Dubai World Cup night winners Animal Kingdom, Shea Shea and Soft Falling Rain headed a stellar international entry for Royal Ascot on Wednesday.
Horses from 12 countries were entered across the seven Group 1 races for the five-day royal meeting that will be staged this year from June 18.
In all there were 367 entries to the Group 1 races, which is the highest figure for the past five seasons.
"We are delighted with the number of entries, the range of countries that they represent and the overall quality," said Nick Smith, Head of Communications and International Racing at Ascot.
Animal Kingdom, the Dubai World Cup winner, is already safely ensconced in the British countryside ahead of his tilt at the Queen Anne Stakes over a mile on the opening day of the meeting.
Graham Motion, the colt's trainer, has also entered him in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes over two furlongs farther as a precaution.
Shea Shea, who was a scintillating winner of the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Racecourse last month, could run in the King's Stand Stakes over five furlongs in a bid to hand Mike De Kock a maiden victory in front of Queen Elizabeth. De Kock has also entered Soft Falling Rain, the impressive Godolphin Mile victor, into the Diamond Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs in which Shea Shea could also run.
Krypton Factor and Cirrus Des Aigles, winners of the Dubai Golden Shaheen and Dubai Sheema Classic in 2012, also have entries respectively to the Diamond Jubilee and Prince Of Wales's Stakes.
"It's particularly good to see Mike De Kock planning to have runners for South Africa after another tremendous Dubai Carnival," Smith said.
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