Royal Ascot: Day 1 Review & Day 2 Preview
Battash (Dark Angel) Photo: Gulf News
The Queens procession with all of its horse, cart and pageantry was replaced today at Ascot by tumbleweed rolling down the home straight to a scene of Union Jack flags fixed to the running rail. The national anthem turned virtual, with the choir singing in unison on Zoom. You could’ve picked your spot anywhere on the racecourse as the normally crowded bars, grandstands, parade ring viewing spots and bookies grandstands were occupied only by the seagulls.
But as has been the trend of racing in the UK since the 1 st June, the sport made a great fist of a less than ideal situation. The free-to-air television coverage was as expert as ever, giving all of those who couldn’t be on course a brilliant substitute. Ascot racecourse devised a great initiative to give each owner access to coverage of a 360° camera focussed on their horse. It is the owners who you feel for most, having a horse race at the Royal meeting when you can’t be there is tough, imagine having a winner under those circumstances.
In what had seemed a remote possibility even as recently as four weeks ago, Royal Ascot was on and that was the main thing. The action on the track didn’t suffer for the lack of crowd, as some very impressive performances were witnessed.
Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes
As was touched upon yesterday, some very prominent names in the stallion ranks old and new have been victorious in previous running’s of the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes. I think this year’s winner will go on to keep up that tradition.
A horse who finished a strong 6th in last years Derby and was headed on a St Leger path, Circus Maximus (Galileo) was a surprise acceptor and subsequent winner in last years Group 1 St James Palace Stakes. Today, after sweating up significantly prior to the get-go and receiving some question marks over his vulnerability in a front-running roll over an Ascot Mile, the entire from the Ballydoyle yard defied those odds to achieve back-to-back victories at the Royal meeting and become a triple Group 1 winner.
What unfolded was an epic battle of the heavyweights, pitting Ryan Moore against Frankie Dettori, Aidan O’Brien against John Gosden and Coolmore against Godolphin. Fighting tooth and nail over the last one-and-a-half furlongs with up and coming mare Terebellum (Sea The Stars) who was also equally impressive on the day, the two drew clear of the field to show their separation in class from the rest.
This well breed colt out of a Danehill Dancer mare was impressive in victory on a number of fronts today for me:
1. He is building a great reputation for versatility, as well as being a strong miler he is able to inject his staying qualities in those races to fight to the finish. Something which will be a well mentioned trait when he inevitably stands at Coolmore;
2. He was able to win from a position of vulnerability after jointly carrying the field over one of the strongest miles around; and
3. He has scope for improvement, like a lot of O’Brien’s runners which will be seen over this carnival he was having his first run for the season. Second place Terebellum had already won the Dahlia Strakes at Newmarket 10 days prior.
In notching up Royal Ascot win number 71 for Aidan O’Brien and win number 59 for Ryan Moore, Circus Maximus , who now has elite level form all over his from page, was very impressive. The next target is the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood where he is likely to meet Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Siskin. Two very promising stallion prospects for the future, whichever takes that out will have a good head start.
Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes
The Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes, recently a creator of exceptional fillies, played the unfamiliar role of an Oaks Trial today as are the idiosyncrasies of this revised racing calendar.
The hype and money were for the John Gosden trained Frankly Darling (Frankel) in the hands of Frankie Dettori. Plenty of observers, including myself, couldn’t quite see what the fuss was all about as the horse had come off an albeit impressive, but hardly depth-filled 5 length win on the all weather at Newcastle.
But on reflection it was obvious, as soon as Dettori was down to ride this Frankel filly above the two other stable runners, it was clear Mr Gosden rated this horse highly. Racing keenly and thrashing away at the bridle across the undulations of Ascot with every chance to wear herself out, Frankly Darling produced a stunning Oaks trial to clear out an easy victor. Still with plenty of learning to do as was evidenced in a post-race performance in the birdcage, this horse looks a real star.
Dettori himself stated that with no crowd he wouldn’t perform his trademark ‘flying dismount’, but this larger-than-life character who attracts so many outsiders to this sport couldn’t help himself after this. As he was playing up to the 14-strong crowd of stewards and stable-staff, the trainer could be heard saying “you haven’t weighed in yet”! He notched his 8th win in the Ribblesdale and 68 Royal Ascot victories in total.
The race also served to provide John Gosden with his 50th winner at the famous carnival and now has more top quality 3 year olds than he knows what to do with. Subject to coming through today’s race in good order, Frankly Darling will head to the Oaks on July 4th at Epsom, to set up a mouth- watering contest with the hugely impressive winner of the 1,000 Guineas in Love. A couple of other horses notched their first victories on the all-weather at Newcastle – Enable and Stradivarius – and they turned out alright!
Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes
As with the Ribblesdale, the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes was today a Derby trial. Normally a race for later developing horses or those that may have finished further back in the field in the Derby, a reversal in the calendar meant this became the latest instalment towards a culmination at Epsom.
Odds on pre-post favourite was Mogul (Galileo), a full brother to last year’s winner Japan, who was purchased as a yearling for a cool £3.4million!
But the result of today’s race was one of those great examples of racing being a great leveller, as a horse who was passed in after failing to meet his £10k reserve at auction was triumphant in victory. Retained by his breeders to race after the disappointment at the sales, Pyledriver (Harbour Watch) scored under a peach of a ride from the almost forgotten jockey Martin O’Dwyer for his father-in- law and trainer William Muir. A jockey who struggles for engagements nowadays but once rode a Derby winner in Sir Percy, O’Dwyer held his nerve to show ice-cool qualities as he picked a path through the inside to gather in the field. His solid 2 nd placing at Kempton a fortnight ago coupled with this impressive performance today means horse is a genuine Epsom Derby contender.
Mogul looked short of a run in the parade ring, carrying extra condition and was very flat throughout the running. I’m not sure that he’ll push on to the Derby. The stablemate Arthurs Kingdom (Camelot) was OK if a little dour in 2nd, I think he could be a speculator for the St Leger later in the year.
I’m not sure that when the British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) sat down with their note pads to hurriedly draw up a revised schedule that is was one of their central goals, but what has happened to both the Derby and the Oaks has been a revelation. The Oaks and in particular the Derby sit firmly on top of the pile of prestigious races here and as a result it is a costly process to be given the right to jump from the gates at Epsom. It has traditionally worked on a ‘pay to stay in’ basis, where regular entry fees are paid as the event draws closer. What results is a field that is made up disproportionately weighed towards the heavyweight stables and owners who are largely speculating on 2yo and natural ability. As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, all entry fees previously paid were refunded to connections due to the uncertainty of these Classics being staged in 2020. The decision made by the government to allow professional sport to return was an abrupt one, and as a result it was a race against time ignite all fixtures again. By having nominations open until six days prior to the Derby and the Oaks with only one flat payment, it has allowed horses such as Pyledriver to throw their hats firmly in the ring for a race that under normal conditions they wouldn’t get near. Connections of this horse acknowledged today that in any other year this horse would not contest this famous race. It has created a fascinating twist in the resumption to racing, and a ‘race’ to Epsom where horses will have only one or at a push two lead up races. With Kameko, English King and Military March to add to the mix, it looks to be one of the most fascinating renewals in recent years.
In the reverse to that notion, 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!
Group 1 King Stand Stakes
As described yesterday, the 2020 edition of the King Stand had destiny written all over it for one horse. With his tendency to throw in the odd howler amongst the overwhelmingly sensational, what looked to be a nailed-on certainty always had a chance of not coming off.
But he was as relaxed as he’s ever been prior to the race and the way he demolished his rivals over a sizzling five-furlongs on the straight course at Ascot today, Battaash (Dark Angel) must have wondered what all of the worry was about.
This field was full of improving type sprinters, most notably stablemate Equilateral (Equiano) who made impressive ground from last at halfway to end up in 2nd , but the truth is that this country lacks the depth in sprinting talent to get anywhere near a horse as good as Battaash when they come along. He looks as though he has improved from five to six, in both stature and speed.
The five furlongs were covered by the son of Dark Angel in 58.64 seconds, which is the fifth fastest recorded time in this race. The top four spots go to American Lady Aurelia, Australian Miss Andretti, the French trained Chineur and retired rival Blue Point. The thing about this is that if there was ever a horse found in this country fast enough to lead him up then he’d go quicker, there just simply isn’t and he is in a race of his own to the line. Ornate showed toe at York last year in the Nunthorpe Stakes to lead him up and he ran the five-furlongs in 55.90 seconds.
In a statement that won’t go down well on Australian shores, I truly believe he is the best sprinter in training right now anywhere in the world. Definitely over five-furlongs and probably over six. Similar to how you could see Black Caviar take giant strides or Winx take fast strides, Battaash just looks to propel himself on a different level. He has now fashioned a record of 11 wins from 21 starts, including three at Group 1, five at Group 2 and one at Group 3. He looks as though he will plot a similar path to last year head to the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood to attempt to win the race for the fourth time on the bounce before heading to York for another crack at the Nunthorpe. I can’t see how anything will get near him.
Frustratingly, there seems no appetite from owner Sheik Hamdan Al Maktoum to head down under to take on the Aussies, so is a showdown in the Kings Stand Stakes of 2021 with Nature Strip a possibility?! Wouldn’t that be five-furlongs of thoroughbred action you wouldn’t want to miss?!
My takeaways from today’s action:
1. In whatever capacity, Royal Ascot is brilliant.
2. Circus Maximus will be a strong acquisition to Coolmore’s stallion barn and will bring great strength in terms of middle distance / staying versatility.
3. Frankly Darling vs Love in the Oaks is looking very exciting!
4. This years Derby could be one for the little guys.
5. Is Battaash the best sprinter in the world?
6. The Duke of Cambridge Stakes is a borderline Group 3 fixture, let alone Group 2. (I didn’t review it, but Nazeef (Invincible Spirit) took it out if you were wondering).
On a day primarily for the 20 + field Handicaps, there are a couple of Group races on Day Two:
Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3, 1m 2f)
Racing on various days, under various different names and for various status across time, the Hampton Court Stakes is a Group 3 contest for 3yo’s. Typically a race that has been contested by those coming out of the Derby in lower places, the race has been won by the likes of Time Test, in 2017 by the subsequent Cox Plate runner-up Benbatl and in 2018 Hunting Horn who will be familiar to Australian readers as a victor in the 2019 Moonee Valley Cup.
As was the case in the King Edward VII, this race now takes on added spice as a Derby trial and the likes of First Receiver (New Approach) for The Queen, Russian Emperor (Galileo) for Ballydoyle, 2,000 Guineas hard luck stories Juan Elcano (Frankel) and Kenzai Warrior (Karakontie) as well as Berlin Tango (Danisli) who beat Pyledriver at his previous start all add great intrigue to this years fixture.
Very close to call and the outcome will reveal another Derby contender to be added to the mix, at the moment these are relatively unknown but after tomorrow at least one will catapult up the Derby market!
Prince of Wales Stakes (Group 1, 1m)
Introduced in 1862 as a race over a mile for 3 year olds, the Prince of Wales Stakes is now one of the premier open class mile fixtures on the British racing calendar.
If we look to the first three across the line in the last two running’s of this contest we can find this:
2019:
1st Crystal Ocean – 1st = Longines World’s Best Racehorse 2019
2nd Magical – Triple Group 1 winner, £3.1million in prizemoney •
3rd Waldgeist – Four-time Group 1 winner including 2019 Pre de l’Arc de Triomphe
2018:
1st Poets Word – Double Group One winner, £2.9million in prizemoney
2nd Cracksman – World’s top rated racehorse 2018
3rd Hawkbill – £3.5million in prizemoney winning races in six countries across the world
Other horses to appear on the honour roll include Dubai Millenium (2000), Fantastic Light (2001), Nayef (2003), Azamour (2005), Ouija Board (2006), Duke of Marmalade (2008), So You Think (2012) and Highland Reel (2017).
I believe that in this years renewal we will see a victory by a horse that has already proven he is on the way to being mentioned in the same breath as those above.
Japan (Galileo) for Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore and the Coolmore ownership should be way too hard to handle in tomorrow’s contest. A horse who has already run 3rd in a Derby and is a dual Group 1 and dual Group 2 winner, his vitory over Crystal Ocean in last years Juddmonte International and a strong 4th placing in the Pre de l’Arc de Triomphe were extremely impressive. I think he will train on throughout the season to be desperately competitive in this years Arc at Longchamp. The slight negative against Japan is the fact that he enjoys a good pace being set up front, something which this field looks to distinctly lack.
If he is to be vulnerable first up (which I really can’t foresee) then last weekend’s Brigadier Gerard winner Lord North (Dubawi) for John Gosden would be the upset choice.
The horse named after the Land of the Rising Sun should rise and shine bright tomorrow.