Katie Midwinter 18/06/24
WEDNESDAY
2:30pm – Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2)
Purchased for £190,000 as a breeze-up, Leovanni displayed plenty of speed on debut at Nottingham recently, despite showing greenness. She should come on plenty for the outing, and looks an exciting prospect for a Karl Burke yard that is performing at a 26 percent strike-rate with their juveniles this term.
In an open contest, the daughter of Kodi Bear makes plenty of appeal, but will have to repel the threat of market leader Make Haste (Blue Point), and Ballydoyle’s Truly Enchanting (No Nay Never).
Selection: Leovanni 7/1
3:05pm – Queen’s Vase (Group 2)
Won by the likes of three-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Stradivarius, and St Leger winners Kew Gardens and Eldar Eldarov, respectively, in recent renewals, it’s time for a new staying prospect to emerge in this year’s Queen’s Vase.
Galileo colt Highbury, purchased for €650,000 as a yearling, he is out of a sprinting mare in High Celebrity, whose sire Invincible Spirit also excelled over the minimum trips, however, as a broodmare she has produced a strong mile-and-a-half performer in Mille Fois Merci, a full sister to Highbury.
The colt has shown promising staying credentials in comfortably winning his maiden over a mile-and-a-half at Leopardstown, and appears to have inherited plenty of stamina from his sire. The step up in trip could suit again, and he possesses plenty of class, capable of successfully stepping up in grade.
An interesting contender in the field is Illinois, by Galileo out of a Danehill mare, Danedrop. He was sent off as joint-favourite for the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud on his second start in October, but was in the wrong position on track when mounting his challenge, and was beaten a length by stablemate Los Angeles, who had the benefit of the ‘golden highway’ and has since won a Group Three and finished third in the Derby.
Illinois was Ballydoyle’s apparent first string in that race, suggesting they thought plenty of the colt during his juvenile campaign. Although he is yet to truly make his mark, it’s feasible that he is yet to run in suitable race conditions, considering he has been running over shorter trips, often on softer ground.
This 1m6f contest on a sound surface could perfectly suit a colt that clearly has some class, and should possess plenty of stamina being by Galileo.
Unbeaten Free Eagle gelding Birdman is a formidable rival to the favourite, bidding for a third successive victory. He has proven form over 1m5f at Listed level, which bodes well for his chances now further upped in trip.
Selection: Illinois 9/4
3:45pm – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2)
Defending champion Rogue Millennium landed the prize at last year’s meeting, before being sold for 1,650,000gns in December. Now trained by Joseph O’Brien, she was desperately unlucky to be beaten on debut for her new connections, failing to find a clear run before it was too late in a Curragh Group Two last month. She can bounce back and must be respected as a leading contender in this field, considering her proven form at the track and her preference for sounder conditions.
Royal Dress is another contender coming into the race on the back of a luckless run. She was denied a clear run in the closing stages of the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom recently, finishing in third and appearing as though she had plenty of energy left.
Although her Listed win at Goodwood was on a softer surface, she has plenty of speed to be competitive on quicker ground. She has placed on good to firm ground over shorter in the past, therefore the likely dry conditions are unlikely to pose a problem. There could be plenty of improvement left to come from this progressive filly, who looks ready to make the step up into Group Two company.
Selection(s): Rogue Millennium 7/2 & Royal Dress 12/1 (each-way)
4:25pm – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1)
With the absence of White Birch, Auguste Rodin heads the market, attempting to return to winning ways following a disappointing effort at Meydan and a second-placed finish in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. The return to drier ground will certainly help the Derby winner, who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita last year.
If at his best he is clear of the field on ratings and has class in abundance, capable of winning in style, however, he has become unpredictable and at times he is difficult to back with strong confidence.
The same can be said for closest market rival Inspiral, whose fillies’ allowance puts her on par with the favourite on ratings, at the weights. She was set to contest the Queen Anne Stakes, but has been rerouted, and will need to put her Lockinge Stakes effort behind her. She should be more prepared for this outing, but has to prove herself now against more reliable opponents.
Former winner Lord North will be suited by the trip and conditions, and could be capable of putting in a bold bid at a big price. Now an eight-year-old, the likeable veteran still possesses a high level of ability, but may be vulnerable to a young improver.
Horizon Dore is the shortest-priced of four French raiders in the field, but he is unproven on such a quick surface, and his best form is on softer ground. Blue Rose Cen is another for whom the ground could prove problematic, but if she is able to cope with conditions, she holds strong each-way claims.
Selection: Auguste Rodin 7/4
THURSDAY
2:30pm – Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)
A brother to Windsor Castle Stakes and Group One winner Little Big Bear, Whistlejacket, a 500,000gns yearling purchase, has made a promising start to his racing career. He finished second on debut, on ground described as soft to heavy, before landing a maiden success in the Listed First Flier Stakes at the Curragh.
A sounder surface could allow him to show his best, and he is fancied to emulate his sire by winning this Group Two contest.
Selection: Whistlejacket 5/4
3:05pm – King George V Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
Aidan O’Brien-trained colt Autumn Winter makes some appeal on a mark of 86, considering he is unexposed in handicap company and over a trip further than a mile. All three of his starts have come on heavy ground, which may not suit. His dam, Quidura, was most effective on a quicker surface, as is his half-brother, Jeff Koons.
The significant step up to 1m4f should also be better suited looking at his profile, and he represents plenty of value at the prices.
Selection: Autumn Winter 20/1 (each-way)
4:25pm – Gold Cup (Group 1)
It is one of the most prestigious Flat races in the world and has been won by a number of superstars, most notably Stradivarius and Yeats during this century.
There are plenty to make a case for in this year’s renewal of the Gold Cup at Ascot but former winner Kyprios is the standout contender, and appears the one to beat as he attempts to regain his crown.
The son of Galileo enjoyed a successful campaign during 2022, but has been seen sparingly since, suffering injury problems. He returned to winning ways at Navan in April, before landing a Group Three at Leopardstown last month in a race that should set him up perfectly for his Ascot assignment.
Last year’s Queen’s Vase winner, Gregory, must improve from his recent runs, but is unexposed over this marathon trip, which could well suit.
His stablemate Trawlerman made fitness count when beating Kyprios on Champions Day at the track, and is proven on the quicker surface, likely to be competitive once again, whilst Sweet William has plenty to find on ratings, but is a tough and likeable type, capable of springing a surprise.
Coltrane, second in the race last year, appears overlooked at current odds, capable of putting in another bold showing. He has useful form to his name, having won plenty of prestigious races, but he lacks a Group One. He has been deserving of his day in the sun at the top level, and that day may come this Thursday.
Vauban must prove himself at Group One level, and may be unsuited by the quicker conditions, but clearly possesses plenty of ability and will have no stamina concerns.
Caius Chorister demands respect on recent form, and she could show further improvement over the extra half-a-mile for David Menuisier.
Selection(s): Coltrane 14/1 & Sweet William 18/1 (both each-way)
5:05pm – Britannia Stakes (Handicap)
The Camden Colt has shown plenty of promise over a mile on good ground, and should enjoy the race conditions in this competitive heat.
A mark of 89 appears workable, and he has been performing consistently well recently. At a price of 25/1, he holds strong each-way claims for Richard Hannon, with Sean Levey in the saddle.
Selection: The Camden Colt 25/1 (each-way)
5:40pm – Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)
Zoffany colt Bracken’s Laugh beat King’s Gambit on debut over a mile, staying on strongly towards the finish and shaping as though a step up in trip was imminent. He wasn’t able to back up that debut victory when fifth in soft conditions in a Saint-Cloud Group One, but faced stiff opposition and may have been unsuited by the going.
A win on his return at Chelmsford set him up nicely for a crack at the Dee Stakes, but trouble in-running proved costly and he finished half-a-length behind eventual winner Capulet, whom he had previously beaten by three-lengths-and-a-quarter.
This mile-and-a-quarter trip appears to be his optimum, and he could even get further in time, with his pedigree implying he isn’t shy of stamina. The conditions will suit and he should pose a dangerous threat to the rest of the field.
Another to consider is Al Musmak who may have been overlooked on the back of one poor effort last month. He is better than he performed in the Dante Stakes, and he has proven he copes with ground on the quicker side, with his second to Ghostwriter, ahead of Capulet, in the Royal Lodge Stakes. The Night Of Thunder colt should fare better here, for an in-form Roger Varian yard.
Selection(s): Bracken’s Laugh 13/2 & Al Musmak 18/1 (each-way)
6:15pm – Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap)
Ten-year-old veteran Summerghand has had his fair share of bad luck this term, facing difficulties in-running and also being hampered. He is now 9lbs lower than his last winning mark and, although he is past his peak, he still retains ability. At odds of 33/1, the old favourite is an enticing each-way selection, and he could have one big race left in him.
Another big-priced contender is The X O. The four-year-old gelding placed in a Group Three at the track, when sent off at odds of 125/1, beating third-placed Bradsell, a Coventry Stakes winner. He has plenty of speed and the step up in trip has appeared to suit at this stage in his career. It would be no surprise to see him outrun his odds of 40/1.
Selection(s): Summerghand 33/1 & The X O 40/1 (both each-way)
Photo by Julie Bishop on Unsplash
THE CONDITIONAL 