Ascot racing season begins with Max Simmonds Stakes

The Ascot racing season begins this Saturday with a 10-race program, headlined by the $125,000 Listed Max Simmonds Stakes.

A key highlight of the event is the return of Aurum Belle, a highly rated three-year-old trained by Neville Parnham. Following a successful two-year-old campaign that included wins in the Listed Supremacy Stakes and the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes, she will compete in her first start as a three-year-old.

Aurum Belle faces significant competition, including the Group 2 Karrakatta winner Afireofgidgeecoals, trained by Daniel Morton. Due to the weight assignments, Aurum Belle carries 56kg, providing a 3kg advantage over Afireofgidgeecoals, who is set to carry 59kg. Other notable runners include Maria Lucia, trained by Sean and Jake Casey, and He’s a Machino.