KING Charles is ‘likely’ to ask Queen Consort Camilla to lead the famous Royal racing operation – a role which could ‘reduce over time’.
Speculation about just what form the late Queen’s beloved racing stable will take in the coming months and years remains rife.
Camilla’s rumoured new role could ‘reduce over time’ as the Royal racing operation begins to wind down slightly under Charles
Charles, who paid tribute to her in his first Christmas Day speech, has so far proved a lucky owner.
He has landed five winners from his first 25 runners on the Flat since inheriting the late Queen’s runners.
Over jumps he has proved a success too, winning £13,000 on Boxing Day thanks to Steal A March’s victory at Wincanton.
And he made more than £1million when selling 14 of her horses at the sales.
But there are fears the National Stud at Sandringham could resemble a ‘museum’ in a few years.
It looks nigh on certain Charles will not be the huge supporter of racing his mother was.
And that is why, according to the Racing Post, he is ‘likely’ to ask Camilla to lead the show.
She was pictured at Ascot’s Champions Day last October – four months after she joined her husband at Royal Ascot.
Camilla has a love of horses and ITV Racing presenter Oli Bell – who was labelled ‘a lunatic’ by Queen Elizabeth II – said the Royal operation would be in ‘very safe hands’ under her.
He told the Post: “For all that the landscape will be different moving forward, I think it’s in very safe hands.
“I know first hand how much Camilla loves horses and also how much her passion for racing has grown in recent years.
“There is clearly an indelible link between the royal family and horse racing.
“I was relieved to hear her enthusiasm, passion and appetite for it.”
The late Queen was famed for always checking in on her horses – and her knowledge of pedigrees and bloodlines was said to be second to none.
It now looks more than possible that those duties will be handed down to Camilla, rather than Charles leading the way.
She will be in charge of 40 broodmares at the Royal Stud, 23 yearlings and a similar number of foals.
And she will be the face of the Royal link, most likely attending big meets to see top Royal runners such as Perfect Alibi.
That three-year-old filly bagged Charles a £28,000 payday in October when winning a Listed race at Yarmouth.
However, some fans wanted to see Charles hand Zara Tindall – the King’s niece and a former Eventing world champion and 2012 Olympics silver medallist – the racing job.
