Day 3 at Royal Ascot sees the meeting’s most prestigious race, the Ascot Gold Cup. JHR’s Andrew Hawkins has looked at the fields and come up with this preview.
Race 1 – GROUP 2 NORFOLK STAKES (5f/1000m)
Another two year old race to kick off Day 3 at Royal Ascot. This is one for the sprinters, with the race producing some handy horses over the years – the most notable being good stallion Johannesburg. This year, the race looks at the mercy of CAY VERDE, ridden by Craig Williams. At his last two starts he has easily beaten Hototo and Dylanbaru, who were first and third in the Windsor Castle Stakes on Tuesday. It’s the best chance for an Australian winner today – not for the horse, but the jockey. ANNUNCIATION was very good last start in winning by six lengths. He was beaten two starts ago by RECKLESS ABANDON, who I have in for third, but the manner of his last win was good enough to see him turning the tables here. Reckless Abandon can run a big race with improvement on his first start, while I have GALE FORCE TEN in for fourth.
3 – CAY VERDE
2 – ANNUNCIATION
11 – RECKLESS ABANDON
5 – GALE FORCE TEN
Race 2 – GROUP 2 RIBBLESDALE STAKES (1m 4f/2400m)
It’s almost the Epsom Oaks again, minus the winner Was. Oaks form tends to be good here, but I’m going to look elsewhere. I said yesterday I was hoping to see a victory for Her Majesty The Queen at some point in the carnival, and I think this might be her best chance of a win. MOMENTARY was good defeating Shirocco Star at Newbury, and the form was franked when Shirocco Star ran a game second in the Oaks behind Was. I’m really quite keen on her here. The big danger to me is VOW, who didn’t handle Epsom at all in the Oaks. She’ll be suited getting to an easier track like Ascot, and I think she is the real threat. THE FUGUE was unlucky at Epsom and she should go alright here, she is the favourite though and I don’t know if she should be that short, while SHIROCCO STAR should be around the mark.
7 – MOMENTARY
14 – VOW
12 – THE FUGUE
11 – SHIROCCO STAR
Race 3 – GROUP 1 ASCOT GOLD CUP (2m 4f/4000m)
The marathon for the stayers is one of Royal Ascot’s most prestigious races. It’s a very good field this year, compared to some fields that have been assembled in recent years. Given FAME AND GLORY’s dominance last year, it is hard to see how they’ll beat him. He’s the most classy horse in the field and he stays. It’s hard to see him being beaten this year. COLOUR VISION was good at Kempton defeating Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux, who then ran second in the Coronation Cup. He seems to have gone to a new level this year and I think he’ll run well here. SADDLER’S ROCK is an emerging galloper who has only run seven times, winning four of those including the Doncaster Cup. He’s the unknown quantity. And it is hard not to include OPINION POLL, who ran second last year and has been a most consistent Cup horse. The market has this race pretty well figured out I think.
4 – FAME AND GLORY
7 – COLOUR VISION
9 – SADDLER’S ROCK
6 – OPINION POLL
Race 4 – BRITANNIA STAKES (1m/1600m)
30 runners down the straight in a three year old handicap. Talk about a tough race to analyse! And the market agrees, with the favourite at double figures. I’m going for PRINCE ALZAIN, who was impressive last start when running third at Epsom. Looks the right type for the race and has a good chance. FROG HOLLOW is coming through the grades and he’s drawn perfectly. Expect to see him down the outside rail. At odds, maybe NAWWAAR and COME ON BLUE CHIP could run big races. Tough!
16 – PRINCE ALZAIN
21 – FROG HOLLOW
24 – NAWWAAR
18 – COME ON BLUE CHIP
Race 5 – GROUP 3 TERCENTENARY STAKES (1m 2f/2000m)
A good race, that has been won by the likes of Collection and Glass Harmonium – horses which are quite familiar in Australia. TALES OF GRIMM is unexposed and looks to have a lot of upside. Could be the one to come out and win here before potentially ending up on the other side of the world. STARBOARD looks the best of the three for Khalid Abdullah and he appreciated getting up to the trip last time out. MUKHADRAM is another lightly raced type with scope, while ENERGIZER was good in Germany last start and steps back in class here. Good race.
10 – TALES OF GRIMM
8 – STARBOARD
6 – MUKHADRAM
3 – ENERGIZER
Race 6 – KING GEORGE V STAKES (1m 4f/2400m)
This handicap has produced a number of horses that have gone on to run in Australia. Perhaps we might see another couple who will end up down under today. NICHOLASCOPERNICUS looks a handy stayer in the making. He’s been good at his runs at the trip and he’s right down in the weights. Right type for the race. Highclere Racing always have some nice stayers and COMMITMENT could be another one. He was disappointing last start, but before that he looked good. If he brings that form here, he’ll run a bold race. ANOMALY is lightly raced with great scope, while PRUSSIAN could also run alright.
19 – NICHOLASCOPERNICUS
9 – COMMITMENT
4 – ANOMALY
7 – PRUSSIAN
$250 Nicholascopernicus FREE BET
