William Buick Is On Notable Speech and Royal Ascot's Opening Day Is About to EXPLODE

Yo, Seattle, listen up! You think our Mariners bring the drama? You gotta see what's about to go down across the pond. This Royal Ascot meet, kicking off Tuesday, June 16, is an event unlike any other. The King of England is there, folks dressing up like it's a themed party, but don't get it twisted. This isn't just fancy hats, this is pure, unadulterated, world-class racing. We're talking 35 races over five days, a massive $13.5 million in prize money, and five of the top eight horses on the planet are ready to throw down, led by the reigning Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe champ, Daryz. Get ready for a kickoff that'll make a Lumen Field crowd sound quiet!

Day One Delivers a Stablemate Showdown

Hold up, because Day One isn't messing around. Tuesday's Queen Anne Stakes at 9:30 a.m. ET is like a sibling rivalry on steroids. You've got two of the world's elite, Notable Speech, who's tied for fifth globally, and his stablemate, Opera Ballo, tied for eighth, going head-to-head right out of the gate. Both are trained by Charles Appleby, so this is an internal clash! Notable Speech, our reigning Breeders' Cup Mile winner, just bounced back from an early-year loss at Keeneland to snag the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes. But don't sleep on Opera Ballo, who's riding a three-race winning streak and has taken seven of nine career starts! Seriously, his Timeform rating is a 132 to Notable Speech's 130. The kicker? Jockey William Buick, who usually rides both these beasts, is hopping on Notable Speech. The bookies are calling Notable Speech the 2-1 favorite, with Opera Ballo a close 7-2 second choice in the nine-horse field. This isn't just a race, it's a statement!

The Prince of Wales's Stakes: An Emerald City Level Clash

If Day One is the appetizer, Day Two is the main course that'll have you screaming louder than a Mariners walk-off at T-Mobile Park. The Prince of Wales's Stakes on Wednesday is being called *the* race of the year in Europe, and for good reason. You've got Daryz, ranked tied for second in the world and the reigning Arc de Triomphe champion, going up against defending champion Ombudsman, who's tied for fifth globally, and Almaqam, tied for 11th. Oh, and don't forget Minnie Hauk, a three-time Group 1 winner who finished second to Daryz in last year's Arc. But here's the real talk: Daryz, trained by Francis Henri Graffard, has only lost twice in nine career starts. One of those times? He shipped to the United Kingdom for the Juddmonte International Stakes and finished dead last, sixth of six, in a race Ombudsman dominated by 3½ lengths. That was a world-class field, too! Daryz has since snagged two more Group 1 wins in France, and Ombudsman has won two of his three starts this year, both this year. This isn't just a race, it's a potential redemption story or a double down on a nightmare for Daryz! So what are we looking at? Five days of non-stop action, wrapping up on Saturday. Thirty-five races, eight Group 1s, and $13.5 million up for grabs. Some of the most electric turf battles you'll ever see are about to go down. Forget your regular Tuesday; Royal Ascot is about to put on a show that feels like a championship fight every single day. Who's gonna shine? Who's gonna choke? We're about to find out, and you know we'll be here talking about every single stride!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.