Royal Ascot Day 1 preview + recap of the weekend
Siskin (First Defence) Photo: Bloodhorse
In another nod to the strange situation we find ourselves in, on Tuesday and just 14 days after the first race of the flat season was run, the stalls will crash open for the first race of the Royal Ascot carnival. It will be five glorious afternoons on the sofa with the Racing Post in one hand and a good cup of English Breakfast in the other for yours truly, as 36 races at the Royal meeting will be staged across five days. Behind closed doors and with no Queen, for the first time in her 68-year reign.
The meetings really are coming out of our ears up here at the moment, so before we look to Day One at Ascot, there are a few points of interest from the weekend:
The Irish 2,000 Guineas were run at the Curragh on Friday evening and the pre-post favourite was the unbeaten Ger Lyons trained Siskin (First Defence) for Prince Khalid Abdullah and his Juddmonte Farms operation. The punters were right as the unbeaten colt survived a chequered path down the stretch to beat off his rivals (of which six of the 10 of those were trained by Aidan O’Brien) and score an impressive victory. The most interesting development from that has transpired in the last 24 hours where it has been confirmed that in a first for the Prince and Juddmonte, the horses breeding rights have been sold to an undisclosed group of breeders. Siskin will not join the likes of Frankel, Oasis Dream and Kingman when the curtain comes down on his career. He will however continue to race in the famous Green, White and Pink for the remainder of his racing career, where the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on August 2nd is the next target. Given the resource available to the current owner, one can only deduce that the offer will have been very large!
In what seems like a never-ending train of promising 3 year olds, the John Gosden barn unleashed another when Franconia (Frankel) took out the listed Abingdon Fillies Stakes over 1m 2f (2000m) at Newbury on Saturday. Coming off a maiden victory at Chelmsford, this was a mightily impressive victory in what was a huge step up in class. She will however bypass the Oaks which will come too quickly and will instead head to a Group 3 contest in York in mid-July.
In an interesting piece of trivia, it has only been since the start of this current season that training partnerships can be registered here in the UK. What is commonplace in the Southern Hemisphere, previous to June 1st only an individual trainer could be registered and appear in the racecard in this part of the world. The honour of being the first training partnership to take out a race at Group Level in this country went to Ed and Simon Crisford when 6yo Century Dream (Cape Cross) crossed the line first in the Group 3 Diomed Strakes at Newbury.
Spoken about last week as remarkable, a Galileo filly trained by Aidan O’Brien was once again to the fore in a 1,000 Guineas when Peaceful (Galilieo) took out the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday, giving the sire a record 85th Group One win. O’Brien trifecta’d the race and Peaceful is line to take a quick back up at Royal Ascot in the Coronation Stakes on the last day of the meeting.
On Sunday, there were a couple of potential Melbourne Cup pointers as the stayers did battle at Doncaster and Leopardstown. A horse that has contested the last two editions of the Caulfield Cup, Red Verdon (Lemon Drop Kid), was a class above in the 1m 6f (2,800m) Grand Cup Stakes. Trainer Ed Dunlop (well known as trainer of triple Melbourne Cup runner up Red Cadeaux) was circumspect about another trip down under, but if he continues to show the form he did on the weekend then the temptation may prove too irresistible.
At Leopardstown, the Saval Beg Lesmoss Stakes at listed level over 1m 6f (2,800m) was billed as a two horse war between last years quinella. However, Nickajack Cave (Kendargent) spoilt the party to end up snaring the prize. The horse in second was last years winner and didn’t lose any favours whatsoever. That horse is the Lloyd Williams owned Twilight Payment (Teofilo), trained by Joseph O’Brien. The run to me looked a very good first up hit out and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him train on and appear in Australia looking to improve on his 11th placing of last year in the 2 mile feature at Flemington.
It is all very early days and there will be more contenders appear in the weeks to come, but what I can confirm is that Coronavirus and it’s impact on racing will have no effect on the Northern assault on Victoria come later in the year. In fact I’d say it’ll aid the strength with horses being fresher.
As I say, all eyes are now firmly fixed on this week at Royal Ascot and here is a preview of the Group contests on Day One:
Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1m)
The Queen Anne is a race for 4 year olds + and is contested over a mile. The honour roll includes horses such as Cape Cross (1999), No Excuse Needed (2002), Dubai Destination (2003), Aussie raider Haradasun (2007), Frankel (2012), Declaration of War (2013) and Ribchester (2018). As this list attests, it is a race that has been taken out by horses that have gone on to great achievement at stud.
This years renewal looks to be a one horse affair. Circus Maximus (Galileo) for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore is the obvious stand out in the race and looks to be a Group One horse in a field of Group Two & Three performers. Circus Maximus took out the St James Palace Stakes at the meeting last year (defeating Too Darn Hot in the process) and went on to notch an impressive 4th in the Breeders Cup Mile at Santa Anita.
Terebellum (Sea The Stars) for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori is sure to provide stiff opposition, coming off the back of winning the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket last weekend.
2018 1,000 Guineas winner Billesden Brook (Champs Elysees), who has mixed form since that upset victory, would be a watcher for me.
A race with very good depth, but one stands out from the rest here.
Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes (1m 3f)
The Ribblesdale is a famous race for 3yo fillies. Traditionally a race for horses coming out of the Oaks, the roles have been reversed this year and it plays somewhat as an Oaks trial. You only have to go back to the previous two winners of this race to demonstrate what a quality contest this always is.
Last year Star Catcher (Sea The Stars) was victorious for the Gosden / Dettori combination, and the race was the launching pad for Group One victories in the Irish Oaks, the Prix Vermaille and the British Championship Fillies & Mares Stakes.
The 2018 running went to Magic Wand (Galileo) for the O’Brien / Moore combination. Since then, Magic Wand has globetrotted her way to £3.4million in prizemoney including a victory over Melody Belle in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington.
This year presents a very open renewal. There is obviously very strong wraps on the favourite in Frankly Darling (Frankel) for John Gosden, a horse who really has no strong exposed form. Two starts so far have earned a second in a maiden at Yarnouth last year and a maiden victory at Newcastle on the day racing resumed two weeks ago. Dettori has elected to ride the horse, it is trained by Gosden and is by Frankel. It is only these three factors that see it in favouritism, and with the booking of the top jock one can only assume it is very highly rated by the camp.
Trefoil (Teofilo) for Ralph Beckett and Harry Bentley who was 3rd in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes last weekend and Passion (Galilieo) for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore sit in second and third favouritism respectively.
The horse for me which I mentioned last week is the second of the John Gosden runners in Miss Yoda (Sea the Stars). It could do no more than win the Oaks Trial at Lingfield last weekend the way it did. I was impressed by that and the horse gets my vote. History tells us that whoever wins this contest is going to be a good one.
King Edward VII Stakes (1m 3f)
The race once known as the ‘Ascot Derby’ has an interesting history. You can go back to 1995 when the great Pentire took out this race as an example of the staying pedigree that runs through this race. Wiley staying campaigners such as Campanologist and Old Persian are included in the honour roll as well as Nathaniel, of course the father of Enable.
Last years winner Japan (Galileo) is an extremely impressive horse who after his fourth in last years Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will take a power of beating in Wednesday’s Prince of Wales Stakes.
As is the case for the girls in The Ribbelsdale, this year’s renewal has morphed into a Derby Trial of sorts. For one horse in particular. Mogul (Galileo) for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore (I may as well create a keyboard shortcut for that combination!) is the favourite for the contest. Very highly regarded by Ballydoyle and already a Group 2 winner, this horse has been plagued by soundness issues in his short career. He is the leading hope for the stable in this years Derby and if he can get it right tomorrow as his talent says he can, he will provide further intrigue to the Derby in a couple of weeks’ time. Running an impressive 4th to the 2,0000 Guineas winner and Derby favourite Kameko at his last start last year, he has the credentials to be too good for this field.
The unbeaten Mohican Heights (Australia) for David Simcock and the red-hot hoop Andrea Atzeni will in my opinion provide very stern opposition for the Ballydoyle charger. His victory at Salisbury in August last year has been franked by the horse who ran 3rd in that race in Berlin Tango winning impressively at Kempton a fortnight ago. We’ve all seen these idiosyncratic horses not turn up before, so I’m banking on that tomorrow to give Mohican Heights a victory.
Whatever happens there will be an interested viewer in the grand- old Pentire, looking down from above with fond memories from 25 years before.
King Stand Stakes (5f)
The Southern Hemisphere has always laid claim to having superior sprinters and the Kings Stand Stakes is a race rich in Australasian success.
From Choisir in 2003, to Takeover Target in 2006, to Miss Andretti in 2007, to Little Bridge by former Westbury Stud resident sire Faltaat in 2012, plenty of spoils have gone the way of visitors from the South.
This year, destiny looks to be coming to a crowd favourite and sensational performer who deserves this more than most. His rival and the only horse to finish ahead of him in the 2018 & 2019 editions of the contest in Blue Point is gone, retired to stud. Young-gun and new rival Sceptical has opted to race on Saturday. He is the best sprinter in training and a true five-furlong speed machine. Battaash (Dark Angel) for Charlie Hills and Jim Crowley will have the entire (virtual) crowd behind him. But, he was gelded at an early age for a reason – he is referred to as an occasional “lunatic”. Everyone is hoping he can keep it together and earn himself a Group One on the Royal turf tomorrow. I can’t bring myself to make a case for any others, I’m firmly on the side of Battaash.
Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes (1m)
Designed as an incentive to keep more of their gender from being exported or prematurely retired to stud, the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes for mares is one of a number of races of this type introduced across Europe in 2004. It hasn’t exactly spurred any recent winner on to greatness, but the fact is that it doesn’t need to. Black type at Royal Ascot makes a very valuable broodmare.
History tells me you are looking for a 4 year old, with form at a mile and with some form of listed success in it’s formline. On that basis it is understandable that Nazeef (Invincible Spirit) for John Gosden and Jim Crowley is the favourite.
Jubiloso (Sharmadal) for the very successful combination of Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore brings strong credit into this. This horse was 3rd in The Coronation Stakes at last years meeting.
Queen Power (Sharmadal) also for Sir Michael Stuote with Silvestre de Souza aboard is also a great chance. 2nd to Terrebellum at Newmarket - who as above is a very strong chance in The Queen Anne – at it’s last start. A credible 4th last year to the aforementioned Star Catcher in The Ribblesdale strengthens claims as well.
My money however will be on a £4,000 purchase and lightly raced 5yo in Miss O’Connor (Roderic O’Connor) who is unbeaten in four starts, on every occasion downing very credible opposition. She is already very valuable, but think how many times over connections will have doubled their purchase price if James Doyle steers home for William Haggas tomorrow.
It’s going to be very different, but lets bring on Day One of Royal Ascot!