Irish trainers achieved a record 8 wins at Royal Ascot last year, and a talented army of Irish raiders matched that feat in 2014. The prestigious meeting started as it would go on, with the Irish taking home two trophies on day one. Eddie Lynam’s SOLE POWER displayed his signature late blaze of speed in the Group 1 Kings Stand Stakes, to provide connections with a second consecutive win in the competitive sprint. New jockey Richard Hughes held his charge at the back of the field as is usual, but the ease of his challenge and the lack of pressure displayed by Hughes made this victory one of the speedster’s most impressive yet. Charles Byrnes’ DOMINATION confirmed himself as a talented dual-purpose performer when landing the Ascot Stakes Handicap later that day. Now a 9-time winner, over the flat, hurdles and chase fences, he showed an impressive turn of foot to take him from the back of the field to record a 2 ½ length win under Fran Berry.

Day two once again started with an Irish-trained winner, with MUSTAJEEB taking the Group 3 Jersey Stakes for dynamic duo Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen. The race provided owner/breeder Hamdan Al Maktoum with a 1-2 from a competitive field of 23, with Group 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile second Giovanni Baldini back in third. Pat Smullen won the following race to give himself and trainer Eddie Lynam their second wins at the meeting, as ANTHEM ALEXANDER (IRE) powered home to land the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes ahead of Tiggy Wiggy (IRE) and fellow Irish raider Newsletter (IRE). The daughter of Starspangledbanner was unsold as a yearling, and was kept to race by owner/breeder Noel O’Callaghan of Mountarmstrong Stud, who also bred her half-brother Dandy Man (IRE). The winner and runner-up would go on to battle twice more in 2014, with the placings reversed the next two times, but with ANTHEM ALEXANDER (IRE) the bigger of the two, she may improve more next year to give Champion Two Year Old Filly Tiggy Wiggy (IRE) a run for her money as three year olds.
The Ascot Gold Cup was the feature race of day three, and once again it was Team Ireland who landed the spoils. A thrilling battle to the line between LEADING LIGHT (IRE), Estimate (IRE) and Miss United (IRE) would always end with an Irish-bred success, but it was Aidan O’Brien’s LEADING LIGHT (IRE) who got his nose in front. He will stand at Coolmore Stud in 2015 following injury at the same course later in the year, and Mick Winter’s brave mare Miss United (IRE) will also retire to stud after her win at Glorious Goodwood. O’Brien and the Coolmore team landed a double later in the day as BRACELET (IRE) took the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes. The Montjeu (IRE) filly of course went on to win the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh, beating stabelemate Tapestry (IRE) back in second who would go on to beat Taghrooda when winning the Darley Yorkshire Oaks.
Friday was the only day of the meeting without an Irish-trained winner, but Irish breeders and stallions enjoyed a successful day when RIZEENA (IRE) won the feature event, the Group 1 Coronation Stakes. Trained by Clive Brittain for Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, she was bred by Roundhill Stud in Ireland and by Kildangan Stud’s Iffraaj. Second in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes and Group 1 Matron Stakes in the following few months, RIZEENA (IRE) confirmed her class throughout 2014.

Saturday, the final day, crowned a fabulous week for Irish trainers, and Eddie Lynam in particular, as he saddled his third winner from four runners at the meeting. SLADE POWER (IRE) was sent off favourite in the feature Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, and the promise he had shown in previous Group runs came to fruition as he powered home. It was a proud moment for connections, with Lynam and Sabena Power owning and breeding the Champion Sprinter, along with the dam. Irish raiders weren’t done yet though, with the final race of the meeting, the Queen Alexandra Stakes being won by Willie Mullins’ PIQUE SOUS, with El Salvador (IRE) taking second for Aidan O’Brien. Owned by The Supreme Horse Racing Club, PIQUE SOUS (IRE) bought for just €12,500 at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.