The Royal Ascot Carnival continues on Wednesday night with arguably the highlight race of the week, the Prince Of Wales Stakes (2000m), featuring the clash of Magical and Sea Of Class.
Race 1. (23:30) Queen Mary Stakes 1000m
Wesley Ward has a fab record in this race and I think he can win it again via 16 Kimari (Bet Now: $7.00), who debuted over 900m at Keeneland and as is the case with the Ward juveniles, jumped well, led and bolted in. Hard to get a real guide on those 900m scampers, but to the eye, she was very good and the stable knows what it takes when it comes to this time honoured race.
7 Divine Spirit (Bet Now: $9.00) is a Charlie Appleby trained filly that was well backed when debuting over 1000m at Windsor when tracking the speed and when James Doyle asked for an effort, she put them away and was most impressive as an odds on pop. Was an 850,000 Guineas purchase, so a fair bit of coin to buy her and so far so good. Looks talented and can measure up for sure.
6 Daughter In Law (Bet Now: $34.00) has had three career outings and looks to be getting better with experience. Ran in a 1000m race last time out at the Curragh when leading throughout and she bolted in after getting a really good front running steer. Bit harder here, but has a good racing style and is getting better with each run under the belt. Looks the one at decent odds.
Race 2. (00:05) Queens Vase 2800m
13 Western Australia (Bet Now: $6.00) is an Aidan O’Brien trained colt who comes here in good form off the back of a Listed win over 2600m at Navan when chasing the speed before taking the lead 400m out and fending off his rivals rather nicely for an impressive win. He’s being touted as a possible St Leger horse so with that in mind, he should take some beating here.
Interesting that Ryan Moore takes the steer aboard 10 Norway (Bet Now: $3.75). He comes back a bit in depth after contesting the Derby last time out when on speed and I’m just not sure he enjoyed Epsom when down the track. Moore takes the ride and the bigger track should suit. Not worried about the extra trip because I think with a more conservative steer, he’ll be more effective.
3 Dashing Willoughby (Bet Now: $11.00) is an Andrew Balding trained three year old that has placed in both runs this time in and has been solid for the most part. Easy to tie him in here because recently at Chester, there wasn’t much separating he and Norway yet this bloke is twice the price of Norway. Not sure he has the class of some of these, but trip should be fine.
Race 3. (00:40) Prince Of Wales Stakes 2000m
Have to be going the way of 7 Magical (Bet Now: $2.50). This mare has really turned the corner in recent times. Form was a tad suspect around this time last year but towards the end of the year, she switched on. Won the Fillies & Mares race on Champions Day then pushed Enable hard in the Breeders Cup. In 2019 she’s won 3/3 and has been impressive each time she’s stepped out. Just has to hold her form to be winning IMO.
I think on overall form, 8 Sea Of Class (Bet Now: $4.33) is the best horse in the race but it’s just a matter of how forward she is. She was outstanding last year, highlighted by her last run where she went so close to beating Enable in the Arc. It’s very difficult to win at Royal Ascot first up, especially over a trip against in form/hard fit animals, but she does have class on her side.
4 Waldgeist (Bet Now: $5.00) does look hard to beat. Andre Fabre trains this three time Group l winner, who looked a tired horse towards the end of last year, but gee his first up win in the Ganay was outstanding. He absolutely bolted in and he wasn’t beating scrubs, he was beating some top shelf animals. I think around the $6-$7 mark, he’s certainly in this race up to his ears.
Race 4. (01:20) Duke Of Cambridge Stakes 1600m
I’m in the corner of the Aidan O’Brien filly 1 I Can Fly (Bet Now: $4.00), who comes here off the back of a placing in a Group ll at Curragh when back and making up good ground from a difficult position. Looks to be decent enough tempo in front. Hopefully she can sit off that and finish strong, bearing in mind her lone run here did result in a close second to Roaring Lion, and there is no horse of that quality here.
The best version of 17 Veracious (Bet Now: $11.00) is good enough to win here. This mare has been a beaten fav at her past two, both runs coming over a longer trip and she has been okay but has let the punters down. Her form from last year does read well and I think back to the mile is a big tick for her. She’s been talked up as a really good mare for a while now. Time to stand up.
14 Red Tea (Bet Now: $15.00) seems to be loving life under Joseph O’Brien and is the clear knockout chance at odds. Romped home over the Curragh mile two back before running a good third at the same track/distance. The Ascot mile looks absolutely ideal for this girl given she’ll be strong at the end and she has seem to have improved lengths since being transferred from Peter Hiatt.
Race 5. (02:00) Royal Hunt Cup 1600m
9 New Graduate (Bet Now: $7.50) looks a really progressive colt for the in form James Tate stable that comes here off the back of a very dominant first up win at Ripon when sitting just off the speed before being presented clear air and he bolted in. Third horse has won twice since, the fourth horse has won again, so the form reads well and the time was good for the day. Hard to beat for mine.
Couple of runners come through the Victoria Cup, with 14 Raising Sand (Bet Now: $7.50) the one that caught my attention. He sat back in the big field and was never really a winning factor but liked the way he found the line to run fourth. Proven performer and ran well in this race last year so he does look one of the leading chances in what is always a wide open affair.
15 King’s Field (Bet Now: $17.00) is an interesting runner. Joseph O’Brien trains this bloke and he did have Red Tea nominated for this race but goes with King’s Field. Veteran of just nine starts, he looks to be heading in the right direction, he has had good experience with big fields so far in his career and his racing pattern will suit this kind of race. $20+ I could easily entertain.
Race 6. (02:35) Windsor Castle Stakes 1000m
The wraps are pretty big on 22 Karak (Bet Now: $15.00), a Wesley Ward trained filly who was just awesome when winning on debut over 1000m at Belmont, sitting on a good speed before putting them away rather arrogantly and ran very solid late time despite doing a bit wrong. Possibly getting lost down the straight is the unknown with her, but the noise around her is too positive to ignore.
All you can do is win and that is what 18 Temple Of Heaven (Bet Now: $5.50) has done, winning 2/2. Just raced a touch keenly over 1200m last time out but still managed to produce a really good finale to get the job done. Very fast speed expected here so he won’t be pulling one would assume and he draws a good part of the track, where Levey has a few options as to where the best ground is.
10 Platinum Star (Bet Now: $11.00) is a son of Lope De Vega for the Charlie Appleby stable who has had two starts, winning last start at Leicester when tardy away but had good tactical speed to be near the front and from there, it was a pretty painless watch if you were on. Doubt he can get away with that here, but always have to respect the stable on big days like this.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Three Number 7 Magical
NEXT BEST: Race Six Number 22 Karak
LONG SHOT: Race One Number 16 Kimari
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