O'Brien confirms Norfolk bid for Charles Darwin at Royal Ascot

June 13, 2025

Aidan O’Brien has confirmed Charles Darwin’s target at Royal Ascot is the Norfolk Stakes on Thursday.

The star two-year-old was also entered in the Coventry Stakes but Ballydoyle have opted to sidestep a stiffer six-furlong test in favour of the Norfolk’s minimum trip at five.

The No Nay Never colt shaped as if he needed the run on debut at the Curragh in April when finishing fourth of seven before showing a massive improvement to win by five and a half lengths at Navan two weeks later.

That Navan race was won by Camille Pissarro in 2024 who has since tasted Group 1 success in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on Arc weekend and recently the €1.5 million Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

Charles Darwin confirmed the initial promise when easily landing the spoils in the Coolmore Stud The Antarctic Race at skimpy odds at Naas last month to put him on course for a shot at Royal Ascot glory.

That contest was won by O’Brien for the fourth year in a row with victors including River Tiber in 2023 who went on to win the Coventry.

Charles Darwin is a full-brother to Blackbeard, a two-time Group 1 winner in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket and Prix Morny at Deauville over his juvenile and only season.

O’Brien said in a Royal Ascot preview with At The Races: “The plan is for him to run in the Norfolk Stakes. He’s a big, hardy, strong, fast horse.

“We’ve been very happy with him since Naas and are comfortable with him at five furlongs.”

The top betting sites in Ireland price Charles Darwin as the 2/1 favourite for the Norfolk Stakes, last won by O’Brien in 2017 with Sioux Nation.

WATCH: Charles Darwin wins the Coolmore Stud The Antarctic Race at Naas

Ticket booked for Royal Ascot

Charles Darwin comes away late on to make it back-to-back wins and book his ticket for either the Norfolk Stakes or the Coventry Stakes.

Is he the real deal? @coolmorestud | @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/F6wlBFeeV9

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 18, 2025

According to Timeform, Charles Darwin is the highest-rated two-year-old in Britain and Ireland alongside stablemate Albert Einstein with ratings of 109p.

Albert Einstein was as short as 11/10 for the Coventry before being ruled out of Royal Ascot with a sprained joint.

Charles Darwin’s biggest danger in the Norfolk looks to be the Wathnan Racing-owned Naval Light, trained by Karl Burke, who caught the eye when finishing strongly on debut to come second at Beverley after missing the break.