King and Queen 'working on' finding an elusive first Royal Epsom Derby winner

King Charles has given a clear hint he is committed to horse racing in the long term by revealing, ‘We’re working on’ trying to unearth a horse capable of winning the Epsom Derby in the royal colours.

The King was widely believed not to share his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s passion for the sport when he inherited the royal racehorse string on her death in 2022.

But though there was some culling of the number of horses in training, the ones he and the Queen have kept have delivered 27 Flat wins, including Royal Ascot winner Desert Hero who became their first Classic runner in the 2023 St Leger, which have earned over £760,000.

Charles and Camilla visited the centre of the racing industry on Tuesday when they spent time at the Jockey Club Rooms and toured the nearby National Stud in Newmarket.

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The couple went on a meet and greet with the public after more than a 1,000 people flocked to the Suffolk town's centre and the King, who is receiving ongoing cancer treatment.

Thoroughbreds owned by the late Queen won four out of the five flat racing classics - the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, the Oaks twice and the St Leger - with only the Derby eluding her.

She came closest to winning the historic race just four days after her coronation when she attended her first Derby as reigning monarch to see Aureole, bred by the Queen’s late father, King George VI, finished second.

Her last runner Carlton House went off a hotly fancied 5-2 favourite for the famous Classic but the colt finished third after losing a shoe during the race.

As he toured the Jockey Club Rooms, a retreat for members and the public, he chatted to his racing manager John Warren, Jockey Club staff and members, and some of the chairs of racecourses run by the club, which include Newmarket, Epsom, Aintree and Cheltenham.

Brian Finch, chairman of Epsom Downs Racecourse, home to the world-famous Derby, said after speaking to the King: "We were talking about him getting a Derby runner and he said 'we're working on it'.

"Everybody is hoping the royal family will have a Derby winner soon."