THE QUEEN is set to give Royal Ascot her official stamp of approval – by being there for the first time this week to watch her horse win.
Prince Charles and Camilla have been deputising for Her Majesty, 96, at the Berkshire track so far.
The Queen is set to attend Royal Ascot on the third day of the world-famous meeting – and she is being backed to land a big winner
Prince Charles and Camilla are set to be joined by The Queen on Thursday at Royal Ascot
On Wednesday TV cameras showed them leaving a space free where she would have sat in their carriage during the traditional royal procession.
And though she may not actually be in the landau again owing to her mobility issues, it looks like the stage is set for The Queen to finally honour the year’s poshest festival.
And it could be a winning return for Her Majesty, with her horse Reach For The Moon odds-on to win a race.
The horse, trained by father and son duo John and Thady Gosden, was among the favourites for the Epsom Derby earlier this month.
But, like his owner, the three-year-old colt missed the race – owing to injury – and has been primed for a big comeback.
Nearly 50,000 punters have piled into the racecourse on each of the first two days and it seems the majority are backing Reach For The Moon.
Already he is into 4-7 to win the Hampton Court Stakes at 5.35pm, which brings with it a cheque for £59,200 for the winner.
And bookies are fearing a bloodbath.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “We feared Her Majesty’s horses heading into the meeting and Reach For The Moon is her best chance of success. There’s every chance it’ll be the worst result of the week!”
But even if he doesn’t win, the Queen is set to be in the winner’s enclosure regardless.
Her Majesty presents the trophy to the winner of the Gold Cup – the big race of the day.
And everyone is getting behind huge fan favourite Stradivarius, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, to seal his spot in history.
The majestic seven-year-old will go for a fourth win in the big one.
Will Dettori land a big winner for Her Majesty on the third day of Royal Ascot?
Throw in the 2017 Queen’s Vase, and it would be five wins at the Royal meeting for the apple of Dettori’s eye.
And there is a strong feeling the Queen WILL be there to hand over the trophy to whoever wins.
Especially as it is the ONLY race of the week where the monarch presents the trophy to the winner.
Italian legend Dettori, 51, also gets the ride on Reach For The Moon.
The Queen’s Saga and Tactical also have decent squeaks in the Britannia and Buckingham Palace Stakes.
Yet it is Strad, the nation’s favourite racehorse — the closest thing to equine royalty — who is ready to take centre stage in his final season before being retired to stud.
EMOTIONAL DAY
Another win would take him level with Yeats, who won four straight Gold Cups from 2006, but he faces a tough challenge from new kid on the staying block Kyprios.
Aidan O’Brien’s runner is half Strad’s age at four — and won easily at Leopardstown last time but must prove he stays the marathon Gold Cup trip.
Trainer John Gosden knows Strad is in his racing dotage, but insisted: “I think he is still up to running a huge race at a track he loves and on ground which will suit him.
“At eight you have to face the fact it could be like a boxer getting back in the ring late in their career – but he seems up for it at the moment.”
And Royal Ascot racegoers will be up for it too, even more so if Her Majesty joins them.
Speaking of his desire to win for the Queen, Dettori said: “Today is the most important day of the meeting for me.
“Stradivarius runs for the final time and I’ve got two rides for the Queen.
‘ULTIMATE PRIDE’
“I will always remember winning the Ribblesdale on Phantom Gold for Her Majesty. That was a very special moment and it’s always a privilege to pull on her famous silks.
“The Gold Cup is the most prestigious race of the week — and the only one where you get to receive the trophy from Her Majesty.
“It’s the ultimate feeling of pride and one I’ve been lucky to experience eight times.
“As we all know, Her Majesty loves racing, it’s in her blood, and we’re very lucky to have her as our monarch.
“I hope that, come 4.30ish or just after, I will be bowing before the Queen again to receive the trophy. That’s the dream.”
As the legendary John ‘Big Mac’ McCririck would have said: “Come Racing, Ma’am!”
