The other Group 2 on the Wednesday Royal Ascot card is the one-mile Duke of Cambridge Stakes (GII), the name changed from the Windsor Forest Stakes in honor of Prince William, the current Duke of Cambridge. For fillies and mares, four years old and up, a field of 16 is expected to break from the starting gate.
Godolphin and trainer John Gosden send out the favorite in Princess Elizabeth Stakes (GIII) winner Laugh Aloud. The chestnut daughter of Dubawi does make a solid step up in class in this event, but has found a decent place to become a Group 2 winner under jockey James Doyle. She’s never been off the board in five tries at this distance.
Godolphin SNC’s Usherette won this race last year and is back again for trainer Andre Fabre and regular jockey Mickael Barzelona. The Irish-bred daughter of Shamardal hasn’t won in three starts since, but is back to a course she likes and a distance she likes. She’s a closer who likely will get pace to run at, so a repeat win to have her photo taken with the Royal family isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
The Duke of Cambridge Stakes is the day’s third with a post time of 10:40 a.m. ET.
