Royal Ascot is a Flat meeting that attracts the leading thoroughbreds from around the world. Some of the best South African-bred horses have featured in the past, while Australia and the United States also regularly have representation.

Here is a look at the leading overseas runner which will be featured at the meeting in 2023.

Aussie Star Filly Looking To Land King’s Stand Stakes

Australian sprinters have an excellent record in the King’s Stand Stakes, the feature race on day one of Royal Ascot. They have another leading contender this year, as star filly Coolangatta travels across for the contest. She is 3/1 in the Paddy Power horse racing betting to give Australia success at this meeting.

Coolangatta, the winner of the Black Caviar Lightning earlier this year at Flemington, will be joined in the sprint race by fellow Australian raider Cannonball. Peter and Paul Snowden’s colt is 8/1 in the Royal Ascot betting odds for the Group One showdown. All eyes will be on the Aussie duo in what is one of the most exciting races of the week.

Wesley Ward Has Two King’s Stand Stakes Entries

American Wesley Ward is one of the most successful overseas trainers in Royal Ascot history. He will be hoping he can add to his tally in the King’s Stand Stakes this year. Two horses from his stable take part, with Twilight Gleaming and Love Reigns set to represent him.

Breeders’ Cup winner Twilight Gleaming has won six of her nine assignments on turf. She was second in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2021. The four-year-old filly has been victorious in Europe before, as she won a Listed race at Deauville in France two seasons ago.

Love Reigns prevailed at Keeneland on her opening start of 2023 in what was a preparation run for Royal Ascot. The three-year-old filly finished fourth in the Queen Mary Stakes in 2022 as the Liverpool Echo reported. She has much more experience now, so Ward will be expecting another big run from his sprinter.

Spendarella Looking To Go One Better Than In 2022

Graham Motion knows all about major success in the United States. He is a winner of the Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup Turf and Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Turf. The American trainer will be hoping Spendarella can give him a first Royal Ascot winner this year in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes. 

On her first appearance outside of the United States, she finished second in the 2022 Coronation Stakes. The four-year-old filly has finished no worse than second place in seven appearances in her career so far, the majority of which have come at the highest level. 

The experience she learned last year should stand her in good stead as she bids to give the USA success in 2023. She is set to tackle one of the leading fillies in Europe in Inspiral, the horse which finished ahead of her in the Group One contest in 2022 at the royal meeting.

Royal Ascot 2023 is set to feature 28 races, with the opening contest coming on June 20 with the Queen Anne Stakes.