Laurel, trained by John and Thady Gosden, is gearing up to make her racing comeback in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot after a hiatus of over a year.
Despite being well-fancied, the five-year-old mare with limited racing experience was last seen disappointing in the 2023 Lockinge at Newbury. Notably, as a three-year-old, Laurel showcased her potential by finishing just shy of a length behind the winner in the Sun Chariot Stakes, only her third career start. The connections are eager to explore her capabilities given the opportunity.
Barry Mahon of Juddmonte, the owner of Laurel, stated, "Laurel is all set for Ascot, as confirmed in my recent conversation with John. Unfortunately, she missed out on a preparatory race, but the trainers believed there were no suitable options in recent weeks, so they opted to head straight to Ascot."
Mahon added, "Although Laurel has limited race experience, we have always believed in her high-class potential. It will indeed be a remarkable training achievement if she can return after such a long break and secure victory at Ascot, but the Gosdens have shown their ability to accomplish such feats in the past."