Warrant Holder just fails to give the King and Queen victory
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Fri 19 Jun 2026
The King and Queen were out of luck at Royal Ascot in 2026 as their final runner of the week, Warrant Holder, had to settle for a gallant second in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes on Friday.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the four-year-old was part of a famous treble for the royal colours when a winner at York last month, the centrepiece of a three-timer that also included wins for exciting stablemates Portcullis and Point Of Law, the latter finishing fourth in the Queen’s Vase earlier this week.
Warrant Holder was sent off 16-5 second-favourite for the mile-and-a-half handicap and when William Buick sent his mount on two furlongs from home the noise began to erupt from the grandstands in anticipation of a first royal victory of the week.
However, up his inside came Opportunity in the hands of crack New Zealand pilot James McDonald and Buick was powerless aboard the runner-up as William Haggas’ runner crept the best part of two lengths clear at the finish.
John Gosden said of Warrant Holder: “That was a super run and I’m really thrilled with him.
“He did everything right and as you know being drawn 17 you do lose ground – you’re wide and then you’re three wide around Swinley Bottom, but he came with a lovely run.
“Unfortunately for us, the horse drawn one, saving every inch, wriggled through and not only were we giving him 5lb, but he’s gone a lot shorter route.
“Full marks to the winner, I know they fancied him a lot, and it was a long way back to the third. But I couldn’t be more pleased with our horse, he’s been brilliant.”
Warrant Holder’s fine run to finish second means the King and Queen are still to add to the King George V Stakes win of Desert Hero in the King’s coronation year of 2023.
Incidentally, Desert Hero was trained by Haggas, who after denying the King and Queen this time said: “Everyone here wants their majesties to have a winner and we’re sorry to ruin it, but we’re delighted to have a winner ourselves.”
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