Study Guide: 2026 Royal Lodge Stakes and Beresford Stakes

Sep 25, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

The 2024 Royal Lodge went to Wimbledon Hawkeye (Photo courtesy of Newmarket Racecourse/Kentucky Derby)

The 2026-27 European Road to the Kentucky Derby gets underway on Saturday with a pair of qualifiers on grass.

Up first is the Royal Lodge (G2), taking place over one mile at Newmarket in England. Then comes the Beresford (G2), a one-mile contest at the Curragh in Ireland.

Let’s meet the fields for both of these 2027 Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races:

Royal Lodge (G2)

Burning Up

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Exors of the Late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid
Breeder: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
Trainer: Karl Burke
Jockey: Clifford Lee

Total Earnings: $17,550

Sire: Too Darn Hot
Dam: Elasia
Color: Bay

Opened his career with back-to-back wins at Haydock Park and warrants respect while stepping up in class.

First Law

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Airlie Stud and Mrs. S. Rogers
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick

Total Earnings: $40,826

Sire: Too Darn Hot
Dam: Dane Street
Color: Bay

Looms as a logical win contender after bringing his record to 2-for-2 with a win in the Ascendant S.

Haffner

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: P. Brant, Coolmore, Westerberg, B. Smith
Breeder: D. J. Stables and Justify Syndicate
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore

Total Earnings: $196,498

Sire: Justify
Dam: Earth Strike
Color: Bay

Faltered to seventh place when last seen in the Vincent O’Brien National (G1), but previously won the Acomb (G3) and is the horse to beat if he rebounds.

Iwasjustsaying

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Crone Stud Farms
Breeder: Deerfield Farm
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Jack Mitchell

Total Earnings: $12,766

Sire: Ghaiyyath
Dam: Dibajj
Color: Bay

Seeks to improve off a runner-up finish in a minor race at Leicester.

Quest for Stars

Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Ind N Singforthemoment
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: Billy Loughnane

Total Earnings: $63,981

Sire: Sea The Stars
Dam: Singforthemoment
Color: Bay

Stonehenge S. winner should appreciate dropping in class after suffering his first defeat when third in the Golden Fleece (G1).

Quicken Away

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Mr. Saeed Suhail
Breeder: White Barch Farm Sc
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy

Total Earnings: $24,081

Sire: Frankel
Dam: Precieuse
Color: Bay

Exits a comfortable maiden win at Goodwood and could be capable of improving.

Rocket Boy

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Scuderia La Tesa
Breeder: Belmont and Glenville B/S
Trainer: Marco Botti
Jockey: Marco Ghiani

Total Earnings: $28,418

Sire: Soldier’s Call
Dam: Sharedah
Color: Brown

Finished close behind First Law in the Ascendant and Quest for Stars in the Stonehenge, but needs a step forward to turn the tables.

Beresford (G2)

City of Dubai

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Bond Thoroughbred
Breeder: John Connaughton
Trainer: Paddy Twomey
Jockey: W. J. Lee

Total Earnings: $27,996

Sire: Mehmas
Dam: Angels Story
Color: Bay

Churchill S. runner-up seeks to rebound from a non-threatening fifth-place finish in the Futurity (G2).

Drumbeat

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, M. Tabor, and D. Smith
Breeder: Barronstown Stud
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ronan Whelan

Total Earnings: $11,880

Sire: Wootton Bassett
Dam: Cloth of Cloud
Color: Bay

Steps up in class after dead-heating for the victory in a Gowran Park maiden race.

Noble Exhibit

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Westerberg
Breeder: Barronstown Stud
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Wayne Lordan

Total Earnings: $13,430

Sire: Frankel
Dam: Prize Exhibit
Color: Chestnut

Ranks as the horse to beat after smashing a Punchestown maiden race by seven lengths.

👀

Noble Exhibit (Frankel) ran behind the exciting Monogram on debut last time and wins as he likes second-time out under @waynemlordan for Aidan O'Brien @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/6B5PQEYX0z

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 15, 2026

Shakespeare

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Brant, Magnier, Tabor, Smith, and Westerberg
Breeder: Elb Bloodstock
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Colin Keane

Total Earnings: $23,231

Sire: Dubawi
Dam: Lady Bowthorpe
Color: Chestnut

Drops in class off a seventh-place finish in the Golden Fleece (G1) and must be respected.

Tommy Quick

Start(s): 1
Wins: 0
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Joseph Allen
Breeder: J. Allen
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: J. M. Sheridan

Total Earnings: $0

Sire: American Pharoah
Dam: Battle Flag
Color: Bay

Looks to improve off a seventh-place debut at the Curragh.

Venetian Power

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Power Thoroughbreds PTY
Breeder: Power Thoroughbreds Germany Gmbh
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: Declan McDonogh

Total Earnings: $18,698

Sire: St Mark’s Basilica
Dam: Power Zone
Color: Chestnut

Finished behind City of Dubai when fifth in the Churchill and may need a step forward to turn the tables.

European-based juveniles will have their first opportunities to score points toward the 2027 Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday, as the Royal Lodge (G2) at Newmarket and the Beresford (G2) at the Curragh usher in the Euro/Mideast Road.

Here's the breakdown👇https://t.co/o6vHqZzUfH

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) September 25, 2026