The Golden Gates Stakes is a handicap run over 1m2f. It takes place at 17:35 on Saturday 21st June, which is the fifth day of Royal Ascot 2025. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

6⁽⁶⁾

4113-1

El Burhan

J: Jim Crowley

T: George Boughey

9-4

107

Two comfortable novice wins last term; third of 16 in nursery at Glorious Goodwood (7f, good to firm) last August and he inched his way to the front in a bunched finish at Chester (7.6f, good; tongue tied) last month when next seen; up 2lb but he's bred to relish 1m2f+.

5⁽¹⁶⁾

412-2

Seraph Gabriel

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

9-4

112

Won at Lingfield (7f, good to firm) last July; terrific battling performance when short-headed at Redcar (7f, soft) in October and he again took second when failing to get run of the race in Esher Cup at Sandown (1m, good) on seasonal/handicap debut; up 4lb but it looks as if he'll stay and is capable of better for sure.

1⁽³⁾

65-648

Rock Of Cashel

J: Sean Levey

T: A P O'Brien

9-9

100

108

Won maiden at Galway last July but played minor supporting roles in Group 1s later as 2yo and it's been the same this term in Group 3s and a Listed race; blinkered in the latter 16 days ago over 1m4f, having appeared at 7f and 1m2f earlier this season; made the running last two starts; makes handicap debut but it's still hard to be confident that he's got what it takes.

9⁽⁴⁾

242-12

Dakota Blue

J: Ben Coen

T: J P Murtagh

9-3

107

Debut second was on good to firm; showed plenty as 2yo, though it took him until reappearance in April before he won a maiden at Navan; returned there (again 1m2f on good) five weeks ago when going mighty close from well off the pace in a seven-runner handicap, travelling smoothly and battling, so he is probably set for better still.

16⁽¹⁵⁾

64-13

Glen To Glen

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

8-13

107

On the up this March with his win in a maiden at the Curragh (6f, soft) and front-running third of 16 in a warm handicap at Leopardstown (1m2f, good; unraced on firmer); has since changed hands and left Jim Bolger; should have more to offer but this certainly demands another advance.

7⁽¹⁹⁾

513-5

Basalt

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

9-3

106

Four races, the last two of them Listed, and he's progressing well; 25-1 when fifth of eight at Goodwood (1m3f, good; unraced on firmer) on reappearance, plugging on to finish 1.5l behind the third-placed Tycoon; needs further improvement in cheekpieces first time.

3⁽²⁾

3-13

Tycoon

J: David Egan

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-6

107

Lots of promise on first two starts, including making all at 4-9 in a maiden at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm); 14-1 for Listed race at Goodwood (1m3f, good) four weeks ago and others saw the race out much more strongly but taking third of eight still suggests he could be a very useful prospect; in that race he split yesterday's King Edward VII winner Amiloc and last Opportunity; sold for £600,000 on Monday; cheekpieces go on.

4⁽⁵⁾

343-21

Best Secret

J: James Doyle

T: S Wattel

9-4

108

Five races in France, progressing well; latest was handicap debut at Longchamp (1m2f) in April in which he passed 14 of his 15 rivals in the last two and a half furlongs to win by 3l; the ground was officially good to soft but times suggested much firmer; promising recruit to the Wathnan team.

10⁽¹⁴⁾

3-1463

Quai De Bethune

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

9-2

109

Came up well short in two valuable conditions stakes races on AW (having won a maiden) but the London Gold Cup at Newbury (1m2f, good to firm) five weeks ago was a step forward, rather outpaced by the winner 2f out but keeping on well to go down by under 2l; up 2lb but more to offer.

NR⁽¹⁷⁾

42-21

The King's Falcon

T: William Haggas

8-13

110

Marked improvement through his four starts, off the mark in a novice at Carlisle (1m1f, good to soft) on latest; beaten a neck at Epsom (good; unraced on firmer) the time before by Thursday's runner Jackknife; this handicap debut demands plenty more but he's heading the right way.

NR⁽¹⁰⁾

1-51

Sallaal

T: Roger Varian

9-6

109

Bred in the purple; disappointing in a 1m1f Newmarket Listed event on reappearance but won his two novice races either side; 1-3 when doing so at Hamilton (1m, good to firm) seven weeks ago, given a reminder to stretch 3l clear but the next two home have both won since; unseated his rider twice on his way to post that day; 1m2f will suit for this handicap debut and there's no doubt he remains capable of better.

12⁽¹⁾

010

Roosevelt

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-1

106

950,000gns yearling by Frankel; won narrowly when dictating a steady pace in maiden at Leopardstown (1m4f, good) on second start; it's rather alarming that he finished last of ten in the other two, but latest was handicap debut over just 7f, which was probably too short, and he now has his tongue tied.

8⁽⁹⁾

1-41

Aurel

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Ralph Beckett

9-3

107

Last of four in a 1m2f Listed race at Newmarket (good) in May on his only start in a hood; won by a nose either side of that in a maiden and novice, latterly when going clear before holding on from Thursday's King George V Handicap seventh Boatswain; still looks raw and a work in progress, so brings potential to this handicap debut.

14⁽¹¹⁾

5731

War Socks

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Niels Petersen

9-0

107

Hooded all starts; ran three times at Meydan early this year, upped from 6f to 1m when greatly improved to take third in their 2,000 Guineas on third occasion; won the Swedish Guineas Trial (also 1m on good) one month ago with no fuss and this son of Kameko shapes as if he will stay 1m2f; from an unusual source to be a Royal Ascot winner but he's not one to dismiss lightly.

13⁽¹²⁾

09611

Fantazy Man

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: J P Murtagh

9-1

111

Has won on good, unraced on firmer; fitted with cheekpieces for last two starts and found plenty for pressure to win them both comfortably, latterly on handicap debut at Fairyhouse (1m2f, yielding); sold for £250,000 on Monday; surging up the weights but one to take seriously.

11⁽¹⁸⁾

3134

Ernst Blofeld

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-1

109

Late foal who made debut in April; won at Kempton (AW) next time and creditable minor honours in Listed race at Newmarket and London Gold Cup at Newbury, all over 1m2f and the latter on good to firm; joined Wathnan Racing since; retains potential, still something to learn and cheekpieces go on.

17⁽⁷⁾

42-241

Brindavan

J: Colin Keane

T: S Woods

8-13

106

More exposed than many of these after ten races; the latest was a C&D handicap (good to firm) six weeks ago and he raised his game to win it in tidy style from off the pace, but with only six runners and he's 6lb higher in this much tougher contest; sold for £250,000 on Monday.

RACING POST TIP

Seraph Gabriel

High draws have firmly had the call in previous editions and SERAPH GABRIEL from stall 16 is a strong candidate this time round, bringing a battling spirit and plenty of potential on his step up from 1m. He's far from the only promising runner, of course, among these mostly lightly raced 3yos and it's the hat-trick seeking Irish challenger Fantazy Man who is second on the list. El Burhan is greatly feared if he can find a way through from his lower stall, while Sallaal and Aurel may prove best of the handicap newcomers.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2024	Hand Of God [17]	3	9-0	9/4F	Harry Charlton	William Buick
2023	Burdett Road [9]	3	8-13	20/1	Michael Bell	Neil Callan
2022	Missed The Cut [13]	3	9-3	5/2F	George Boughey	James McDonald
2021	Foxes Tales [13]	3	8-11	13/2	Andrew Balding	Oisin Murphy
2020	Highland Chief [16]	3	9-7	20/1	Paul & Oliver Cole	Rossa Ryan

Key race stats 2025

Key trends

Double-figure draw, 4/5
Won previous start, 3/5
Carried 9st 3lb or less, 4/5
Making handicap debut, 3/5
Sent off favourite, 2/5

Other factors

All five winners of this race have been trained in Britain.

What happened in the Golden Gates Stakes last year?

HAND OF GOD continued his progressive profile with victory in the fifth running of this handicap. Harry Charlton’s classy son of Churchill arrived on the back of a neck success in the Esher Cup at Sandown and was sent off the 9-4 favourite. William Buick was in the saddle for the first time and the pair made good headway in the straight before asserting in the final furlong to score by a length and three quarters. He was the second successful market leader in the race.

Golden Gates Stakes Handicap

17:35 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2025

What happened in the Golden Gates Stakes last year?

All Races