Royal Ascot: Day 2 Review & Day 3 Preview

Russian Emperor (Galileo) edging out First Receiver (New Approach) Photo: Ascot Racecourse

Day two emerged with a lot less wind and the track drying out even further to register good all round. Thunder storms were predicted at 3pm, but they never eventuated.

The day was themed ‘Best of British’, but in the feature race the favourite was a horse named Japan, the outsider was Bangkok and there were to leading contenders who’d just arrived back from Dubai and Australia. It all panned out like this...

Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes

“...with the failure of Mogul today and no other strong likely contenders, the lack of available time and fixtures has left Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore without a recognised hope in a race they’ve won on five of the last eight years. Having said that, you wouldn’t bet against them pulling something from nowhere!”. I said that yesterday and a potential solution was found exactly 24 hours later.

Off the back of a satisfactory second at Leopardstown nine days ago, Russian Emperor (Galileo) produced a performance that was significantly the best of his short career. The profile of this horse is all to familiar: Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore, Coolmore, Galileo. But for Southern hemisphere readers, this has an interesting twist. Out of none other than champion Fastnet Rock mare Atlantic Jewel, herself out of a Zabeel mare – this was a superb result for the Australasian breeding fraternity. Congratulations go to Lauri Macri, who has kept a stake in this son of his highly successful mare. This is the second attempt at the same breeding combination, Russian Emperor is now very much the better of the two offspring produced.

This was a field high in depth. 2nd placed First Receiver (New Approach) had come off the back of a dazzling win at Kempton, 3rd placed Berlin Tango (Danisli) had beaten yesterdays winner Pyledriver and runners to come out of the very strong edition of the 2,000 Guineas in Juan Elcano (Frankel) and Kenzai Warrior (Karakontie).

Five furlongs down the home straight after coming off the Ascot round course is an eternity if you are out in front and Russian Emperor took all of that to reel in the leading duo to power away at the finish. In doing so he gave Aidan O’Brien his fourth winner in the race, Ryan Moore his 60th in total at Royal Ascot and his sire his 85th individual stakes winner. What was remarkable about the performance is that he was the first off the bridle before they turned and looked to be battling even at that stage. When asked about his chances of rising from today’s 10 furlongs to the Derby’s 12 furlongs, Ryan Moore was hopeful rather than absolutely confident. A genuine 10 furlong horse who may be able to get 12 was the view. His Mum of course was never tested beyond 10, but his sire....well the success at 12 is embarrassingly good.

From what I’ve seen he’ll do well to beat Kameko or English King in the Derby, but he’s propelled himself for mine into a horse deserving of third favouritism and being a genuine contender should he be seen at Epsom on the 4th of July. For today, it’s about savouring a victory at Royal Ascot with a real Southern Hemisphere flavour.

Group 1 Prince of Wales Stakes

The decision to geld a well bred colt after his third start when he’s fashioned two wins can’t be an easy one, but for Lord North (Dubawi) it has proved the catalyst to catapulting him into the very top echelon of 10 furlong horses in this country. In the six starts since he became a gelding he has won a 30-strong Cambridgeshire Handicap, a listed race at Newmarket, 12 days ago a Group 3 Brigadier Gerard and now a Group One Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot. He didn’t just win today either, he came from last to distance his very well credentialed rivals who between them shared 36 race wins, including six Group One’s and £5million in prizemoney.

I was impressed with his Brigadier Gerard run and said yesterday that if anything was going to cause a boil over in defeating Japan (Galileo), then this John Gosden trained 4yo would be the one to do it. He did it in a fashion that suggested this horse really is the real deal.

Gosden said after the race that Lord North reminded him of his old charger Hailing who raced with great distinction in the mid 1990’s, both horses who suffered setbacks and behavioural issues early in their career. Hailing went on to take out Coral Eclipse and Juddmonte International Stakes after winning Cambridgeshire Handicaps two years on the bounce. If the master trainer works to that blue print then we will see a sensational renewal of this years Coral Eclipse, where Enable is scheduled to return. The free running Ghayaaith will be there too and what a race that shapes up to be. In a race with so much history of being a stallion making contest, this years edition has no chance of fulfilling that.

In second place was Adeybb (Pivotal), of course well known to Australian viewers as taking out a Sydney Group One double this year in the Ranvet and Queen Elizabeth. In third was Barney Roy (Excelebration), fresh off the back of a Group One and Group Two winning campaign in Dubai. He was sent to stud, but infertility issues see him back on the racecourse and continuing to improve on his sensational record. No stallions from this trifecta, but these three horses are high quality, elite performers all the same.

As for the odds-on favourite Japan, well he made a mess of the race in truth. He fell out of the gates, Moore punched him up to sit near the speed in a muddling run affair and all of that took its toll down the stretch. As with a couple of the O’Brien runners so far he looked to be carrying some extra condition, and with more fish to fry as the season progresses you’d have to say he’ll benefit from the run. Japanese interest has bought into the horse, and the holy grail for Japanese racing folk is the famous Pre d’lArc de Triomphe. You’ll see a different horse come October at Longchamp.

Listed Windsor Castle Stakes

How aptly named this race was today. Exactly 6.9miles from the racecourse down the A332 in the county of Berkshire at the real Windsor Castle, someone who has been on course for the last 68 runnings of this meeting was watching from the comfort of her armchair. That of course was The Queen and when Tactical (Tornado) crossed the line first in her famous colours which feature the black hat with gold tassle, this most ardent of race fans would’ve risen to her feet sending the Corgi’s flying.

Breed by Her Majesty from her former Westbury Stud sire Makfi mare in Make Fast, this win by Tactical can be upgraded due to interference suffered at the start. The money came late, shortening from 7-1 yesterday into 7/2 favouritism at the off, due to it’s slashing time at Newmarket 11 days previous and being drawn on the favourable stand side.

These five furlong capacity field 2yo affairs are hard to sort out and never seem to produce a horse that kicks on to huge success, but it was fitting that it gave The Queen her first Royal winner since 2016 and 24th in total.

The Handicaps

A real feature of the Royal meeting and indeed British racing as a whole are the Handicaps, and today hosted a number of these. Famous for drawing fields in excess of 25 runners, it is quite a spectacle to see them divide into two and three groups across the expanse of the Ascot turf.

Over the last four years the Irish have become a dominant force in these, but in an attempt to limit the flow of horse traffic across the channel due to Coronavirus only British horses can compete in handicaps at the meeting.

To be successful in a Royal Ascot handicap you have to essentially be a Group quality horse and today threw up performances befitting of that.

The King George V Stakes is a 1m 4f contest for 3yo’s and usually sees progressive types contesting. In a sensational performance and stepping up a whopping half-mile from his maiden win at Kempton, Hukum (Sea The Stars) held very tough to the line to score an impressive victory. This gave owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum and his retained rider Jim Crowley their fourth winner of the carnival already, highlighted yesterday by the success of Battaash. In just his third start, this was a mightily impressive performance by the colt who showed true staying qualities. As explained yesterday, the upside-down situation we find ourselves in leads to questions around the chances of this horse contesting a Derby. Trainer Owen Burrows, who notched up his first victory at the meeting, wouldn’t rule it out but thought he may yet be too inexperienced for 12 furlongs around Epsom. With a time half a second slower than the corresponding race won by Pyledriver yesterday on a slower track I’d be inclined to agree, but the beauty of this year is that these types of horses have at least got a real decision to make, one that won’t cost them the earth.

The Royal Hunt Cup over 1m is a famous handicap for open class gallopers. Victory this year went to a horse that was once billed as a future star. When Dark Vision (Dream Ahead) was purchased by Goldolphin for a lot of money after his Group 2 win at Goodwood as a 2yo, I don’t think the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum operation would’ve seen the Royal Hunt Cup as his major payday, but they’ll take it. Ever since flopping to last place in an eagerly awaited match race against star Too Darn Hot in September 2018 at Doncaster, there has been nothing but wasted potential. He won’t be contesting a Group contest next time out, but will this horse who promised so much as a juvenile finally start chipping away at the debt caused by the money that was needed to acquire him?

Day three will see some high quality fields, the Group and listed contests look like this:

Wolferton Stakes (Listed, 1m 2f)

The Wolverton Stakes was a race introduced in 2002, when the Royal meeting was extended to five days to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of The Queen. In 2018 the race was moved to the opening Tuesday of Royal Ascot and the handicap element was removed to comply with a recommendation that no handicap should carry Listed status, meaning it became a conventional Listed Race. However, Group 1 and 2 winners since the previous August are prohibited from entering.

Last years renewal was particularly strong, we saw Adeybb take the race out and this horse went on to run a very creditable 2nd in the Group 1 Qipco Champions Stakes before heading down under to score a Group 1 double in the Ranvet Stakes and Queen Elizabeth respectively. In 2nd was Magic Wand, a globetrotting mare who has ammased £3.4million in prizemoney including a victory over Melody Belle in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington.

Interestingly, in 2014 a son of High Chapparal by the name of Contributer was victorious, in what would be his last Northern Hemisphere start before he transferred to Sydney where he was trained by John O’Shea for Goldolphin. Now standing at Mapperley Stud in New Zealand, this horse achieved multiple Group victories and was named Champion Australian Middle Distance Horse of the Year.

Although perhaps not having the depth of some previous contests, I think this year could see the coming of age of a future star. Fox Tal (Sea The Stars) for Andrew Balding and King Power Racing looks to be a middle distance horse on the rise. This lightly raced 4yo Colt will encounter a field here that is significantly weaker than the last time he was seen on this course. His 4th placing in the Group 1 Qipco Champion Stakes on Champions Day in October belied his record and experience at the time. Finishing in behind Magical, Adeybb and the taleneted Japanese raider Deidre (a Group 1 victor at Goodwood two starts prior) and in front of some real talent, he was far from disgraced. Look for this horse to take out this contest and then remember the name Fox Tal.

Also in the field is Sir Dragonet (Camelot) for Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore. After destroying his rivals by eight lengths in a Group 3 contest at Chester, he was sent out favourite for last years Derby. He was only OK in 5th at Epsom and the same in the St Leger when 4th. Billed as the next big thing from the champion yard, he has flattered to deceive since Chester. As they say, form is temporary and class is permanent – he certainly has the class, is the average form also permanent?!

Jersey Stakes (Group 3, 7f)

The Jersey Stakes has a niche place as a high-quality seven-furlong race for the Classic generation and, although it is only a Group 3, horses of the highest calibre often progress from the race.

In 2016, Ribchester (Iffraaj) took out the contest and went on to record four Group One victories, becoming Champion three year old in 2016 and Champion miler in 2016 & 2017. He now of course stands at stud for the Darley operation.

Expert Eye (Acclamation) stormed to a 4 1⁄2 length victory, handing Kiwi James MacDonald his breakthrough Royal Ascot Success. Before being retried to stud at Juddmonte, he followed his victory in the Jersey with a sensational win in the Breeders Cup Mile.

This year, the likes of unbeaten duo King Leonidas (Kingman) for Gosden / Dettori and Mister Snowdon (Lethal Force) could be anything. Whilst, Molatham (Night of Thunder), Monarch of Eygpt (American Pharoah) and Celestin (Darbarism) set an extremely strong standard.

A talented and open field, this race will be won by a type sure to surge on.

Chesham Stakes (Listed, 7f)

During the rushed preparation for Royal Ascot, trainers urgently tried to get their precocious two- year-olds out after being denied the useful learning opportunities typically available in April and May.

With all juvenile races pushed towards the rear of the meeting, the Chesham – which ironically has been brought forward from its previous Saturday slot – provides a glimpse of which early two-year- old contests might offer the strongest form lines.

The race has an unusual restriction, being open only to horses sired by stallions who won over ten furlongs or more.

While the Chesham is not guaranteed to offer up a performance as stunning as Pinatubo's victory last year, it will certainly provide some clues for the remainder of the week.

As with most of the juvenile contests there is little to no exposed form. Early winners Bright Devil (Dark Angel), First Prophet (New Bay) and Modern News (Sharmadal) have the chance to remain unbeaten, whilst Battleground (War Front) for Ballydoyle and Golden Flame (Golden Horn) are first and second favourites respectively.

We will certainly no a lot more than we do now about contenders after they’ve hit the wire tomorrow.

Ascot Gold Cup (Group 1, 2m 4f)

It is perhaps testament to the fact that Northern Hemisphere stayers are so strong, that for all the hype around speedsters, 3 year olds and middle distance specialists, the Gold Cup is still a fans favourite of the meeting. Sadly, in my opinion, the unfashionable nature of stayers (perhaps with the exception of the first Tuesday in November) in Australasia means that many great staying events in that part of the world becoming increasingly irrelevant as the years go by. I for one am still a long distance tragic.

You only have to go back to the turn of the century to see the tremendous theatre and rich history the Ascot Gold Cup gives.

Perhaps the most decorated hero of this war of attrition is the great stayer Yeats (Sadlers Wells). The Aidan O’Brien trained entire took this race out an incredible four years in a row with victories in the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 editions. He went on the fashion a 22 start, 14 win record – incredibly all 14 times he passed the winning post in first position were in a Group or Listed event.

The Queen took the race out in 2013 with her tremendous stayer Estimate (Monsun), the footage of jockey Ryan Moore exchanges waves with Her Majesty in the Royal box as he and the horse came back to scale is one for the thoroughbred television highlight reel.

Champion stayer Order of St George (Galilieo) took the race out in 2016 before returning to defend his crown in 2017. Who could forget the most epic of battles that transpired after 4,000m of galloping when he and Big Orange (Duke of Marmalade) went neck and neck up the length of the staright, with the Orange one just prevailing. That for me was the best racing theatre I have witnessed.

This leads to the champion stayer of the current day, Stradivarius (Sea The Stars). Pretty much since the conclusion of the battle described above which wore those two warriors out, he has assumed the role of dominant stayer and beaten a path of all out success ever since. Taking out this race for the last two years as well as every other major staying contest in this country, he will be an odds on favourite shooting for a hat trick tomorrow.

It is arguable that the only thing that will beat Stradivarius tomorrow is he himself. John Gosden felt he needed a lead up run and so he dropped him to a well short of best distance 1m4f for the Coronation Cup, which was run at hot fractions and won by Ghaiyyath. Frankie Dettori took care of him once the winning opportunity was gone, but the favourite will have had only 13 days to recover. Will it be long enough?

If I am honest, the signs were apparent last season of him looking slightly less dominant, which culminated in a first defeat in over two years to Kew Gardens (Galileo) in his last hit out of 2019. Kew Gardens will not be here tomorrow and a part of me thinks that is just as well. This Bjorn Neislen owned champion is a great ambassador for racing, and as was the case with Battaash on Tuesday, everyone will be (virtually) willing him to the finishing line.

If there was something that I feel would most likely be an upset, it is a 4yo I really rate in the Nayef Road (Galileo). Trainer Mark Johnston has engaged a key booking in Ryan Moore and he shapes as a real up and comer. I said in my report after he won at Newcastle in the Sagaro Stakes over 2 miles that he was one for the future and comes off the back of St Leger form, a race which has proved to be an extremely strong guide to the subsequent season.

Prince of Arran (Shirocco) and his charismatic trainer Charlie Fellowes has been ultra-consistent for a sustained period of time, his run at Newcastle in behind Nayef Road was full of progression. He will be thereabouts as well.

Cross Counter (Teofillo) has never pushed on since he roared home to score under a featherweight in the 2018 Melbourne Cup. He has run out of chances with me.