King Charles hopes a horse he inherited from the late Queen will give him a historic victory just hours after he is crowned.
Six hours after the service at Westminster Abbey on May 6, the aptly named "Slipofthepen" will bid to win one of most prestigious races in Britain.
The three year old is unbeaten, having won his only two starts to date – the first as a two year old at Kempton Park in November and then again on April 10th this year back at the same Surrey track.
Insiders say Charles will be tuning in to the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, dubbed the home of horseracing.
The King has been known to carry his own fountain pen when signing visitors books on royal engagements after several incidents with leaky pens.
The race is one of UK Flat racing’s five classics and a race the monarch’s mother, the late Queen, won in 1958 with the aptly named Pall Mall.
On both occasions the colt, who was bred by the late Queen and is trained by the father and son partnership of John and Thady Gosden in Newmarket, had started odds-on favourite.
Slipofthepen yesterday (THURS) had a racecourse gallop at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse, where next Saturday’s 2000 Guineas will take place at 4.40pm.
Mr Gosden said: “He worked well and we’ll obviously make our decision over the next few days.”
Jockey James Doyle has ridden Slipofthepen for both of his victories and was on board for today’s racecourse gallop, but legendary rider Frankie Dettori – who retires later this year – is also retained by the Gosdens.
Slipofthepen is currently 20-1 to win the 2000 Guineas, the first Classic race to take place in Britain in 2023.
Coronation Day forms the highlight of the three day QIPCO Guineas Festival, from May 5th-7th, with the racecourse opening early to show ceremonial events in full.
There will also be local community and environment-themed celebrations taking place at the racecourse, to tie in with causes which are close to the Royal Family.
Asked who might ride the King’s horse on the day, Mr Gosden added: “It depends.
“Frankie at the moment obviously has Chaldean, the Dewhurst winner, so we’ll just have to see.
“Depending on what else runs, James may well be available. There are decisions to be made.”
Earlier this month, John Warren – racing manager to The King and Queen Consort – said the monarch will watch the race on TV after the Coronation.
Speaking after the April 10 victory at Kempton Park, Warren said: “As far as the owners are concerned they won’t be able to think of anything else but the Coronation, but they would never prevent the horse participating if we recommended that is where he ought to go.
“It would be an added bonus and they would watch after the event.
“The King has had very good osmosis in tuning in to the bloodstock side of The Queen’s life.
“He has always said when he had the responsibility of taking the bloodstock portfolio he would take it seriously and he has, wonderfully supported by the Queen Consort at the same time.
“It is a wonderful thing for racing they have both taken such an interest.”
* Tickets and more information are available at thejockeyclub.co.uk/newmarket/
