Katie Midwinter (19/06/23)
The most anticipated Flat fixture of the year is upon us as Ascot opens its doors once again to welcome the Royal Meeting. Crowds will gather as superstars will be crowned and history made, with all the action packed into a fantastic five-day spectacle.
DAY 1 – TUESDAY
2:30pm – Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)
The meeting kicks off in its usual fantastic fashion, with a mouthwatering clash of Group One winning horses in the opening race of the meeting. Modern Games sets the standard following his first Group One success on British soil in the Lockinge Stakes recently.
The son of Dubawi had previously enjoyed plenty of success across the globe and was finally able to land a top prize on home turf. He showed great heart and determination at Newbury, and has leading claims for the in-form Charlie Appleby yard, with William Buick aboard.
Stablemate Native Trail was beaten by Mutasaabeq on reappearance, the Charles Hill-trained gelding that was subsequently well beaten by Modern Games. On that form, the former Irish 2000 Guineas winner will need to show significant improvement, but if he is able to replicate his three-year-old form over a mile then he is more than capable of posing a threat.
Four-year-old filly Inspiral needs to bounce back after a disappointing performance on British Champions Day last term. She did suffer a slow start at Ascot, and couldn’t recover well enough to be competitive. Prior to that run she had only suffered one loss, when second to Prosperous Voyage in the Falmouth Stakes, and had been showing an exceptional level of talent.
Whilst she may have taken another step forward, she can often be quite keen and usually sports a hood when heading down to post, and she may come on for her first run of the season. On her day however, she is a high-class contender and receives the fillies allowance which could give her the edge needed to beat the boys.
Course-and-distance winner Chindit is less reliable than a few of his rivals in the field, but is capable of being among the leading contenders if at his best. He battled well to finish second at Newbury when last seen, but didn’t help his cause when trying to bite eventual winner Modern Games in the closing stages. The Richard Hannon-trained five-year-old is an interesting and possibly enticing each-way selection if he remains available at a double figure price come Tuesday.
Lightly raced colt Cash has had his issues and it’s likely he will have needed the run on Ascot reappearance, but he looked out of his depth in at Sandown against the likes of Hukum and Desert Crown and could be exposed at this level. A prize of this magnitude may be out of his reach, but he is another who could outrun his odds and possibly make the frame at a big price.
Stablemate Light Infantry, also representing the David Simcock yard, is winless since landing back-to-back wins as a juvenile. He has been unlucky not to record a Group One win so far in his career however, as he has finished second on three occasions at this level, and perhaps he is due his day in the limelight.
Mutasaabeq is a classy type whose convincing win over Native Trail should put him in the conversation. Whilst he has Ascot form closely tied with Chindit and he may be overlooked in the market, others are preferred.
Last year’s St James’s Palace Stakes runner-up Lusail ran a career best at this meeting to finish a head behind winner Coroebus. The mount of Ryan Moore looks a big price considering he was only a length behind Chindit when featuring in last month’s trial race, but he will need to improve on a disappointing Newbury performance and has plenty to find with Modern Games based on that run.
Win selection:
Modern Games 2/1 – Charlie Appleby, William Buick
The classy colt has already amassed over £2.7m in prize money, collecting five Group One prizes so far in his career, and could add another accolade to his growing list of honours.
3:40pm – King’s Stand Stakes (Group 1)
The market is speaking strongly in favour of classy mare Highfield Princess, who seemingly gets better with age. Now a six-year-old, she wasn’t disgraced when half-a-length second at York on reappearance, following a respectable fourth-placed finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in Keeneland on her last outing of 2022.
The John Quinn-trained mare finished sixth in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at the meeting last year, but could fare better this time around and has leading claims.
Australian-raider Coolangatta is representing the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace training partnership, attempting to emulate last year’s winner Nature Strip by landing the prestigious prize on foreign turf. The exciting three-year-old filly was last seen winning a Flemington Group One, and brings top class international form into the race.
Fellow Australian Cannonball hasn’t quite reached the heights of his female compatriot as of yet but the height of his ability may not have been reached yet, and he could be capable of further progression. Running off level weights against some older, more experienced sprinters may make this a task too tough at this stage in his career however.
Course-and-distance winner Dramatised returned to the winner’s enclosure with success in Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock recently. The three-year-old filly willl need to take another step forward here but she receives the allowances and is open to further improvement.
The mount of Frankie Dettori, Manaccan, will definitely be under the spotlight come the off, and he has already received plenty of market support since declarations were made. The John Ryan-trained course-and-distance winner is making his first Group One appearance as an unexposed four-year-old at this level and the ground will suit.
Wesley Ward’s representative Twilight Gleaming has Irad Ortiz Jr in the saddle, making her second British appearance, following a runner-up finish in the Queen Mary Stakes as a juvenile. She is a classy filly but is yet to land a Group One prize.
Mitbaahy beat Manaccan to land a Newbury Group Three last season and has proven to be a profitable buy for connections. A price of 20/1 seemed generous on Sunday, and he has already been backed into as short as 11/1, although he will need to show significant improvement on his seasonal debut.
Twilight Calls finished second in an average renewal last year in which the field, barring the eventual winner Nature Strip, was below par. More is needed in this company, but his last two runs may be worth forgiving.
Charlie Fellowes’ Vadream has form ahead of a couple of her rivals on softer ground, but this race may work out too quickly for her at this stage in her career.
An interesting contender in the field is Bradsell, who makes his first start of 5f. He must be forgiven for two poor runs this season but is one to consider on juvenile form at Ascot, when he beat rivals including Persian Force, Royal Scotsman and Blackbeard to land the Coventry Stakes.
Happy Romance didn’t get much cover in her last run at Haydock, drawn on the wrong side and left out on the wing. It’s easy to forgive that run as she is a top class mare on her day and 5f seems to be her optimum trip. At 50/1 she is a huge price as she holds certain each-way claims if running to the best of her ability.
Win selection:
Highfield Princess 2/1 – John Quinn, Jason Hart
Each-way selection:
Happy Romance 50/1 – Richard Hannon, Sean Levey
4:20pm – St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1)
Andrew Balding’s Chaldean had his unbeaten record since a debut defeat tarnished by an early unseating of jockey Frankie Dettori in his 2000 Guineas preparation run at Newbury. Despite that blip, he went on to dominate the Newmarket Classic to land a second Group One success. He is proving to be yet another exceptional progeny of the great Frankel and there could be a match-up to savour between the colt and another Classic winning contender.
Irish 2000 Guineas victor Paddington is unbeaten since finishing fifth on debut, in a similar parallel to market leader Chaldean. The son of Siyouni had shaped as though softer ground was key to his success, as a big, strong, imposing type. However, he showed great versatility and plenty of class to win on good ground at the Curragh and looks set to improve further as he gains more experience.
The unexposed Cicero’s Gift is unbeaten in three starts, and could still be on an upward trajectory. The ceiling hasn’t yet been reached with this Muhaarar colt, but, whilst he is a dark horse in the line up, he must live up to the standards set by the leading pair in the market.
Mostabshir’s five-lengths defeat of subsequent winner and current Britannia Stakes favourite Ziryab is a good level of form, but a fifth-placed finish in only appearance at Group company has exposed this son of Dark Angel. It’s easy to forgive him that blip however, especially on seasonal reappearance and in only his second career start in a competitive Craven Stakes. He bounced back to form at York and could be overlooked.
Isaac Shelby was unlucky to face defeat at Longchamp when head second to Marhaba Ya Sanafi in Poule d’Essai des Poulains. In his prior appearance he had won the Group Three Greenham Stakes, benefitting from Dettori’s departure from Chaldean. A Group Two winner as a juvenile, the Night Of Thunder colt is without usual partner Sean Levey this time around as William Buick takes the ride.
Extremely talented horse whose performances have become difficult to predict is Royal Scotsman. The mile trip may stretch his capabilities at this level, but he did stay on soft ground at Newmarket, before a below par performance at the Curragh. His lack of consistency makes him difficult to stick with but he has certain each-way claims at a decent price if able to bounce back to form and leave his disappointing run behind him.
A wildcard in the field is Indestructible who made no impression when last seen in the 2000 Guineas, but may have been unsuited by the soft going. He finished half-a-length behind Chaldean in the Acomb Stakes before a three-and-a-half-length second to the Classic winner at Doncaster.
On his Champagne Stakes form he has plenty to do to overcome the Andrew Balding-trained colt, but three runner races can often turn into tactical affairs and it may be worth giving Indestructible another chance. Silver Knott was third in that race but he went on to finish a desperately close second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Karl Burke-trained Indestructible also beat subsequent Dante winner and Derby fifth The Foxes to win the Craven Stakes, and could be able to outrun his odds.
Outsiders of the field Galeron and Charyn both look exposed in this company.
Win selection:
Paddington 5/2 – A P O’Brien, Ryan Moore
Each-way selection:
Indestructible 40/1 – K R Burke, Kevin Stott
The rest of Tuesday’s card:
3:05pm – Coventry Stakes (Group 2)
River Tiber 15/8 – A P O’Brien, Ryan Moore
The son of Wootton Bassett has made an untarnished start to his racing career, with two impressive wins. He’s the warm favourite representing leading trainer in the race Aidan O’Brien, who is attempting a tenth success in the juvenile contest.
5:00pm – Ascot Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
Irish Lullaby 20/1 (EW) – Mrs John Harrington, Ronan Whelan
Jessica Harrington’s progressive filly Irish Lullaby has shown plenty of staying ability and could improve further with the step up in trip. A big show could be in the offing from an cailín álainn.
5:35pm – Wolferton Stakes (Listed Race)
Saga 4/1 – John & Thady Gosden, Frankie Dettori
An unfortunate second in last year’s Britannia Stakes, four-year-old gelding Saga is due some luck having been winless since maiden win at the track as a juvenile. This could be his chance for Royal Ascot redemption.
6:10pm – Copper Horse Handicap
Berkshire Rocco 16/1 (EW) – Andrew Balding, Oisin Murphy
Scriptwriter 40/1 (EW) – Milton Harris, David Egan
Two capable geldings that could represent some value in a race where plenty of strong stayers are available at big prices.
Course-and-distance winner Berkshire Rocco was once second in a St Leger won by Galileo Chrome, and has been shown he has a real knack for the marathon trips during this calendar year. Unsuited by the soft going when last seen, he has the ability to enter calculations at a generous price of 16/1.
Former Ballydoyle resident Scriptwriter showed plenty of class in his first starts over hurdles when attempting a new discipline following his switch from the Flat and gelding operation. His recent runs have left a lot to be desired, but excuses can be made for those performances.
A successful top-weight carrying performance at Wolverhampton over the festive period proved he still retains the ability to compete in his old discipline, and whilst favourite Vauban looks difficult to beat, Scriptwriter could be one for the extra places at a huge price.
DAY 2 – WEDNESDAY
3:40pm – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2)
Jumbly finished second in a Curragh Group Two on yard debut for Joseph O’Brien on appearance following a Group Three success for Harry & Roger Charlton. The high-class daughter of Gleneagles is set to go off as favourite and sets the standard in this field.
Recent Group Three winner Prosperous Voyage was impressive at Epsom, bouncing back to form following a disappointing Newmarket reappearance. The pick of her form is a Falmouth Stakes success over Inspiral, and if able to perform to that standard she should be thereabouts at the finish.
The Ralph Beckett-trained filly can be unreliable although better ground should allow her to showcase her talents effectively, and this may not be the toughest task she has faced.
Grande Dame must reverse form with a couple of her rivals and doesn’t appear to be the yard’s or owner’s strongest hope in the race. Others are preferred but it’s worth noting that she is yet to be seen as a four-year-old and she could have progressed.
Honey Girl won her first two starts for a Carriganóg Racing yard since switching from Henry de Bromhead, but failed to land the hat-trick when beaten favourite at the Curragh last month. The daughter of Mayson isn’t guaranteed to excel on good ground over a mile and may prefer an easier surface.
Muhaarar filly Queen Aminatu is most effective on an all-weather surface and is yet to prove herself on turf but has run well at the track in the past and may have untapped potential over a mile, whilst the consistent Rogue Millennium drops back in trip which could allow her to finally get her nose in front.
Random Harvest finished only three-quarters-of-a-length behind Prosperous Voyage at Epsom when sent off as 22/1 outsider of six. The course-and-distance winner could be capable of outrunning her likely huge odds but perhaps lacks the class to claim the plaudits in this company.
Each-way selection:
Rogue Millennium 10/1 – Tom Clover, Daniel Tudhope
4:20pm – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1)
Former Derby winner Adayar won a Group Three prize on reappearance at Newmarket, in his first run as a five-year-old. He missed most of last term but did manage to finish half-a-length behind Bay Bridge over course-and-distance in the Champion Stakes, and is a high-class contender.
Bay Bridge may have needed the run at Longchamp but had won first time out in previous two seasonal reappearances. He has half-a-length to find with Luxembourg on Tattersalls Gold Cup form, and will need to improve to reverse form with his rival but seems a generous price at his best at 4/1.
Luxembourg has had plenty of doubters in his career to date, but could be the one to beat in this field. The classy son of Camelot is an exceptional colt who’ll be very difficult to beat in this division if he can gather momentum and perform consistently well.
My Prospero has a marginal distance to find with Bay Bridge and Adayar on previous Ascot form and the step back up in trip should suit, whilst stablemate Dubai Honour has been thriving overseas in recent months, but has lengths to find with some of his rivals in this field.
Win selection:
Luxembourg 9/4 – A P O’Brien, Ryan Moore
All runners/prices are correct at the time of writing/publish.
Photo by Rawisara Prachaksubhanit on Unsplash
THE CONDITIONAL 