The opening race of the Royal Ascot meeting is the St James’s Palace Stakes.
It is a Group 1 race for three year old colts run over a mile at Ascot Racecourse in early June.
The race has a prestigous roll of honour including relatively recent winners Brigadier Gerard, Kris, Giant’s Causeway, Rock of Gibraltar and Frankel.
We will have a look at the winners over the last decade in an attempt to identify any trends or patterns.
The ten St James Palace Stakes winners from 2003-2013 were:
| YEAR | STALL | FORM | HORSE | LTO | OR | TRAINER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2012 | 15 | 213 | Most Improved (Ire) | 16 | 115 | BJ Meehan | K Fallon | 9/1 |
| 2011 | 5 | 1111-11 | Frankel (CD) | 45 | 130 | HRA Cecil | TP Queally | 30/100 F |
| 2010 | 4 | 113-231 | Canford Cliffs (Ire) (CD) | 24 | 122 | R Hannon | R Hughes | 11/4 JF |
| 2009 | 3 | 4-51 | Mastercraftsman (Ire) (D) | 24 | 120 | AP O’Brien | J Murtagh | 5/6 F |
| 2008 | 4 | 3-11 | Henrythenavigator (USA) (CD) | 24 | – | AP O’Brien | J Murtagh | 4/7 F |
| 2007 | 8 | 31-4 | Excellent Art | 36 | – | AP OBrien | JP Spencer | 8/1 |
| 2006 | 10 | 3-41 | Araafa (Ire) (D) | 23 | 116 | J Noseda | A Munro | 2/1 F |
| 2005 | 2 | 911 | Shamardal (USA) | 9 | 123 | S bin Suroor | K McEvoy | 7/4 F |
| 2004 | 11 | 1-32 | Azamour (Ire) (D) | 23 | – | JM Oxx | MJ Kinane | 9/4 |
| 2003 | 7 | 220 | Zafeen (Fr) | 23 | 117 | MR Channon | D Holland | 8/1 |
