Countdown to Royal Ascot 2010
Horse racing is a minority sport. Royal Ascot starts next Tuesday 15th June and will face fierce competition for interest and betting from football and the World Cup. For the armchair viewer ATR are covering all races every day from Ascot. What a feast we have in store. Workforce’s scintillating win in the Epsom Derby last Saturday certainly whetted the appetite to watch more flat racing. Workforce’s performance was reminiscent of Generous’s win back in 1991. It would be good for Ascot if Workforce followed a similar route to Generous and went for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the end of July, but I am sure the main objective now for Workforce will be the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on the 3rd October. This is the race to win.
Royal Ascot kicks off on Tuesday with the Queen Anne Stakes, a Group 1 run over 1 mile. It looks as though it will be between Goldikova and Paco Boy now as Rip Van Winkle could run in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes on Wednesday. There are two more Group 1′s on Tuesday’s card. Firstly the King’s Stand Stakes over 5 furlongs. Here Frankie Dettori rides the Aussie flying machine Nicconi. He should have most to fear from Kingsgate Native and Fleeting Spirit, although you can never discount old Borderlescott. Markab has shown improved form this season and might just spring a surprise result here.
The centre piece for Tuesday will be the St.James Palace Stakes, a Group 1 run over 1 mile for 3 year old colts. It looks to be a rematch between Makfi and Canford Cliffs. HH Aga Khan’s Sijouni also comes over from France and Steinbeck comes over from Aidan O’Brien’s yard. Neither can be discounted.
The centre piece on Wednesday is the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, a Group 1 run over 1 mile 2 furlongs. As already mentioned this looks as though it could be Rip van Winkle’s (pictured) target. The race is worth £200,000 more at £450,000 than the Queen Anne Stakes.
If Rip Van Winkle does not turn up then Twice Over is expected to go better than his fourth place in this race last year. Byword from France and Mawatheeq who chased Twice Over home in the Champion Stakes last October could be the dangers.
The centre piece of the whole meeting is the Ascot Gold Cup which will be run on Thursday over 2 miles 4 furlongs. There will be no Yeats this year and the race has a very open look. Age of Aquarius represents the Ballydoyle stable of Aidan O’Brien. Frankie Dettori has to decide which of the Godolphin pair of Kite Wood and Darley Sun to ride. Kasbah Bliss comes over from France and we know he is certain to stay the trip. Ask represents the Sir Michael Stoute stable but there are question marks over his stamina. Manifest represents the Henry Cecil stable. Manifest was a good winner of the Yorkshire Cup this season and showed that he had progressed nicely from last season. He made his racecourse debut at last years Newmarket July meeting where he was just beaten by his stable companion Blizzard Blues. Henry Cecil loves the Cup horses. He has handled some great stayers namely Le Moss, Buckskin and Ardross. He obviously learned the art of preparing them from his stepfather, Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, who won the St Leger six times, the Gold Cup three times, the Goodwood Cup six times and the Doncaster Cup seven times. Manifest has been heavily backed in the antepost market and looks the one to beat in the Ascot Gold Cup. Kasbah Bliss, Kite Wood and Darley Sun are certain to stay the distance and there could be some eachway value there on the day.
The centre piece on Friday is the Coronation Stakes a Group 1 for three old fillies over 1 mile. Henry Cecil has a strong hand here with his two runners Jacqueline Quest and Chacamadee. Jacqueline Quest was first past the post in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket but lost the race in the stewards room. She could gain compensation here.
Come Saturday the centre piece will be the Golden Jubilee Stakes, a Group 1 for 3 year olds plus run over 6 furlongs. The runners are a bit sketchy for this as some are engaged in the King’s Stand Stakes over 5 furlongs on Tuesday. Of those not engaged in the 5 furlong race who make appeal are Marchand D’or from France, Regal Parade, especially if Ascot gets some rain at the end of next week and the three year old Showcasing.
For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".