Another of the spectacular Group 1s on Royal Ascot’s opening day, the St James’s Palace Stakes of 2025 fulfils a familiar function. It establishes the pecking order among the three-year-old colts as winners of the English, French and Irish 2000 Guineas all meet on the Berkshire track.
Ruling Court and Field Of Gold are no strangers to each other going into the Royal meeting, however, after fighting out the finish of the Newmarket Classic this spring. Add Henri Matisse into the mix, and there’s even more spice. It isn’t just about the Guineas winners, however.
Joining Field Of Gold in the iconic Juddmonte silks is Andrew Balding’s Windlord. Coolmore have three entries, meanwhile, with Aidan O’Brien keeping First Wave and Officer in the field, alongside Henri Matisse.
From 11 left in the St James’s Palace Stakes of 2025 at the penultimate declarations stage, seven run. Godolphin rely on Ruling Court only with Opera Ballo and Shadow Of Light not taking up their engagements. Past Royal Ascot winner Rashabar is back at the scene of his greatest triumph for Brian Meehan and completes the field.
As races for untangling form lines go, this should prove definitive. All punters have to decide when wagering on horse racing betting sites is which Guineas in which country represents the best race or value prices.
Who better than our experts to help you sift through the Classics in search of answers? This is their guide to a stallion-making race with analysis on each of the magnificent seven bidding for glory.
St James’s Palace Stakes 2025 Runners Guide
1. Field Of Gold
- Sire: Kingman
- Dam: Princess De Lune
- Damsire: Shamardal
- Draw: Stall 5
- Jockey: Colin Keane
- Trainers: John & Thady Gosden
- Official Rating: 123
- Form Figures: 3114-121
- Notable Wins: 2024 Solario Stakes, 2025 Craven Stakes, 2025 Irish 2000 Guineas
Chased home Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas after landing the Craven so impressively on reappearance, both at Newmarket. Perhaps not given the best tactical ride, however, and changed jockeys to great effect with authoritative victory in Irish equivalent at the Curragh latest. Nothing to fear from re-opposing quartet Rashabar, Officer and Windlord on that evidence. The one to beat.
2. First Wave
- Sire: Wootton Bassett
- Dam: White Satin Dancer
- Damsire: Oasis Dream
- Draw: Stall 3
- Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- Official Rating: 94
- Form Figures: 22-231
- Notable Wins: None
Only won a Gowran Park mile maiden on his fifth career start latest. First-time tongue tie did the trick, but this is a whole other level of competition. Entry in the St James’s Palace Stakes of 2025 looks solely for pacemaker duties. Others preferred with good reason.
3. Henri Matisse
- Sire: Wootton Bassett
- Dam: Immortal Verse
- Damsire: Pivotal
- Draw: Stall 1
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- Official Rating: 116
- Form Figures: 111251-11
- Notable Wins: 2024 Railway Stakes, 2024 Futurity Stakes, 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, 2025 Irish 2000 Guineas Trial, 2025 French 2000 Guineas
Held up in winning two of three Grade / Group 1 races outside of Ireland. Didn’t like soft ground when fifth in France behind Rashabar and Field Of Gold, but landed all three starts since. Held Jonquil by a head in French Guineas latest. Third has won the French Derby since. Very much the Ballydoyle first choice here. A big player.
4. Officer
- Sire: Dubawi
- Dam: Hydrangea
- Damsire: Galileo
- Draw: Stall 7
- Jockey: Wayne Lordan
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- Official Rating: 108
- Form Figures: 1-317
- Notable Wins: 2025 Tetrarch Stakes
Listed success over a mile at the Curragh, but didn’t justify ante-post gamble in the Irish 2000 Guineas latest. Well-beaten by Field Of Gold and no obvious reason why he should reverse that form. Dam didn’t have any joy at Royal Ascot, so stable second string to Henri Matisse in the St James’s Palace Stakes of 2025.
5. Rashabar
- Sire: Holy Roman Emperor
- Dam: Amazonka
- Damsire: Camelot
- Draw: Stall 6
- Jockey: Sean Levey
- Trainer: Brian Meehan
- Official Rating: 113
- Form Figures: 32122-24
- Notable Wins: 2024 Coventry Stakes
A race to remember! RASHABAR dazzled with an outstanding performance in The Coventry Stakes. Congratulations to @loughnane_billy on his first #RoyalAscot winner, and to @brianmeehanltd. #FlatRacing pic.twitter.com/11WawzV9cl
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 18, 2024
Royal Ascot winner as a juvenile and three seconds in as many starts. In front of Field Of Gold and Henri Matisse on final outing last season in France when just a neck behind the subsequent French Derby winner. Chased home Jonquil in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on reappearance, but no match for the favourite when fourth in Irish 2000 Guineas latest. Something to prove now and may find one or more too good.
6. Ruling Court
- Sire: Justify
- Dam: Inchargeofme
- Damsire: High Chaparral
- Draw: Stall 2
- Jockey: William Buick
- Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- Official Rating: 121
- Form Figures: 13-11
- Notable Wins: 2025 2000 Guineas
Race-fit from Middle East win when landing the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket latest. He got first run on Field Of Gold that day, but the runner-up’s exploits since mean the form cannot be taken literally. Planned tilt at The Derby undone by late rain, so swerves Epsom and trying mile-and-a-half for this. Major player in the St James’s Palace Stakes of 2025.
7. Windlord
- Sire: Dubawi
- Dam: Goldika
- Damsire: Intello
- Draw: Stall 4
- Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- Trainer: Andrew Balding
- Official Rating: 105
- Form Figures: 4213-28
- Notable Wins: None
Second in Sandown Classic Trial over further on reappearance. Used as a pacemaker for Field Of Gold in the Irish 2000 Guineas latest. Could have a similar role to play for the favourite here. Makes little to no appeal with most to find on official figures.
St James’s Palace 2025 Shortlist & Verdict
While Field Of Gold is the right favourite, he’s odds-on and should at least be the price he is now on the day if not better. A value alternative is UK debutant HENRI MATISSE who won from off the pace in both America and France. He’s never run in the UK before, but his international exploits can’t be ignored.
Field Of Gold, meanwhile, has so little to find with Ruling Court, subsequently trained for The Derby without running in it, that he might turn the tables from Newmarket. Convenience of separating horses in the same ownership out from clashing with each other detracts from this as a spectacle.
