King Charles and Queen Camilla are thought to now have made history by becoming the first reigning British monarchs to have a horse trained in Ireland.
The royal couple are believed to have partnered with legendary Irish trainer Willie Mullins, who will saddle their horse Reaching High at Leopardstown on Friday.
This groundbreaking arrangement would mark a significant moment in royal racing history, with Reaching High believed to be the first horse owned by a sitting monarch to be trained across the Irish Sea.
The partnership brings together racing royalty in Mullins, the reigning British and Irish champion jumps trainer, with actual royalty in the King and Queen, per The Irish Field.
The King and Queen have sent their horse to be trained in Ireland.
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The partnership began when Mullins was introduced to King Charles and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot last year.
What followed surprised the champion trainer, as he explained to The Irish Field: "The next thing we got a phone call asking if we would take a horse for them."
"I said I would be delighted and Reaching High arrived shortly afterwards," Mullins added.
The decision came after Sir Michael Stoute's retirement, prompting the royal couple to consider new training arrangements for their horse.
Legendary trainer Willie Mullins has been trusted to saddle Reaching High.
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John Warren, the royal bloodstock and racing adviser, described the new link-up as "a bit of fun" for the King and Queen.
Reaching High is a four-year-old gelding with an impressive pedigree, bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
He is the son of Estimate, the champion staying mare who gave the late Queen her most memorable moment when winning the Ascot Gold Cup in 2013.
His sire is the legendary Sea The Stars, one of racing's greatest champions who won six Group 1 races in 2009 including the Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Camilla spectated Reaching High at York Racecourse in August, 2024.
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Previously trained by the now-retired Sir Michael Stoute, Reaching High has raced eight times, securing his sole victory at Wolverhampton last August with a commanding seven-length win.
Reaching High will make his debut for Mullins in the Lady Riders Handicap at Leopardstown on Friday evening.
Champion Bumper-winning rider Jody Townend, sister of Mullins' stable jockey Paul, has been booked for the 1m4f contest.
The royal runner has been schooled over hurdles at Mullins' Closutton yard, though initial plans for a jumps debut didn't materialise.
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Horse breeding was a passion of the Charles' mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
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Mullins has identified the Ascot Stakes, a two-and-a-half-mile handicap on the opening day of the royal meeting, as the ideal target.
"His pedigree is all stamina, so those kind of races could suit him," Mullins said of Reaching High's potential.
The trainer had hoped to run him over jumps recently, but those plans didn't come to fruition.
Warren elaborated on the royal connection, telling the Nick Luck Podcast: "The Queen met William on a number of occasions at Cheltenham and thought he was charming and wonderful."
"The whole idea of sending a horse to Ireland is of great interest to the King, and the Queen really engaged very well with Willie and hopefully they can have a bit of fun on this little journey."
