Whatever happened to Ladies race on KG day ?

I know, it’s a shame.
Before Lydia Pearce, Stoute often had one readied for Maxine Juster and before that Elaine Mellor used to farm it.

Franca Vittadini too

used to be a cracking race just before the 6 fur group3 if i recall, yes stoute usually had the fav ,

Thirty years ago Princess Anne won the race for the diamonds on Ten No Trumps, trained by Stoute, who in most other years seemed to have a leading contender ridden by Maxine Cowdrey (nee Juster). The 1995 race was a particularly strong one with Stoute and Cowdrey combining to score with Desert Shot, while the next five horses home were partnered by Amanda Harwood (now Perrett), Lydia Pearce, Maureen Haggas, Sara Cumani and Jane Chapple-Hyam, while Eve Johnson Houghton was back in ninth.

A Cand P of a lee mottershead article

Jul 24, 2026 -- 9:55PM, Shalimah wrote:

Thirty years ago Princess Anne won the race for the diamonds on Ten No Trumps, trained by Stoute, who in most other years seemed to have a leading contender ridden by Maxine Cowdrey (nee Juster). The 1995 race was a particularly strong one with Stoute and Cowdrey combining to score with Desert Shot, while the next five horses home were partnered by Amanda Harwood (now Perrett), Lydia Pearce, Maureen Haggas, Sara Cumani and Jane Chapple-Hyam, while Eve Johnson Houghton was back in ninth.

wow, some names there

At a guess, the sponsors walked away and could not be replaced.

Tbh I'm glad to see the back of it. I dislike gimmick races like this, or the greys race, or flat races for jumps jockeys like the one at York today. It is just a trainers' egg-and-spoon race away from a primary school sports day.

is that the one where the winning jock got her weight in champagne ?

FOYLESWAR

When De Beers sponsored it, the winning lady was awarded with a diamond necklace.

Did Maxine Cowdrey /Juster  have a third name at one time Cavalharo  or something close to that? She was a few lbs better than many of her rivals

Jul 25, 2026 -- 6:38AM, FOYLESWAR wrote:

is that the one where the winning jock got her weight in champagne ?

thats the one at York

Foyles

That’s the ladies race at York on timeform charity day .

Sorry Morpteh

Can’t remember what year it was but the ladies race at Ascot changed for the worse when it went from the round course to the straight course .

I was there for the great Montjeu obviously, another fine summer I seem to recall. Not only did I get to see the imperious Montjeu stroll in, I backed MJK to win the big 7F handicap. He came past us on the bridle, can anyone recall which horse? I think it might have ended a stakes horse and was owned by KA. Did the KG use to have Diamond in the title, or am I dreaming that?

Tillerman

That's it jim, what a day! That was an amazing ride too, from what I can recall he sat there on the nearside rail with a double handful, out the back. And we were watching from inside the 2f.

The crowd were amazing for Montjeu, pretty much nobody had backed him but felt like everyone was in awe, audible gasp as he ranged up cantering, and applauding him over the line.

Tillerman had a good record at Ascot cider he was 4 th in the cork and orrery 5th hunt cup 2nd Queen Anne when that was a group 2 race even at the age of 8 he finished 5th in the group one Queen Anne his best performance was 3rd behind falbrav in the qe11,Montjeu went on to meet his match when put in his place by the magnificent Sinndar.

Montjeu was well gone by then, alas. I've always hypothesised that running on the road in Japan took the edge off him. He was still extremely good but stopped finding off the bridle after Japan in my view. When he caught ECP after finding serious trouble in running, he found loads for pressure, for example. Just one of those things that can never be proven, but for me running on firm in the Japan Cup was a big mistake.

A very fair point cider I’ve always felt Sinndar was one of the most underrated horses in my time so like to put a word in for him when the opportunity arises.

Let’s hope we see a fabulous race today.

Funny how a ladies race from bygone years leads to montjeu,Sinndar and Japan cups.

Incidentally the ladies race that day was already been run on the straight course can you believe an imposter Alan berry trained the winner

Oh yes I really like Sinndar as well, a pity that they never met at their peaks. When Kalanisi saw him off in the Champion I knew the 'old' Montjeu would have taken him easily. But as you know, racehorses rarely sustain their peaks for 2 seasons or longer. For whatever reason, he'd had enough by then, but it demonstrates his ability that he was still winning group 1s on the bridle!

I was trying to recall the neckless race from that day, and it has completely passed me by. Presumably I didn't get the winner in that one!

Cheated, 28 runners, Peter's Imp beat Tornado Prince ridden by Emma Ramsden. Only a 0-85 though.

....If I may butt into your interesting chat...I'll add that Kalanisi was the one horse in my lifetime of racing , that had a profound visual impact on me around the paddock.
He would parade around the ring , dark coat shining in the Sunshine, and with a leisurely, and definitely arrogant way about him....occassionally eyeballing one of the spectators with disdain.
If anyone hasn't seen an image of him,  take a peek.....gorgeous looker.............cheers

Regarding the champion stakes that was a trip to the well once to often like Nijinsky