Flat Racing's biggest week is here and the action, lasting five days, looks sure to be full of excitement and drama. Day One is crammed full of Group races, including three Group 1s, as well as a Group 2 and a Listed race.
The Group 1 Queen Anne over a mile opens the illustrious proceedings and Gladiatorus looks to have a guilt-edged opportunity based on his recent performances in Dubai. Last time out, he won the £200,000 Dubai Duty Free by three lengths under today's jockey, Ahmed Ajtebi, and had Group 1 winner Presvis back in second. Goldophin have such a good record at this meeting and he will go close to improving on that. He has some strong competition in the shape of Group 1 winner Paco Boy, who has to prove he stays a mile, and Main Aim, a recent Group 3 winner at Haydock over 7f.
Shortly after the opener comes the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes over 5f. This race looks set to be fast and furious and Amour Propre will need to be at his very best to overpower some tough sprinters. Henry Candy's bargain speedball won well last time out and heads the market, even though he faces strong opposition from the likes of the consistent Bordlescott and Fleeting Spirit.
The third race, yet another Group 1, sees the rematch between Mastercraftsman and English 2,000 Guineas runner-up Delegator in the St James's Palace Stakes over a mile. Mastercraftsman got the better of Delegator in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last time out and it promises to be a thrilling match-up now that Brian Meehan's colt is back on his preferred fast ground. Also in the line-up is Evasive, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Ryan Moore. He ran a big race in the English Guineas and was only four lengths behind subsequent Derby winner Sea The Stars.
The fourth race is the first two-year-old contest of the meeting and it sees the much-hyped Canford Cliffs put his lofty reputation on the line in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes over 6f. Canford Cliffs bolted up at Newbury on his debut, where he won by 7 lengths and his trainer believes this is his best chance of a winner at this year's meeting. It will be no walk in the park though as he has to fend off the challenges of some exciting prospects, with many unbeaten. Aidan O'Brien saddles Air Chief Marshal, and with the trainer's good recent record at the meeting, his presence would have to be respected, even though he must improve on all known form. Red Jazz has won both his starts to date and his win last time out at this course looks solid form, with the second, third and fourth all winning on their next starts. No Hubris was an easy winner of a York maiden on his debut and his trainer Paul Cole expects big things. There are many more unexposed colts in the line up but a good each-way bet would be Raine's Cross, who was flying home late at Sandown in the National Stakes to snatch third.
The fifth race looks very trappy and is a handicap, the 2m 4f Ascot Stakes. Willie Mullins sends Sesenta over from Ireland and fresh off the back of a hurdling campaign, he should go well for Seamus Heffernan. Last year's winner Missoula is lurking at the bottom and may feature along with Mark Johnston's dour stayer Keenes Day, who has been kept fresh for a crack at this following a win over 2m at Lingfield in April. Venetia Williams saddles Cheltenham Festival winner Kayf Aramis but after scoring by a wide margin at York in May, he was a costly flop at Goodwood shortly after.
The last race on a star-studded first day is the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes over 5f. It looks mighty tough to solve and contains many unexposed types, none more so than once-raced Angel's Pursuit for Richard Hannon. He was well supported on debut and delivered the goods in taking fashion; with that experience under his belt he should go well for Richard Hughes. George Baker, a twice-raced maiden, would be a comical winner for trainer George Baker and his namesake jockey, funnily enough, George Baker. A big danger may come from the Dandy Nicholls-trained Mr Mannanan, who won by 7 lengths on his last start and is highly regarded by his shrewd handler.
The Group 1 Queen Anne over a mile opens the illustrious proceedings and Gladiatorus looks to have a guilt-edged opportunity based on his recent performances in Dubai. Last time out, he won the £200,000 Dubai Duty Free by three lengths under today's jockey, Ahmed Ajtebi, and had Group 1 winner Presvis back in second. Goldophin have such a good record at this meeting and he will go close to improving on that. He has some strong competition in the shape of Group 1 winner Paco Boy, who has to prove he stays a mile, and Main Aim, a recent Group 3 winner at Haydock over 7f.
Shortly after the opener comes the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes over 5f. This race looks set to be fast and furious and Amour Propre will need to be at his very best to overpower some tough sprinters. Henry Candy's bargain speedball won well last time out and heads the market, even though he faces strong opposition from the likes of the consistent Bordlescott and Fleeting Spirit.
The third race, yet another Group 1, sees the rematch between Mastercraftsman and English 2,000 Guineas runner-up Delegator in the St James's Palace Stakes over a mile. Mastercraftsman got the better of Delegator in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last time out and it promises to be a thrilling match-up now that Brian Meehan's colt is back on his preferred fast ground. Also in the line-up is Evasive, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Ryan Moore. He ran a big race in the English Guineas and was only four lengths behind subsequent Derby winner Sea The Stars.
The fourth race is the first two-year-old contest of the meeting and it sees the much-hyped Canford Cliffs put his lofty reputation on the line in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes over 6f. Canford Cliffs bolted up at Newbury on his debut, where he won by 7 lengths and his trainer believes this is his best chance of a winner at this year's meeting. It will be no walk in the park though as he has to fend off the challenges of some exciting prospects, with many unbeaten. Aidan O'Brien saddles Air Chief Marshal, and with the trainer's good recent record at the meeting, his presence would have to be respected, even though he must improve on all known form. Red Jazz has won both his starts to date and his win last time out at this course looks solid form, with the second, third and fourth all winning on their next starts. No Hubris was an easy winner of a York maiden on his debut and his trainer Paul Cole expects big things. There are many more unexposed colts in the line up but a good each-way bet would be Raine's Cross, who was flying home late at Sandown in the National Stakes to snatch third.
The fifth race looks very trappy and is a handicap, the 2m 4f Ascot Stakes. Willie Mullins sends Sesenta over from Ireland and fresh off the back of a hurdling campaign, he should go well for Seamus Heffernan. Last year's winner Missoula is lurking at the bottom and may feature along with Mark Johnston's dour stayer Keenes Day, who has been kept fresh for a crack at this following a win over 2m at Lingfield in April. Venetia Williams saddles Cheltenham Festival winner Kayf Aramis but after scoring by a wide margin at York in May, he was a costly flop at Goodwood shortly after.
The last race on a star-studded first day is the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes over 5f. It looks mighty tough to solve and contains many unexposed types, none more so than once-raced Angel's Pursuit for Richard Hannon. He was well supported on debut and delivered the goods in taking fashion; with that experience under his belt he should go well for Richard Hughes. George Baker, a twice-raced maiden, would be a comical winner for trainer George Baker and his namesake jockey, funnily enough, George Baker. A big danger may come from the Dandy Nicholls-trained Mr Mannanan, who won by 7 lengths on his last start and is highly regarded by his shrewd handler.
Ascot Day One - Selections:
- 2:30 - Gladiatorus, 9/4.- 3:05 - Amour Propre, 3/1.
- 3:45 - Delegator, 4/1.
- 4:20 - Canford Cliffs, 7/4.
- Raine's Cross, e/w 20/1.
- 4:55 - Keene's Day, 7/1.
- 5:30 - Mr Mannanan, 9/2.
Ascot Day One - Results:
- 2:30 - 1st Paco Boy, 100/30, 2nd - Cesare, 11/1, 3rd - Aqlaam, 10/1.
Any doubts surrounding Paco Boy's ability to stay a true-run mile were well and truly silenced as Richard Hannon's talented colt routed his opposition. Gladiatorus set a furious pace but his exertions took their toll and he weakened into sixth, but with two furlongs to go and all but one jockey asking their mounts for maximum effort, Richard Hughes was motionless aboard Paco Boy. He asked him to go and win his race at the furlong marker and he bounded clear to score by two lengths. A terrific performance.
- 3:05 - 1st - Scenic Blast, 11/4 fav, 2nd - Fleeting Spirit, 7/2, 3rd - Anglezarke, 33/1.
Scenic Blast gave Australia a fourth victory in the race and announced himself one of world's leading sprinters. He was settled in last by jockey Stephen Arnold as a typical furious pace was set by last year's winner Equiano. As many began to struggle, Scenic Pass cruised up on the outside and was in front in matter of strides, probably getting to the front too soon. As fancied runners such as Amour Propre weakened down the field, the only challenger to the leader was last year's third Fleeting Spirit, who was flying at the finish but could not contain the impressive winner.
- 3:45 - 1st - Mastercraftsman, 5/6 fav, 2nd - Delegator, 4/1, 3rd - Lord Shanakill, 20/1.
An epic finish ensued as the expected rematch between Mastercraftsman and Delegator met up to its billing, with Aidan O'Brien's showing his determination to fight back and win by a neck. A fast pace was set by the winner's pacemaker and Johnny Murtagh had no choice but to take up the running with two furlongs to go. Mastercraftsman looked beaten at the furlong as Lord Shanakill came to challenge, but as Delegator edged ahead by half a length, it looked like Brian Meehan's charge would get a deserved win at the highest level. However, Murtagh conjured up a brilliant late surge from Mastercraftsman and he battled on gamely to land another Group 1.
- 4:20 - 1st - Canford Cliffs, 7/4 fav, 2nd - Xtension, 20/1, 3rd - Rakaan, 28/1.
Going into the race, Canford Cliffs had an almighty reputation to live up to as his trainer and jockey had stated that he was potentially a superstar. Their beliefs were vindicated as he ran away with a usually competitive race in scintillating style. He was much too free for Richard Hughes early on and just wanted to get on with things, and as soon as Hughes gave in to his demands, Canford Cliffs sprinted clear in the final furlong to win by six lengths and knock a second off the track record. It was obvious from a long way that the rest were playing for minor honours and Xtension improved from his debut win to snatch second from Rakaan.
- 4:55 - 1st - Judgethemoment, 13/2, 2nd - Sesenta, 10/1, 3rd - Royal Rationale, 20/1.
Judgethemoment gave Richard Hughes a first-day treble as he edged out Sesenta and Royal Rationale in a superb finish. He took up the running two furlongs out and kept finding for pressure, eventually being well on top at the line. Sesenta ran a good race in second and she will win soon. Keenes Day was backed into favouritism before the off and looked likely to win at the two furlong marker and he moved stylishly up to the leaders. He briefly took over but the trip seemed to strech his stamina and he weakened out of contention.
- 5:30 - 1st - Strike The Tiger, 33/1, 2nd - Fratellino, 33/1, 3rd - Di Stefano, 25/1.
Strike The Tiger pinged the gates and kept up a really fast pace all of the way to give American Wesley Ward his first winner at Royal Ascot. He was unfancied but nobody could pass him as he sprinted flat-out all the way. Fratellino ran a gallant race in second, being only a neck down at the line, and Di Stefano was flashing home late. Mr Mannanan could not keep pace and stayed on.
No comments:
Post a Comment