We are up to the penultimate day of Royal Ascot and the focus is now on the three year old fillies with today’s feature the Coronation Stakes.
Just Horse Racing’s Andrew Hawkins is trackside, and he has prepared the following preview.
Race 1 – GROUP 3 ALBANY STAKES (6f/1200m)
A good form race for the two year old fillies, with many of these likely to go on to the classics next year. As I’ve mentioned many times before, the market generally has the juveniles fairly well figured out, and after watching a replay of NEWFANGLED I reckon she will win. It was an ultra-impressive debut and she’s in the good hands of trainer John Gosden. SANDREAMER and AGENT ALLISON were both good at their debuts and can make the next step here, while I think EQUITANIA is one who could improve on her debut run.
11 – NEWFANGLED
14 – SANDREAMER
1 – AGENT ALLISON
6 – EQUITANIA
Race 2 – GROUP 2 KING EDWARD VII STAKES (1m 4f/2400m)
Only the six runners so I’m definitely hoping to get the winner in four picks. Well, I reckon I only need one. ASTROLOGY was huge in the Epsom Derby, when he led until the final furlong. His stablemate Camelot raced past him that day, but there is nothing here of Camelot’s calibre. I think he wins if he turns up in the same form. The danger is Frankel’s brother NOBLE MISSION. He skipped the Derby and has been set for this race. He looks more of a stayer than his brother and can win. Outside of those two, Derby fourth THOUGHT WORTHY and John Gosden’s SHANTARAM look the next best.
1 – ASTROLOGY
4 – NOBLE MISSION
7 – THOUGHT WORTHY
5 – SHANTARAM
Race 3 – GROUP 1 CORONATION STAKES (1m/1600m)
I made my displeasure for the three year old filly races known in my ultimate guide to Royal Ascot (click here to read). And so, for me, this is the most boring of the Group 1 races this week. It may turn out to be a cracking contest, but I just cannot get excited about this race. Maybe post-race I’ll be more excited. Given the rain that has come I’m finding it hard to look past HOMECOMING QUEEN, who relished the wet ground to win the 1000 Guineas. She was disappointing in Ireland but I think she’s at home on the wet track. Hard to beat. I think IRISH HISTORY is the emerging one for Godolphin who could run well. She disappointed last start after a great win on debut. If she runs to her debut she’ll be competitive. SAMITAR won the Irish 1000 Guineas after disappointing prior. Has to go in on that effort. And perhaps CARDIGAN is the bolter who could provide a sight – won her only start as a juvenile and makes her seasonal reappearance here.
5 – HOMECOMING QUEEN
7 – IRISH HISTORY
11 – SAMITAR
2 – CARDIGAN
Race 4 – LISTED WOLFERTON HANDICAP (1m 2f/2000m)
A good little race, this handicap. Past placegetters have included Melbourne Cup sixth Lost In The Moment and dual Australian Group 1 winner My Kingdom of Fife. This year also features a former Australian Group 1 placegetter – I’ll get to him shortly. It’s hard to go past the exceptionally well weighted GATEWOOD. He’s won three from five, he looks like he’ll measure up to better class than this and he could prove hard to beat. The former Aussie RETRIEVE might have some chance, despite having to shoulder topweight. Remember, he placed in the Rosehill Guineas, AJC Derby and Victoria Derby when in Australia. He has struck form at his last two runs and if he brings that form here, he’ll be competitive. He’s at odds too. FRENCH NAVY also runs for Godolphin, his form tapered off at his last two runs last year but on his top form he’d easily be right in this race. And don’t discount last year’s winner BEACHFIRE, he tends to need a run to find form and he’ll improve substantially.
14 – GATEWOOD
1 – RETRIEVE
2 – FRENCH NAVY
3 – BEACHFIRE
Race 5 – GROUP 3 QUEEN’S VASE (2m/3200m)
One of my favourite races every year. I’ve followed it closely since Mahler won it in 2007 before coming to Australia later that year and running third in the Melbourne Cup. I like the lightly raced types for this, with the Queen’s ESTIMATE getting my vote. She was beaten soundly on her debut as a juvenile but won very impressively at her first start as a three year old at Salisbury. She looks like being a good distance horse, and as I’ve said previously, I’d love for Her Majesty to get a winner this week. Also in the same boat (lightly raced) is YAZDI, who won by seven lengths at Thirsk last start. I’d be very surprised if they both didn’t figure. ED DE GAS looked good prior to his last start poor effort, winning his first three starts before finishing seventh to Epsom Derby placegetter Main Sequence. And Aidan O’Brien has a good record in this race so ATHENS can’t be overlooked.
12 – ESTIMATE
11 – YAZDI
2 – ED DE GAS
1 – ATHENS
Race 6 – BUCKINGHAM PALACE STAKES (7f/1400m)
A 30 horse handicap, it is our best chance to get something at value today. I’m keen on PRIMAEVAL, who has only finished out of the top four twice since September 2010. I love a horse with his consistency. In a race of many chances, he looks the best placed to run well. I had something on DOCOFTHEBAY at Royal Ascot last year and he ran a good fifth. He hasn’t done much since then but I’ll still include him based on that gutsy run last year. ATLANTIC SPORT mixes his form but has matched it with some top sprinters, so could go alright, while DIRECTORSHIP has run in better races than this and so looks well placed here.
5 – PRIMAEVAL
29 – DOCOFTHEBAY
25 – ATLANTIC SPORT
27 – DIRECTORSHIP
