Animal Kingdom’s Ascot Diary: An Insider’s Perspective

In the fifth instalment of Animal Kingdom’s video Ascot Diaries, Arrowfield’s John Messara explains the appeal of a tilt at the Royal Ascot Queen Anne Stakes with a horse that has already made more than his fair share of history.

John says, “Call it a spirit of adventure, but if he was to win here then he’d have won a Group One on three different track surfaces and I think this would mark him out as something very, very special….He’s good enough to be here, and I think he should be here, and it’s as simple as that.”

Barry Irwin, representing breeder and part-owner Team Valor International, trainer Graham Motion, jockey John Velazquez and vet Louis Castro each add their unique perspectives on Animal Kingdom who bids next week to become the first Kentucky Derby winner to win an English Group One race since Reigh Count in 1929.

Watch these interviews in Part 5 of Animal Kingdom’s Ascot Diaries.