King Charles was visibly moved to tears at Royal Ascot after Desert Hero, a horse inherited from his late mother Queen Elizabeth II, won the King George V Stakes. The three-year-old colt, trained by William Haggas and ridden by Tom Marquand, triumphed at odds of 18-1, earning £51,540 in prize money.
The victory was particularly poignant as it marked the first Royal Ascot since the Queen's death in September 2022. It also came exactly a decade after her horse Estimate won the Ascot Gold Cup. Zara Tindall, the Queen's granddaughter, described the win as bittersweet, saying the late monarch would have been immensely proud.
Desert Hero was bred by Queen Elizabeth II, who had a lifelong passion for racing. King Charles has sought to continue her legacy, attending the Berkshire meeting regularly with Queen Camilla. The horse later won the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, bringing total prize money to over £110,000, before finishing third in the St Leger. He was gelded in February 2024 but failed to replicate his earlier form and was retired at age five.
