The 2019 Royal Ascot races are upon us once again and we would already have witnessed day one of this five-day meeting yesterday.
The races come fast and thick at this, the best race meeting in the world and hopefully, followers of this column will experience good fortune if backing my selections for many of the top races to be staged over the next four days.
The opening race on day 2 of the meeting is the Queen Mary Stakes over five furlongs and this is likely to be a real speed test with American trainer Wesley Ward unleashing a powerful attack on this race. The fact that his #1 choice, Lady Pauline, had to miss the race due to a minor setback suggests that the challenger in this race may be a little bit short of the level required to win and I like the look of Godolphin’s Divine Spirit to lead the way home.
This filly was mightily impressive when winning her maiden at Windsor and as a daughter of Kingman, she is bred to be a juvenile sprinting sensation. Those looking for a few odds could do worse than supporting Mighty Spirit as a good each way option. In the Queen’s Vase, the two that catch my eye are Eminent Authority, a son of Frankel, and Themaxwecan. Both colts have shown tremendous potential and suggest that this extended one mile and six furlongs will be right up their alley. The best race of the meeting, the Prince of Wales’ Stakes over 10 furlongs, comes next and I will not oppose the returning Sea of Class. This daughter of Sea the Stars was brilliant in 2018 and if she returns anywhere close to her best, she won’t be beaten. She will have to be close to her best though because she has some tough and fit opponents against her here in the likes of Crystal Ocean, Magical, Waldgeist and Zabeel Prince – all Grade 1 or Grade 2 winners.
The Duke of Cambridge comes next and Sir Michael Stoute’s duo of Rawdaa and Veracious should fight out the finish with preference just for the latter. The big handicap of the day, the Royal Hunt Cup, is as wide open as ever and I like 2017 winner Zhui Feng and Blue Mist as good each way options.
The day 3 highlight is the Gold Cup and a fascinating race is in prospect. The defending champion Stradivarius returns and he is unbeaten in his last six races stretching back to May 2018. He faces some quality opponents this year, however, in 2017 and 2018 St. Leger winners Capri and Kew Gardens, 2018 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter, 2018 Derby runner up Dee Ex Bee and 2018 Irish St Leger winner Flag of Honour. The challenge with the Gold Cup is that you have to stay this two miles and four furlongs distance very well since Ascot is a very stiff track.
For this reason, the Gold Cup roll of honour is littered with multiple winners and I expect Stradivarius to join them as multiple winners in the hands of the irrepressible Frankie Dettori. Just prior to the Gold Cup, some of the better-staying fillies in the UK strut their stuff in the Ribblesdale Stakes and I expect two fillies who ran well in defeat in the Oaks, Fleeting and Frankellina, to fight out the finish. The latter has considerably more scope for improvement than the former and this may just allow her to reverse placing with Fleeting on this occasion. The Brittania Stakes over one mile is the big betting heat on day 3 and the draw will be as important as it ever is. If he gets a good draw, Beatboxer could run them all down in the final furlong. The other runner that caught my eye in his buildup races is Dermot Weld’s Georgeville, a giant of a horse. In the King George V Stakes, which closes day 3, Sinjaari and Sir Ron Priestley caught my eye the most.
The day 4 highlights are the Commonwealth Cup and the Coronation Stakes. The former over six furlongs has been robbed of most of its interest with the unfortunate setback to Calyx and the untimely death of Lady Kaya, two of the three favourites for the race. In their absence, the way is clear for the high class Ten Sovereigns to bounce back from his fifth-place finish in the 2000 Guineas. Advertise and Hello Younzain may be the two to chase him home. However, the Coronation Stakes is a real blockbuster. Dual 1000 Guineas winner, Hermosa, is out to cement her position as the best three-year-old filly miler in Europe. She is confronted by the French 1000 Guineas winner Castle Lady and sixth-place finisher in that event, Watch Me, whose trainer won Sunday’s French Oaks with another improving filly. Irish 1000 Guineas’ runner up Pretty Pollyanna returns as well and this filly is sure to improve from her season debut. The one-two finishers from York’s Oak Farm Stakes, the Queen’s Magnetic Charm and the aptly named Twist N Shake also try again.
Good luck to everyone and enjoy the holidays!