A massive 27 runners going to post in this race, but I’ll concentrate on only one horse: Washington Dc. He was a very good runner-up behind Coventry Stakes favourite Round Two at the Curragh in the Listed Marble Hill Stakes last month. He was fair and square beaten that day but showed plenty of promise nonetheless.
Due to the draw Washington Dc was forced to travel widest of all on the outside of the pack without cover for most parts of the race. He was keen and never really settled so Ryan Moore decided to let him lose probably a bit earlier then ideal. He produced an effortless acceleration and soon was in a fight for the lead. He played only second fiddle eventually but there is plenty to like about this performance. Washington Dc is sure to have learned an awful lot that day either.
He followed on from his exceptional maiden win at Tipperary in April, where he showed tremendous speed. Travelling all over his opposition – albeit very much inferior one – he won hard held on the bridle. An improvement from his debut run at Dundalk, where he showed signs of inexperience and only managed to finish a close runner-up.
This speedy Zoffany son has been green throughout his races but has excellent pace and a turn of foot. If he can get a clear run here I would like to think that he could easily be too good, given that this is only a Listed race and he looks more like Group class.
Would it be foolish to oppose Gleneagles in the St James’s Palace Stakes? Well, you would think so, given how impressive the Aiden O’Brien trained inmate was when he completed the English & Irish 2000 Guineas double. Undoubtedly he is a world class miler; according to his trainer, the best they ever had.
Yet I feel there is the possibility that there are horses capable of improving past him at some point this season – as pointed out on a couple of occasions in the past. He had already eight career starts, was mad busy as a juvenile and didn’t slow down with two tough races this year.
Gleneagles is as short as 1/2 to land the St James’s Palace Stakes – a price so short – I’m happy enough to oppose him, given that this race may well turn into a tactical affair and that he takes on two lightly raced but extremely promising individuals with Consort and Make Believe.
I was keen to see Consort making his seasonal reappearance. He missed the Guineas, but fullfilled the promise shown on his sole start last season when kicking off the new campaign in a good Listed event at Sandown. The manner of his success that day was impressive and no doubt, there is much more to come.
Make Believe in contrast, won both his starts as a two year old, was only beaten by the tightest of margins on his comeback run this year and followed on from there to deliver a first classic success for his prominent daddy Makfi when winning the French 2000 Guineas in style.
He clearly enjoyed the better ground that day when he went off from the front, setting a good pace. Turning for home jockey Olivier Peslier asked him to stretch his legs and he responded promptly. Make Believe produced a stunning change of gear and kicked clear in a matter of strides to win by 3 lengths eased down towards the line. These are the traits of a talented horse.
Verdict: I find it relatively easy to oppose Gleneagles here and think – given the prices on offer – one can’t do much wrong with French raider Make Believe. An improving sort, a Group 1 winner, who should relish the better ground. Consort may well up to this level as well, but has still to prove it.
Jim Bolger’s Round Two (photo) was utterly impressive when beating a smart Ballyoyle prospect at the Curragh recently. The step up to 6f can only be in his favour here, so he’s red hot favourite for all the right reasons. Which doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a price to invest in. Slight question marks over the fast ground have to be put to bed before I’d be prepared to dig into 9/4 in a race where so many others make plenty of appeal too.
Wesley Ward has been successful with his printers at Royal Ascot in recent years – can he do it again? He brings over another speedball – Finnegan was only beaten on his debut run, though on Dirt, but didn’t make a mistake second time out, when switched to turf. He’s a really good looking individual with loads of speed. If he can stay the extra furlong he’ll be a big runner.
Aiden O’Brien enrolss only one runner in the Coventry: War Front son Air Force Blue. He got off the mark on debut at the Curragh, despite being green particularly at the start of the race. But he showed plenty of pace and travelled like a dream. He got a bit tired in the end but held on. Clearly a smart individual who should relish the fast ground, he’s a major contender, given that this form works out extremely well.
Buratino is unbeaten over six furlongs in two starts. He won a Listed contest on Derby day in tremendous style. He’ll absolutely love the fast ground ad must be taken very serious. War Department was a fine debut winner at Leicester and can improve. William Haggas’s charge ran to a Timeform rating of 100+ first time out, so is clearly a smart individual.
There are many more interesting colts in the line-up. First Selection is a bigger price to take into consideration. Richard Hannon’s pair of Eltezam and Age Of Empire can’t be underestimated either. Maccus for Brian Meehan looked good at Windsor on debut.
Verdict: There isn’t much form available and it is always difficult to accurately assess the potential each and every individual in this race has. That says, as mentioned before, I’m inclined to take on the favourite, for price and ground reasons. While the US runner might be found out for stamina over the stiff Ascot finish.
But I really like Aiden O’Brien’s Air Force Blue and it looks significant that there is seemingly confidence behind this horse as that is signalled by the fact that Ballydoyle has only this one runner in the field, while theoretically they’d have a whole armada of two year old colts good enough to run. This son of War Front was impressive on debut and looks a tick overpriced here I feel.
Big field, long distance – it’s the Ascot Stakes over the marathon trip of 2 miles and 4 furlongs! Despite 20 runners in the line-up we have one clear favourite. David Simcock’s Ray Ward is well fancied to land the odds. It’s easy to see why. He acts on fast ground, stays the trip and and is potentially on a good mark. His prep run over sharp 10f couldn’t have gone any better either. Clearly, there’s plenty to like about Ray Ward.
Generally lightly raced Fun Mac may join Ray Ward at the head of the market come the start of the race. He was an ultra impressive winner on his seasonal reappearance. An 11 lengths winner in a class 3 Handicap – you don’t see that too often. Fun Mac goes on any kind of ground and has clearly potential for further improvement. A 14lb hike in the mark makes life tougher though and he’s untested over marathon trips.
Veteran Clondaw Warrior has been in fine form over hurdles in recent weeks. He won the November Handicap at Leopardstown last year, so is a good stayer on the flat as well as he is good over the sticks. Lightly raced Lycidas won a good 2m Handicap when last seen. There is more to come from him.
Irish raider Digeanta has the benefit of feather weight. He just made the cut as an 88 rated individual but has some good staying performances to his name. He wasn’t disgraced on his seasonal reappearance and could go well.
Godolphin’s Statutory is an improving stayer and ground independent. Main concern is the lack of a recent run as well as his high handicap mark. Another lightly raced sort is Asbury Boss. He shaped with promise in 2m contests in his last two starts. On only his third Handicap start, he is one to like.
Experienced stayer Broxbourne was in good form over jumps this season. He returns to the flat and is on a handy mark, only 1lb above his last win.
Top weight Hurricane Higgins will have a tough task off 9st 10lb but has been in fine form this year and is a classy stayer on his day. He won a Novice Hurdle last month and a good staying race on the Lingfield All-Weather in February after a long break. He proved to stay this sort of marathon trip in the past and acts on fast ground. He’s one who relishes these kind of tests with a big field where he can stay on from the back passing as many horses as he likes.
Boite has been third in the Group 3 Queen’s Vase two years ago, so has excellent Royal Ascot form. He couldn’t quite follow on from there but seems to find something back of his old best this year – he hasn’t been out of the money in four starts. Johnny Murtagh’s Hardstone has been prolific on the All-Weather and coped well with the step up in trip at Leopardstown earlier this month. More is required here, though.
Big Thunder would be well handicapped if he can stay the distance. Shwaiman is on an interesting mark if he can bring his recent Hurdle form now to the flat.
Verdict: A wide open renewal of the Ascot Stakes. Many horses seem to come right for the big race and you could easily make a serious case for half the field. I’m in the hunt for for a bit of value, though and my initial feeling has only hardened: Hurricane Higgins is overpriced.
Yes, he has quite a big task assigned as top weight, but horses with big weights usually do well here. HH finds ideal conditions at Ascot, is sure to stay, sure to be in good form, happy on the ground and usually likes these type of races. He is still as good as ever as he proved when winning first time out off a near three year long break at Lingfield earlier this year.
Royal Ascot – there is no other place in the world where you’ll get a better five consecutive days of (flat) racing! This week is a week of celebration; celebrating out wonderful sport.
The best horses from all over the globe competing at the beautiful venue that is Ascot Racecourse. It’s a week I look forward to the whole year. Now it’s finally upon us!
Can Sole Power make it a hat-trick in the King’s Stand? That’s the all important question. History is against him and of course Eddie Lynam’s charge isn’t getting any younger. But Sole Power showed no signs of ageing when landing the big sprint on Dubai World Cup night earlier this year. Give him five furlongs and quick ground and he’s still capable of producing his trademark turn of foot!
The ground is going to be on the fast side on Tuesday – only a sudden monsoon could change that. A rattling pace is also ensured, with plenty of front-runners in the field – conveniently drawn in close proximity of Sole Power – which means, if the field splits into two groups, he is likely to be in the right one.
Progressive Muthmir appears to be the biggest danger on paper. He won a good Group 2 sprint in France recently. Muthmir seems a sort likely to improve with time and age and for that reason is one to take very seriously here.
The Australians send over experienced mare Shamal Wind. She is a seasoned runner and undoubtedly a good sprinter in her own country, but It took here a very long time to win on the highest level. It’s probably fair to assume she is not quite Australia’s sprint elite, though she won the Grade 1 Oakleigh Plate when last seen.
Her nation has the reputation for developing the best sprinters in the world, and there is surely some merit to. That says not every Aussie sprinter coming over to Europe is automatically better than the domestic opposition.
Last years Haydock Sprint Cup winner G Force can’t be underestimated, although he seems better over six furlongs. The ground has gone against Mecca’s Angel, otherwise she would be very well fancied for a big run.
From the bigger prices I’d call out Goldream and last years runner-up Stepper Point. They could outrun their price tag. It’ll be interesting to see whether recent Temple Stakes winner Pearl Secret can follow-up with another big performance or if it was only a fluke.
Verdict: To be perfectly honest I find it very hard to oppose Sole Power. His record speaks volumes, he finds the right conditions here and has the pace around him. He’s still capable of winning the big races as he proved at Meydan and appears to be a better price than I would have expected.
Royal Ascot is looming large – my favourite race meeting! It kicks off with the Queen Anne Stakes – my favourite race in the world! Races over one mile always fascinated me. It’s no surprise – my all-time hero is a miler: the almighty Paco Boy. He himself won the Queen Anne back in 2009 in breathtaking style; Richard Hughes sitting off the pace, Paco hard held on the the bridle, produced a devastating turn of foot when finally unleashed. Good, old memories….
The 2015 renewal shapes as a race for the ages. It reminds me a bit of 2010, when wonder mare Goldikova got the better of Paco Boy in a dramatic finish. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see a similarly tight result this time again. Five years later Goldikova’s trainer Freddy Head has another chance to win the big one – this time with Solow, a five year old gelding.
Solow, unbeaten in his last six starts, couldn’t be in better form. He won the Dubai Turf and Prix D’ispahan this year, both times in sensational fashion. It took him a while to win his first Group 1, but he improved dramatically over the last number of month to develop rapidly into a global superstar.
Currently trading 6/4, he is well fancied to land the odds in the Queen Anne. Is he a good thing? He probably is. Although if you want to to find some negative aspects you don’t need to dig too deep.
It’s the very nature of the race which may or rather may not quite suit him. The mile trip on fast ground against top level opposition is a new test for Solow. His recent top performances came over slightly further and he has never raced on anything faster than good. That does not have to be a problem, but my suspicion is he’ll need certainly a quick pace which ensures the emphasis is more on stamina than on raw speed in order to be seen to full effect here.
Whether we get a good pace or not is hard to say. The race could well turn into a tactical affair. This would potentially count against Solow. Not because he hasn’t a turn of foot or the class, but because he meets a rival who is very likely to possess even more speed, a rival who’s likely to enjoy exactly those kind of conditions: Able Friend.
The joint leader in the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings (on turf), he has bagged four Group 1’s in his unbeaten run of six. He’s thought to be the best miler in the world at the moment – and it is easy to see why: Regular jockey Joao Moreira, merely a passenger on most occasions, usually can start to salute the crowd at Sha Tin from half a furlong out, so authoritative is the manner of Able Friend’s victories.
Arguably his most impressive success came in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup this January this year, when beating a classy field hard on the bridle, despite meeting some in-running trouble.
Able Friend will encounter unusual conditions at Ascot. Not so much the ground, which will suit perfectly – but a straight, stiff mile is completely alien to him. How is he going to cope with it? That’s the big question. He probably won’t mind whatever pace they go. They often go a good clip in Hong Kong’s top class races. He loves to come from the back in a strongly run race, but equally is able to unleash a deadly turn of foot if they crawl.
If Joao Moreira is able to settle the big horse early on and conserve energy for when it really matters, I feel Able Friend could have too much speed for Solow. Though, this is not a match-race. On can’t rule out recent Lockinge Stakes winner Night Of Thunder.
The 2014 Guineas heroine, found it subsequently tough to win last season, but bounced back to his best when landing the Lockinge Stakes in dramatic fashion. This represents good form, but might not be good enough to beat the big guns. Stable mate Toormore also bounced back to form in the Lockinge. He stayed on to finish second just beaten by a neck that day.
Andre Fabre’s mare Esoterique is a Group 1 winner in France. Quick ground counts against her, so does the overall look of her form. The trio Here Comes When, Cougar Mountain and Glory Awaits would need to find some dramatic improvement to trouble the better fancied horses in this field.
Verdict: This is a fantastic renewal – we’ll going to see two true superstars going head to head. No doubt, the Queen Anne Stakes evolves around the French Solow and Hong Kong’s Able Friend. It’s a duel to savour!
That says Night Of Thunder is a really good horse in his very own right and I could see him adopting positive tactics which might be an advantage in a potentially tactical affair – nonetheless, he lacks the class of the other two. To see anyone else involved would be a shock.
I already hinted that I have a slight preference for Able Friend in the likely fast conditions over a mile – as long as he is able to cope with the Ascot straight mile. But certainly there isn’t much between him and Solow. I have them both in and around 7/4 but the betting has Solow as the clear favourite. So it’s rather easy for me to select Able Friend since his price looks a bit over the top.
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