Pallasator set to lead challenge in Longines Sagaro Stakes at Ascot

The £60,000 Group Three encounter is one of the most important trial races for the Gold Cup on the third day of Royal Ascot, and as such is always an eagerly-anticipated encounter with this year’s renewal being no different.

The Sagaro Stakes is open to horses aged four years or older, and is run over a distance of two miles at Ascot either in late April or earl May.

The event was formerly known as the Paradise Stakes, and was originally held at Hurst Park, but was renamed the Sagaro Stakes in 1978 after the great Sagaro, the winner of Ascot’s Gold Cup in each of the preceding three seasons.

Having been given Group 3 status in 1983 and first run as a Group race in 1984 several winners of the Sagaro Stakes have won the Gold Cup in the same season, the most recent being Estimate four years ago.

Last year saw a thrilling conclusion to the race as Mizzou held on to claim victory for the second year running. Sadly there will be no opportunity for a straight hat-trick of wins as Mizzou is not in the reckoning this time around, but an eight-strong field has been declared with the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Pallasator likely to head the way.

However Battersea, trained by Roger Varian and with James Doyle on board, and the Hughie Morrison-trained Nearly Caught, set to be ridden by William Buick, will provide stiff competition in what promises to be an exciting contest.

The Longines Sagaro Stakes is set to go off at 3.10pm GMT on Wednesday and is the feature race on a six race card at Ascot, which also features the Paradise Stake as the penultimate race of the day.