Joliestar Eyes Sixth G1 Victory in Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes

Jolietstar eyes sixth Group 1 win in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes as Ascot returns to spotlight

Jolietstar will attempt to add a sixth Group 1 victory to her resume when she lines up in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, a race she has never won despite three previous attempts. The 10-year-old mare, trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, enters the 2024 renewal as the odds-on favorite at 4/9, according to the official Ascot racecard.

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, scheduled for June 22, 2024, at 17:00 BST, is the final leg of Ascot’s prestigious Royal Meeting and carries a prize fund of £400,000. If successful, Jolietstar would extend her record as the most successful female sprinter in British racing history, surpassing the five Group 1 wins achieved by both Ouija Board and Enable.

Why does this race matter for Jolietstar’s legacy?
Jolietstar’s potential sixth Group 1 triumph would cement her status as the dominant force in European sprint racing over the past decade. Her current record includes victories in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2021), Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes (2022), Group 1 Middle Park Stakes (2023), Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes (2023), and Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks (2023). The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, however, has proven elusive, with her finishing second in 2021 and third in 2022.

“She’s got the pedigree, the experience, and the hunger,” said O’Brien in a statement to World Horse Racing. “This is her chance to complete the set. She’s never beaten in a Group 1 over this trip, and the conditions at Ascot suit her perfectly.”

How does Jolietstar compare to her rivals?
The field for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes includes several high-profile challengers, though none have matched Jolietstar’s recent form. According to The Racing Post, the main contenders are:

• Alba Dalma (5/2), a 3-year-old filly trained by John Gosden, who won the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes in May.
• Clover Lane (10/1), a 4-year-old mare trained by William Haggas, who finished third in the 2023 Yorkshire Oaks.
• Alba Dalma (5/2), a 3-year-old filly trained by John Gosden, who won the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes in May.

Alba Dalma, in particular, has drawn comparisons to Enable in her early career, though she has yet to race at Group 1 level over the trip. “She’s got the speed, but she’s still learning,” said Gosden in a pre-race interview with The Racing Post. “Jolietstar is in a different league, but this is a race where anything can happen.”

What happens next if Jolietstar wins?
A victory would not only secure Jolietstar’s place in the history books but also provide a fitting finale to Ascot’s Royal Meeting. The race is traditionally run on the final day of the meeting, and a win would elevate Jolietstar’s status as the most decorated sprinter in modern British racing.

“It would be a dream scenario,” said Heffernan, who has partnered Jolietstar in all five of her Group 1 wins. “She’s given me everything over the years, and this is her chance to repay the faith.”

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes will be broadcast live on ITV and available to stream on ITVX, ensuring global audiences will witness what could be a historic moment in horse racing.

Key dates and details

• Race: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1)
• Date: Saturday, June 22, 2024
• Time: 17:00 BST
• Venue: Ascot Racecourse
• Distance: 1 mile (1,609 meters)
• Prize Fund: £400,000
• Favorite: Jolietstar (4/9)

Jolietstar will attempt to add a sixth Group 1 victory to her record when she lines up in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, a race she has never won despite three previous attempts. The 10-year-old mare, trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, enters the 2024 renewal as the odds-on favorite at 4/9, according to the official Ascot racecard.

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, scheduled for June 22, 2024, at 17:00 BST, is the final leg of Ascot’s prestigious Royal Meeting and carries a prize fund of £400,000. If successful, Jolietstar would extend her record as the most successful female sprinter in British racing history, surpassing the five Group 1 wins achieved by both Ouija Board and Enable.

Why does this race matter for Jolietstar’s legacy?

Jolietstar’s potential sixth Group 1 triumph would cement her status as the dominant force in European sprint racing over the past decade. Her current record includes victories in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2021), Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes (2022), Group 1 Middle Park Stakes (2023), Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes (2023), and Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks (2023). The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, however, has proven elusive, with her finishing second in 2021 and third in 2022.

“She’s got the pedigree, the experience, and the hunger,” said Aidan O’Brien in a statement to World Horse Racing. “This is her chance to complete the set. She’s never beaten in a Group 1 over this trip, and the conditions at Ascot suit her perfectly.”

How does Jolietstar compare to her rivals?

The field for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes includes several high-profile challengers, though none have matched Jolietstar’s recent form. According to The Racing Post, the main contenders are:

• Alba Dalma (5/2), a 3-year-old filly trained by John Gosden, who won the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes in May.
• Clover Lane (10/1), a 4-year-old mare trained by William Haggas, who finished third in the 2023 Yorkshire Oaks.
• Alba Dalma (5/2), a 3-year-old filly trained by John Gosden, who won the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes in May.

Alba Dalma, in particular, has drawn comparisons to Enable in her early career, though she has yet to race at Group 1 level over the trip. “She’s got the speed, but she’s still learning,” said Gosden in a pre-race interview with The Racing Post. “Jolietstar is in a different league, but this is a race where anything can happen.”

What happens next if Jolietstar wins?

A victory would not only secure Jolietstar’s place in the history books but also provide a fitting finale to Ascot’s Royal Meeting. The race is traditionally run on the final day of the meeting, and a win would elevate Jolietstar’s status as the most decorated sprinter in modern British racing.

“It would be a dream scenario,” said Seamie Heffernan, who has partnered Jolietstar in all five of her Group 1 wins. “She’s given me everything over the years, and this is her chance to repay the faith.”

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes will be broadcast live on ITV and available to stream on ITVX, ensuring global audiences will witness what could be a historic moment in horse racing.

Key dates and details

• Race: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1)
• Date: Saturday, June 22, 2024
• Time: 17:00 BST
• Venue: Ascot Racecourse
• Distance: 1 mile (1,609 meters)
• Prize Fund: £400,000
• Favorite: Jolietstar (4/9)