This year's Royal Ascot runs from tomorrow, Tuesday the 15th to
Saturday 20th of June. Amongst other highlights it sees the return
of Godolphin globetrotter, Sulamani, a rematch of three year old
Guineas winners and the appearance of unbeaten Attraction in the
Coronation Stakes.
ST JAMES PALACE STAKES
ANTONIUS PIUS: Comes into the race off a desperately unlucky loss
in the French 2000 Guineas, where he hit the rail in the final furlong
allowing American Post to beat him. A horse possessed of a great
turn of foot, he bids to maintain Aiden O'Brien's great record in
the race - he won three runnings in succession from 2000. The son
of Danzig is out of Yorkshire Oaks winner Catchascatchcan, he will
be ridden by Jamie Spencer. Prior to his Guineas run in France he
was previously disqualified behind American Post in the group three
Prix de Fountainbleu, when he caused intereference. A smart two
year old, he is the one to beat, but is not to be trusted.
AZAMOUR: Comes off a second in the Irish 2000 Guineas to Bachelor
Duke - whom he beat at Newmarket when third to Haafhd. The son of
Night Shift was unbeaten at two, winning the Beresford Stakes on
his last outing. John Oxx trains the colt, who will be ridden by
stable jockey, Michael Kinane.
BACHELOR DUKE: An impressive winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas -the
race wherein he broke his maiden. Seventh in the English equivalent
behind Haafhd, whom he meets here on the same terms. Haafhd beat
him just a head when third in the Dewhurst and the rematch between
the two looks to be an intriguing contest. A son of Miswaki, Bachelor
Duke hails from the family of 1973 winner Thatch. Seb Sanders who
won the Irish Guineas on him rides the colt again. He has won once
in five starts.
BRUNEL: Unbeaten in two starts this season, he won the Free Handicap
in impressive fashion before winning the German 2000 Guineas. The
second home that was Lazio, beaten half a length, and has not run
since so it is difficult to know what to make of him.
A winner at two, he was a length and a half behind Bachelor Duke
when fifth in the Tattersalls Sales Stakes at Newmarket. A son of
Marju, he is trained by William Haggas, and will be partnered by
Daryll Holland.
BYRON: An unlucky third in the French 2000 Guineas when impeded
by the wayward Antonius Pius. A smart two year old, he won the Mill
Reef Stakes on his last start at two. A son of Green Desert he is
out of champion Gay Gallanta, a half sister to Sportsworld. Frankie
Dettori rides for Godolphin. There was little between him and Diamond
Green at Longchamp and that seems unlikely to change here. The French
classic is regularly found to be weaker than the English version
and the form should be taken with a pinch of salt.
CASTLETON: One of the outsiders in the race, he broke his maiden
at his last start. Previously had solid form when third to Derby
runner Hazyview and a five length second to top class two year old
Lucky Story. A son of ultra hot sire Cape Cross, he needs to improve
to feature here.
DIAMOND GREEN: One of France's best two year olds last season, he
was second in the muddling French 2000 Guineas, beating Byron a
neck into third. Unbeaten at two, including an impressive win over
Grand Criterium runner up Charming Prince, American Post has twice
beaten him at three, albeit luckily on his last start. The son of
Green Desert is Andre Fabre's representative and will be ridden
by Gary Stevens.
HAAFHD: The English 2000 Guineas winner. A brilliant winner of both
starts at three, including a five length win in the Craven Stakes.
A smart two year old, he won the Washington Singer Stakes and was
third in the Dewhurst Stakes. Richard Hills rides the Alhaarth colt,
who is trained by father Barry Hills. The Guineas form looks muddling
as the third and fourth home were beaten by seventh place finisher
Bachelor Duke in the Irish equivalent. Still Haafhd is obviously
a high class colt and looks the one to beat.
MADID: Unbeaten in two starts. The son of Cape Cross has also been
entered in the Jersey Stakes and may not start here. He won the
listed Surrey Stakes on his last start beating the talented Pastoral
Pursuits by half a length with Horris Hill winner Peak To Creek
three lengths back. John Gosden trains the colt, who is from champion
sire Mummy's Pet's family.
NEWTON: A listed winner at the beginning of the season, he looks
likely to be Ballydoyle's pacemaker. He has been well beaten each
time he has stepped up in class and is hard to see him featuring
here. A son of Danehill, he was well beaten in both the French and
Irish 2000 Guineas.
PEARL OF LOVE: One of the best two year olds of last year. He ended
his season with a win in the group one Gran Criterium - where he
beat subsequent classic winner Spirit of Desert but ran unplaced
at his seasonal debut. His effort of running of running nine lengths
off champion Bago was well below his best two year old form. He
needs to show that he is back to his best. A winner of the Chesham
Stakes here last year, he represents the powerful Mark Johnston
year.
SELECTION
1. Haafhd
2. Antonius Pius
3. Bachelor Duke
QUEEN ANNE STAKES
ALKAADHEM: Lightly raced four year old, he has made just six starts
to date. A narrow winner of the Festival Stakes last time out, when
beating Compton Bolter a neck. He has yet to compete in group company
and is hard to assess, beaten in handicaps prior to his Listed success.
Marcus Tregonnig trains and Richard Hills rides. The son of Green
Desert is out of a three parts sister to Kayf Tara and Opera House.
ARAKAN: Provides the Niarchos' with a solid second string. The son
of Nureyev was unlucky in his last start in Ireland when a fast
finishing second in a group three to The Kiddykid over six furlongs.
He was an impressive winner of the Abernant Stakes over subsequent
group winner Frizzante. He has won over a mile and has a touch of
class but needs to improve here. Sir Michael Stoute trains and he
will be ridden by champion jockey Kieran Fallon.
BEAUCHAMP PILOT: The former Cambridgeshire winner is coming off
a sixth place behind Passing Glance in the Diomed Stakes at Epsom.
Earlier form suggests he is not quite up to group one company, he
ran eighth in this race last year. The son of Inchinor represents
trainer Gerard Butler and will be ridden by Jamie Spencer. He is
making just his second start of the campaign.
BOWMAN'S CROSSING: High class and consistent horse from Hong Kong.
He ran third in the Singapore Cup behind Epalo and Surveyor at his
most recent start, beaten over five lengths. Prior to that he was
fourth in the QE11 Cup to upset winner River Dancer. He seems to
need at least a mile and ten furlongs seems to suit him better.
He has not won in over a year and takes a big step up in class.
The son of Dolphin Street is trained by David Oughton and will be
ridden by Michael Kinane.
CHECKIT: Coming off a fourth place in the Diomed Stakes. The son
of Mukaddamah ran third in the Prix D'Isaphan to Prince Kirk and
likely favourite for this race, Six Perfections. He was beaten by
over two lengths by the filly, with Nebraska Tornado running below
best in fifth place. He has not won since last September when winning
a conditions race at Doncaster. The Mick Channon trained colt is
game and consistent but has consistently been found wanting at the
highest level. A group two winner as a two year old, he will be
ridden by Ted Durcan.
FIREBREAK: Coming off a fourth place in the Lockinge behind the
absent Russian Rhythm. There is not much between him and Salselon
and Norse Dancer on the Lockinge form. A consistent sort, he previously
repeated his win in the Godolphin Mile of two years ago. The Godolphin
owned colt has won seven races, including the Mill Reef Stakes at
two. He is a son of ill fated Charnwood Forest - a half brother
to recent import Medaaly.
HURRICANE ALAN: A brave winner of the group two Sandown Mile at
his penultimate start, he followed up that with a two length fifth
in the Lockinge Stakes. Prior to his Sandown win he won the Craven
Stakes as a three year old, before running seventh in the 2000 Guineas
to the disappointing Refuse To Bend. A six time winner, the Mukaddamah
colt is trained by Richard Hannon. Regular rider Pat Dobbs rides
him again.
JUST JAMES: Winner of last year's Challenge Stakes he is a very
talented individual. Unplaced on his first outing this year, when
beaten by over 20 lengths by Monsieur Bond. Conqueror of Nayyir
in the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket he has yet to run over a mile.
Pedigree suggests it will be no problem but trainer Jeremy Noseda
thinks the gelding is best over seven furlongs. He won the Jersey
Stakes here two years ago. He is a bit in and out so is one to watch.
LATEEN SAILS: Fancied to win last year's English 2000 Guineas, where
he was very disappointing and finished last. A subsequent impressive
win in the listed Glasgow Stakes was followed by a fourth place
in the Grand Prix de Paris to Vespone. A facile win in a group three
race over nine furlongs was the last start of his season. Has run
just once this season when seventh in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes.
He needs to improve to feature here. Kerrin McEvoy rides for Godolphin.
MARTILLO: Last year's German 2000 Guineas won the group 2 Prix du
Muguet at his last start. Prior to that he ran a length back in
the Dubai Duty Free to Paolini and Right Approach. After his classic
success he ran a good third to Zafeen in the St James Palace Stakes.
His season ended on a low when unplaced behind Six Perfections in
the Prix Jaques le Marois. The son of Anabaa is trained by Ralf
Suerland.
NORSE DANCER: Top class individual who ran a cracker when beaten
under a length in the Lockinge. Somewhat of a bridesmaid who has
yet to deliver on the considerable promise he has shown. Placed
in all of the English 2000 Guineas, Derby and Sussex Stakes last
year, the Halling colt is trained by David Elsworth and will be
partnered by Richard Quinn.
REFUSE TO BEND: Last year's English 2000 Guineas winner. Very disappointing
since winning at Newmarket, winning just once since then and running
unplaced in every other start. Despite this Dettori rides for Godolphin
and seems their pick over Firebreak and Lateen Sails. Winner of
his first four starts, he is hard to fancy off his current form.
A son of Sadler's Wells he is a half brother to Melbourne Cup hero,
Media Puzzle.
SALSELON: A narrow second in the Lockinge Stakes on his last start,
the entire had shown good form in Italy before being moved to Luca
Cumani's yard. He won the group three Premio Chiusura three times
in Italy as well as taking out the Prix Edmond Blanc at Saint-Cloud.
Daryll Holland rides the entire. A son of Salse, he is from the
family of Markofdistinction, who won the race in 1989. He looks
the one most likely to trouble Six Perfections.
TILLERMAN: Second in this race last year, before being disqualified
as a result of clenbutrol being found in his blood. He was also
a short head second two years ago, when beaten by No Excuse No Needed.
The son of In The Wings is by some the oldest horse in the field
at eight. He has not run since last October. A tough campaigner,
he needs the race to be run at a fast pace as he comes from some
way off the pace. A multiple group winner, whose best form includes
a third to champion Falbrav in last year's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes,
he is trained by Amanda Perrett.
NEBRASKA TORNADO: Winner of the French Oaks last year. She then
defeated males in the Prix du Moulin before running last on her
four year old debut. Has the class to feature here but needs to
improve on her last run. A daughter of champion sire Storm Cat,
she is a half sister to the group two winner Burning Sun. Andre
Fabre trains.
SIX PERFECTIONS: Winner of six of 11 starts, she was an impressive
winner of last year's Breeders Cup Mile, after winning the Jaques
le Marois over another Mile hero, Domedriver. The daughter of Celtic
Swing was said to have not stayed in the nine furlong Prix d'Isaphan
when second to Prince Kirk. Her form is impeccable and she looks
the one to beat. Twice unlucky in mile classics last year, Pascal
Bary trains the four year old filly.
SOVIET SONG: A six length winner of her last start, the Ridgewood
Pearl Stakes. Disappointing on her two earlier starts this year,
her best run came last year when beaten a length and a half by Russian
Rhythm in the Coronation Stakes at this meeting. The daughter of
Marju was an unbeaten two year old, who beat subsequent Oaks winner
Casual Look in the group one Fillies Mile. Johnny Murtagh rides
her for trainer James Fanshaw.
SELECTION
1. Six Perfections
2. Salselon
3. Nebraska Tornado