom. He gained consolation in this race and gained his biggest career win in the Turf Classic at Belmont Park in 1990.

1995 winner Pentire was trained by Geoff Wragg and was only beaten once as a three-year-old. That was when second to Lammtarra in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He won the Irish Champion Stakes in 1995 and went one better in the King George the following season.

Nathaniel won this race in 2011 and also won the King George before taking the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in 2012. He had started his racing career by finishing second to none other than Frankel in a maiden race. He sired the dual Arc de Triomphe winner Enable in his first season at stud.

2019 winner Japan was hot favourite after finishing a close third in the Epsom Derby. He went on to win the Grand Prix de Paris and the International Stakes at York. He had to dig deep to beat Crystal Ocean in that race and, although finishing fourth in the Arc, he never quite recaptured his best form.

Key King Edward VII Stakes Trials

Although the Epsom Derby is clearly not a trial, it certainly has a big influence on the outcome here. Three of the last twelve winners ran at Epsom, although only Japan (2019) had been placed. This race is also on the agenda for horses who were perhaps considered too inexperienced to make the line-up for the Derby or had been beaten in their Epsom trials.

Future targets for King Edward VII Stakes winners include the Irish Derby, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Grand Prix de Paris. Nathaniel (2011) won the King George while Japan (2019) won the Grand de Paris. The Great Voltigeur Stakes at York, a key trial for the St Leger, has been won by two recent King Edward VII Stakes winners in Old Persian (2018) and Pyledriver (2020).

King Edward VII Stakes Betting Trends

There have only been three successful favourites in the King Edward VII Stakes in the last twelve seasons; Nathaniel (2011) at 11-4, Japan (2019) at 6-4 and Alenquer (2021) at 13-8. However, it is worth noting that all but three of those twelve winners were in the first three in the betting.

The biggest shock result during that time was 18-1 shot Pyledriver (2020) who won for William Muir and Martin Dwyer. Eagle Top was a 12-1 chance when scoring for John Gosden and William Buick in 2014.

Curiously, not one of the last twelve winners had even set foot on Ascot racecourse prior to winning this race. Five of them had run over the distance previously but only two had been successful. An official rating of 103 or higher is normally required to win this race. Only Thomas Chippendale (2012), Hillstar (2013) and Eagle Top (2014) fell below this mark on 96, 95 and 92 respectively. The highest rated winner in recent times was Derby third Japan who was rated 117 in 2019.

King Edward VII Stakes – Top Trainers and Jockeys

The leading trainer in the history of the King Edward VII Stakes is John Porter who saddled nine winners between 1867 and 1904. Sir Henry Cecil came within one of his total. His eight winners were Light Cavalry (1980), Lanfranco (1985), Bonhomie (1986), Private Tender (1990), Royal Anthem (1998), Subtle Power (2000), Father Time (2009) and Thomas Chippendale (2012). Sir Michael Stoute has won is seven times; Shareef Dancer (1983), Saddler’s Hall (1991), Foyer (1994), Papal Bull (2006), Hillstar (2013) and Across The Stars (2016).

Top jockey honours in this race rest with Morny Cannon who rode seven winners between 1891 and 1904. Pat Eddery rode the last of his five winners in the race aboard Kingfisher Mill for Julie Cecil in 1997. Frankie Dettori and William Buick have four winners apiece, all of Buick’s winners coming in an eight-year spell between 2011 and 2018.

Betting on the King Edward VII Stakes

The King Edward VII Stakes can be seen as something as a consolation race for beaten horses at Epsom but it is rarely that straight-forward. The Classic can leave its mark and you probably would not want to take too short a price about a horse beaten in the Derby. The form usually holds up pretty well for races like the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

Popular Questions

What distance is the King Edward VII Stakes?

The King Edward VII Stakes is 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards long.

Summary of King Edward VII Stakes

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The King Edward VII Stakes takes place on the same day as the following races listed below:

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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.