Royal Ascot Day 1:
QUEEN ANNE STAKES (BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES) (GROUP 1) (CLASS 1) (4yo+)
Frankel faces a double figure field for the first time since
blitzing his rivals in the 2000 guineas last year. However, this unbeaten son
of Galileo is clearly the one to beat. He has always been a bit keen in his
races but it is his sheer class that pulls him out of any trouble he puts
himself in. This year, he appears to be more relaxed and that looks set to
bring about even more improvement for the world’s highest rated horse.
Excelebration looks the most likely horse to follow him
home. Having raced Frankel on four occasions in his career he has finished
runner up on three occasions and third in the St. James Palace stakes on this
day last year. If it were not for Frankel, this Group 1 winner in his own right
would have had another 2 Group 1s and a Group 3 to his name.
Of the rest, the bookmakers have Strong Suit, who has won at
this meeting in the last two years claiming the Coventry and Jersey stakes, as
most likely to take third place. However, he has still to win over a mile after
two attempts in Group 1 company and I am not convinced that he fully sees the
mile out especially given that Bullet Train will set a searching pace for his
stable companion.
Of the rest, Worthadd picked up a rating of 116 having raced
2nd to Canford Cliffs in his British debut in the Lockinge last
year. However his general form looks a bit suspect despite being a multiple
Group 2 & 3 winner. The Godolphin housed Helmet is a front-runner and will
be up with the pace. However this is another who I believe will not fully stay
the trip and will be swamped late on. For an each-way proposition I would look
at Side Glance who has just begun to find his feet following two somewhat
disappointing runs at the start of the year, and who won over a half furlong
longer at Epsom last time out despite pulling hard throughout the early stages
of the race.
Conclusion: Frankel will not be beaten but in terms of
finding a horse to place, I would pick Side Glance at the 40/1 available.
KING´S STAND STAKES (BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES &
GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE) (GROUP 1) (CLASS 1) (3yo+)
With a field of 23 runners, this looks a pin job. The market
leaders, Ortensia, Bated Breath and Wizz Kid hold obvious chances but given
their prices and the trouble in running in these types of races, the general 5/1
available about the trio is not a price I would take.
If forced to take a pick, it would be Prohibit who has not
been in the same vein of form since landing this contest when well backed late
on last year. At 16/1 he would be my each way pick.
ST JAMES´S PALACE STAKES (BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES)
(GROUP 1) (ENTIRE COLTS) (CLASS
1) (3yo)
Power holds a favourite’s chance following his win in the
Irish 2000 guineas. Reopposing him here is the second (Foxtrot Romeo), the
fifth (Born to Sea) and the seventh (Wrote). Several French raiders in the form
of the former-Harrington trained Dragon Pulse, Hermival and Lucayan also come
across the channel.
The field also consists of some with tall-reputations in the
form of Most Improved, once heavily backed ante-post for the 2000 guineas and
Fencing who was quietly fancied for the Racing Post trophy.
It is interesting that William Buick opts to ride The Nile
for John Gosden deserting the George Strawbridge colt Fencing in the process.
However, the colt that went into my notebook following a
somewhat educational ride in the Irish 2000 guineas was the impeccably bred
Born to Sea. This is the last foal of Urban Sea and it remains to be seen if he
possesses the quality shown by his siblings, most notably Sea the Stars. He has
been very green on most of his starts so far and threw away all chance of an
upset in the 2000 guineas by pulling for much of the race. In the Irish equivalent,
he was held up off the pace and made huge strides late on but was given far too
much to do. He wears a first time hood tomorrow which in theory should help him
settle, and if he does, I think he would be in with a very good chance of
getting much closer to Power than he did in the Irish 2000 guineas.
Conclusion: Born to Sea at 9/1 is the selection
No comments:
Post a Comment