Royal Ambitions: Opulence Targets Glory at Royal Ascot 2026 - Cornelius Lysaght
Royal Ambitions: Opulence Targets Glory at Ascot 2026
When Opulence owners become Opulence owners, what are their ultimate dreams?
Well, obviously it would be absolutely lovely to get the chance to reach the winners’ enclosure with any horse that has become something of a pride and joy during the regular exclusive visits to see him/her at their trainer’s yard.
Doing that at any racecourse would be great, but naturally if it were to be on a marquee day at say York’s Ebor meeting, Newmarket, Newbury, Goodwood or Chester, that would be even better.
Please note that all of the above have hosted Opulence’s winning celebrations, and all agree that they won’t forget the joyous experience in a hurry.
However better still, of course, is Ascot in June – Royal Ascot – in front of the King and Queen, and amongst the top hats and tails, the colourful outfits and the centuries of heritage, all of it with the eyes of global flat racing watching.
Once again in 2026 Opulence plans to be well-represented at the Royal racecourse, with horses that are definitely not ‘social runners’ (though a fun day out is assured, as ever) as they bring compelling credentials.
The Jack Channon-trained Sukanya is being aimed at the Group One Coronation Stakes or at the Sandringham Fillies Handicap on Friday, and, on Saturday, the Wokingham Handicap is the target Clive Cox has for Addison Grey.
Sukanya arrives with perhaps more flags flying than some may suppose: having tasted victory in Newbury’s Group Three Dubai Duty Free Stakes – the Fred Darling – she ended up as an also-ran in the Irish 1000 Guineas, but one for which there is every reason to be optimistic of better.
At The Curragh, the filly in the neighbouring stall delivered Sukanya quite a bump at the start, something that seemed to rather unsettle her, and from thereon she was over-racing, and understandably ran out of juice through the closing stages.
Jack’s been pleased with her since Ireland, and she remains very firmly in the top division of British-trained fillies of the Classic generation.
As for Addison Grey, apart from not actually getting his head in front this year, the four-year-old has done nothing wrong in his three races.
He found just one too good in fiercely competitive races at Newbury and at Newmarket’s Guineas Festival – when the winner was Double Rush, a horse that looks as progressive as any sprinter (and he’s due to run at Ascot) – and then, back at Newbury, things didn’t quite work out when he finished a close fifth.
His rating is a good, competitive weight level, and the bookies have him as a major player for the Wokingham, one of the great handicaps and therefore betting races of the whole summer – let’s just hope he gets in and runs okay.
Whatever happens at Ascot, it is not just Team Cox and Team Channon, but an encouragingly large number of pundits who have Addison Grey & Sukanya on their radars as one for a prestigious prize in the months ahead.
Meanwhile, Opulence’s two-year-olds seem to be shaping up very nicely, and I’ve been tipped off that there may be more news imminently about the ever-expanding breeding operation which is rightly getting so many owners and investors excited.
Whether you are going to Ascot or not, the very best of luck to all for a good and profitable week.