Galiyan, trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Oisin Murphy, is being tipped for success in the Group Two Queen’s Vase at Ascot. The one-mile-six-furlong race, scheduled for 3:05 pm, has historically been a strong indicator for future Classic contenders, including the St Leger. Balding and Murphy previously secured this prize in 2019 with Dashing Willoughby.
Galiyan’s last outing at Chester, over an extended mile-and-a-half, saw a marked improvement from his debut at Newmarket in April. Despite appearing to struggle in the final half-mile, the horse powered through to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths, impressing observers with his stamina and finish. This performance suggests he will benefit from the increased distance at Ascot, making him a strong contender despite his current odds of 5/2.
The Queen's Vase has a track record of producing top-tier horses. For example, Eldar Eldarov claimed this race in 2022 before going on to win the St Leger later that year. Similarly, Illinois nearly achieved the same double in 2024, narrowly missing out to stablemate Jan Brueghel at Doncaster. A victory for Galiyan would likely place him among the market leaders for the final Classic of the season.
However, Galiyan faces stiff competition, with Joseph O’Brien’s Limestone identified as a significant threat. Limestone recently secured a hat-trick at Navan in a one-mile-five-furlong Listed event, where he notably bested Johnny Murtagh’s Asakir, who is also re-opposing in this race. Limestone had previously held entries for the Derby, and given his connections, a potential trip to Melbourne for future races could be on the cards.
While other horses in the line-up possess their own claims, the momentum behind Galiyan, coupled with his impressive Chester display and the successful partnership of Balding and Murphy, positions him as a strong favourite to take home the prize at Ascot.