The first day of the Royal Meeting was filled with exciting action on track.
Superstar Baaeed opened the meeting in tremendous fashion, continuing his unbeaten run with success in the Queen Anne Stakes.
Hollie Doyle steered Bradsell to victory in the Coventry Stakes before Nature Strip put in an extremely impressive performance in the King’s Stand Stakes, blowing the opposition away.
Then came 2000 Guineas winner Coroebus, who looked in trouble turning for home before William Buick managed to manoeuvre his Classic-winning mount into daylight to finish first past the post.
Coltrane gave jockey Callum Hutchinson an emotional first Royal Ascot winner in the Ascot Stakes before Dubai Future won the Wolferton Stakes at 20/1.
That race was sadly marred by the fatal injury to Charlie Appleby’s six-year-old gelding Star Safari, who will be missed.
The card ended with the Copper Horse Handicap, won by Get Shirty ahead of hot-favourite Cleveland.
There is plenty to look forward to tomorrow, with many top-quality horses and show and a number of exciting handicaps.
Featured below are selections for each race.
2:30 – Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2)
Carmela 33/1 (EW – 5 places) – David Loughnane, Richard Kingscote
This Tasleet filly has run three times, winning twice in lower class races either side of finishing fifth in a Listed contest at York.
In both wins she has shown promise and her Carlisle form was franked on Saturday as Cold Case won his maiden having received 2lbs from Carmela when second to her on his debut.
She ran well in defeat at York, racing towards the rear before running on strongly with some potentially good fillies ahead of her, including Yahsat who also lines up here.
Derby-winning jockey Richard Kingscote rides David Loughnane’s filly who is a big price in an open contest.
3:05 – Queen’s Vase (Group 2)
Nahanni 9/2 – Charlie Appleby, William Buick
Given this isn’t too quick a turnaround following his Epsom appearance, Nahanni could be well-treated here and brings good form into the race.
The Derby didn’t exactly go to plan, with the pre-race fireworks having affected the colt, but he stayed on well and would likely have been closer with a better start.
He has won four of his six starts and should certainly be respected in this company.
The favourite in this race, Eldar Eldarov, is unbeaten for trainer Roger Varian, and is well bred by Dubawi out of a Sea The Stars mare.
He should be competitive and is a runner who is unexposed at this level which makes him an interesting contender.
However, Nahanni is a Listed winner and was far from disgraced in a Classic which makes him the more reliable choice.
3:40 – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1)
Bay Bridge 11/10 – Sir Michael Stoute, Ryan Moore
Bay Bridge was mesmerising when winning the Brigadier Gerard Stakes last month, beating a classy field of four.
Mostahdaf chased him home, a well-bred colt and dual Group Three winner, with multiple Group One winner Addeybb in third.
Dubai Future was fourth at Sandown and won the Wolferton Stakes on day one of the Royal Meeting, whilst the talented old favourite Lord Glitters was last of the pack.
That win for Bay Bridge excited the majority of racing fans, and plenty would love to see him back it up by winning this prestigious prize.
However, he does face stiff international opposition and Japanese-raider Shahryar is the shortest-priced of his rivals.
He won the Dubai Sheema Classic on his last outing, and with Japanese racing enjoying so much success in recent months it would be dangerous to rule out this son of Deep Impact.
State Of Rest won the Prix Ganay last month beating a number of high-class horses and he wasn’t too far behind Alenquer on reappearance at the Curragh, with Lord North finishing a length-and-a-quarter behind in fourth.
Grand Glory is the outsider of the field at 10/1 but she is also a Group One winner who receives the mares allowance as she makes her debut on British soil.
The favourite, Bay Bridge, is the selection in the race, but it should be a mouth-watering clash, with five quality equine talents facing each other.
Whoever comes out on top will surely be a deserving winner.
4:20 – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2)
Mother Earth 10/3 – A P O’Brien, Ryan Moore
Another quality race comes at 4:20, with the girls taking centre stage once again.
Mother Earth has a few lengths to find with the favourite, following Saffron Beach’s impressive win in the Sun Chariot Stakes.
She did beat the Jane Chapple-Hyam filly in last year’s 1000 Guineas, however, and receives 5lbs here which gives her the edge.
The Aidan O’Brien trained daughter of Zoffany is usually a consistent performer at the top level, barring a couple of poor runs, and up against fillies and mares here she should be there or thereabouts.
Conditions should suit and she is a specialist over the mile representing a top yard.
5:00 – Royal Hunt Cup (Class 2 Handicap)
Totally Charming 12/1 (EW – 7 places) – George Boughey, Frankie Dettori
A versatile performer who excelled over the extended mile at Epsom on Oaks day.
He came through the field impressively, showing speed and staying on well in that contest.
Frankie Dettori takes the ride aboard George Boughey’s gelding, who could be open to further improvement.
A massive field goes to post, so plenty of luck will be needed in-running, however, the manner in which he won last time out makes him worth sticking with here.
Long shot:
San Andreas 50/1 (EW – 7 places, 40/1 – 8 places) – Joseph Patrick O’Brien, H J Horgan (7)
Joseph O’Brien’s experienced six-year-old may be able to outrun his massive odds of 50/1 and sneak into the places.
He has been running over shorter trips of late, and returns to a mile here.
At Newcastle in the All-Weather Mile Championships Conditions Stakes he finished a close second to My Oberon, with Bless Him back in third.
In an open contest such as this he represents a bit of value and benefits from apprentice jockey Hugh Horgan claiming 7lbs.
5:35 – Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed Race)
Union Court 25/1 (EW – 5 places) – Ed Walker, Richard Kingscote
Without a massively strong fancy in a race which features young colts and fillies capable of swift improvement, Ed Walker’s unbeaten filly gets the nod at a decent price.
She is two from two and hasn’t done much wrong in her career to date.
On debut she beat Tagline who won next time out, albeit in a lower class contest, and she looks open to further progression having not really been tested as of yet.
She is possibly one at a double-figure price who could make the frame and is attractive from an each-way angle in what appears a very open and competitive field.
6:10 – Kensington Palace Stakes (Class 2 Handicap)
White Moonlight 15/2 – Saaed bin Suroor, Daniel Tudhope
Despite being a five-year-old this mare has only raced three times in her career and has recently returned to track following a 32-month lay-off.
She featured in a lower class contest over 1m2f on the all-weather in which she finished third of nine, giving 23lbs to the winner, Queen Of The Skies.
On her reappearance she raced keenly, and was treated tamely in the final furlongs.
It’s highly likely she will have improved plenty for the run-out.
She was two from two as a juvenile and looked a promising type before her absence.
This is another open contest from a betting perspective in which this mare may take all the beating running off a 2lbs lower mark this time out.
By Katie Midwinter (14/06/22)
THE CONDITIONAL 