Distinct Australian flavour to day two at Royal Ascot
Even with no Australian-trained runners at Royal Ascot this year, the second day of the five-day festival has a strong antipodean flavour, even behind closed doors.
Day two at Royal Ascot this year features a horse coming off two top-level wins down under and the son of a four-time Australian Group 1 winner seeking to stamp his Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) credentials.
Once again, seven races will feature on today’s card instead of the usual six, with two new handicaps among the races on offer.
Silver Royal Hunt Cup
One of the new additions to Royal Ascot this year, the Silver Royal Hunt Cup (1m) acts as a consolation for the Royal Hunt Cup (1m) later in the card with those on the cusp of gaining a run instead lining up here.
With just eight handicap points between top-weights Sir Busker (Sir Prancealot) and Home Before Dusk (Medicean) and the one at the bottom, Goring (Areion), it is a very competitive race on paper and a case could be made for most runners in here.
The veteran So Beloved (Dansili), the outsider of the field, ran well in the Royal Hunt Cup proper last year and is 10 points better in the ratings. He made no impression at Newcastle last start, but this race may prove more suitable and he could cause a shock in a wide-open affair.
Others to consider are Ouzo (Charm Spirit), Maydanny (Dubawi), Presidential (Invincible Spirit) and Ambassadorial (Elusive Quality).
Hampton Court Stakes
Like the King Edward VII Stakes (Gr 2, 1m 4f) last night, the Hampton Court Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 2f) is in an unusual position this year, shaping as a trial for the Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) next month rather than as a stepping stone to races later in the season.
In fact, two of the last three winners raced in Australia more than a year after their success in the Hampton Court Stakes, with Benbatl (Dubawi) winning the Caulfield Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) and finishing second to Winx (Street Cry) in the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) and Hunting Horn (Camelot) taking out last year’s Moonee Valley Cup (Gr 2, 2500m).
Other winners have included Mackinnon Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Glass Harmonium (Verglas) and Hong Kong Derby (Listed, 2000m) winner Collection (Peintre Celebre).
This year, all Australian eyes will be on Russian Emperor (Galileo), with Atlantic Jewel’s (Fastnet Rock) son looking to score a first stakes win after striking defeat as favourite in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (Gr 3, 1m 2f) last week.
At Leopardstown, Cormorant (Kingman) was just able to control things in front under Padraig Beggy and Russian Emperor still ran well without taking victory. With a run under his belt, he looks capable of stamping himself as a legitimate Classic contender here.
The Queen will be hoping to celebrate a unique Royal Ascot victory – one in which she is not trackside – with First Receiver (New Approach), while Juan Elcano (Frankel), New World Tapestry (War Front) and Kenzai Warrior (Karakontie) all come out of the 2000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) at Newmarket; as the market suggests, Juan Elcano is the one to beat after his fifth to Kameko (Kitten’s Joy).
King George V Stakes
Ever since the King George V Stakes (1m 4f) winner went on to place in the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) two years in a row – with Give The Slip (Slip Anchor) and Beekeeper (Rainbow Quest) – the handicap has been a happy hunting ground for Australian owners and for potential raiders down under.
Winners like Fantastic Love (Peintre Celebre) and Dandino (Dansili) went on to take out the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 3, 2500m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, while the race has also produced the likes of Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter (Teofilo) as well as Australian stakes winners like Downdraft (Camelot), Homesman (War Front), Shraaoh (Sea The Stars), Arab Dawn (Dalakhani) and Spillway (Rail Link) in recent years.
Last year, eventual Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) favourite Constantinople (Galileo) was beaten a neck in this event.
Therefore, it stands to reason that this race will be watched closely by bloodstock agents on both sides of the world.
Perhaps this is the race for the well-named Bodyline (Australia) to stamp himself as a stayer of the future.
The Sir Mark Prescott-trained Bodyline performed well at his first start beyond 7f last start, staying on for second at Yarmouth behind Celestran (Dansili). He should relish the mile and a half and he looks well-weighted here.
Other sons of Australia (Galileo) in Win O’Clock and Convict look strong players too, while Trumpet Man (Golden Horn) – the half-brother to Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winner Polarisation (Echo Of Light) – steps out as a first-time gelding and he represents the Mark Johnston yard, which has won this race six times since 1995.
Prince Of Wales’s Stakes
Addeybb (Pivotal) could potentially create history by adding the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f) to his victories in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) and the Ranvet Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) in Sydney during the autumn.
In a normal year, it would be difficult to see a horse returning from Australia to win the middle-distance highlight of Royal Ascot, but in a year where most of his rivals are lacking for a proper preparation, perhaps he will be able to take benefit for being able to race through the first few months of 2020.
Japan (Galileo) is a logical odds-on favourite and it’s hard to argue his position at the top of the market. Although he was able to stretch out to a mile and a half last season, it wouldn’t surprise if a mile and a quarter ends up being his best trip this season. However, he did take time to find form last preparation and it seems likely that could be the case again as a four-year-old.
Cambridgeshire Handicap (1m 1f) winner Lord North (Dubawi) has always shown promise but, on his return victory in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 2f) at Haydock, he looks capable of making an impact at the highest level this season. Whether it is here remains to be seen, but he’s worthy of consideration at a decent price.
There is also an Australian link through the John Gosden-trained Mehdaayih (Frankel), who races in the colours of Emirates Park. On the basis of her runs last year, she’d be best suited with the ground remaining good-to-soft – anything beyond that and she may struggle.
Royal Hunt Cup
The feature mile handicap of Royal Ascot is the Royal Hunt Cup (1m). Normally featuring 30 runners, this year the field size has been reduced to 24.
It is a race where it is worth looking away from the market fancies and it wouldn’t surprise to see outsider Baltic Baron (Shamardal) bounce back here. On a similar mark last year, he ran a decent fifth over a mile at Goodwood behind Golden Eagle (1500m) sixth Beat Le Bon (Wootton Bassett). He has mixed his form since but if he can produce that run with no weight on his back, he can surprise.
Last year’s winner Afaak (Oasis Dream) has a good record in this race and, with Cieren Fallon’s three-pound claim, is not without claims, while Bell Rock (Kingman), Fox Power (Dark Angel) and the lightly-raced Lord Tennyson (Poet’s Voice) are other contenders.
Windsor Castle Stakes
The first of the juvenile races at this year’s Royal Ascot, the Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed, 5f), sees American trainer Wesley Ward send out two contenders in Sunshine City (Creative Cause) and Sheriff Bianco (Speightster).
Ward has struck success by bringing across precocious horses with speed the likes of which the locals simply haven’t seen or experienced. Horses like Strike The Tiger (Tiger Ridge) and Hootenanny (Quality Road) have won this race for the American before.
However, Ward hasn’t had the same success stateside this season, with his usual starting point – the Keeneland spring meet – being postponed until July. He has instead been preparing most of them from Gulfstream and the different training regimes have wreaked havoc with his juvenile crop.
Instead, it may be worth looking towards Chief Little Hawk (Air Force Blue) as he looks to give his first-season sire a maiden stakes winner. The colt, who is out of American Grade 1 winner Marylebone (Unbridled’s Song), appeared the ultimate professional when winning on debut at Navan and looks capable of making his mark very quickly.
Copper Horse Handicap
Another new addition for 2020, the Copper Horse Handicap (1m 6f) looks a potential stepping stone for Melbourne Cup contenders, should they be able to make the trip later in the year.
Late Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden (Nicobar) is represented by four-year-old Ranch Hand, while owner Ronald Arculli – best known for his gallant globetrotter Red Cadeaux (Cadeaux Genereux) – has two entrants in Amazing Red (Teofilo) and Here And Now (Dansili).
However, the most likely winner – and potentially the horse with the best Melbourne Cup credentials, should he remain sound – is the Roger Varian-trained Fujaira Prince (Pivotal).
He’s only had six starts as a six-year-old, but his efforts last season – which culminated in a good third in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap (1m 4f) – suggested he could make a nice handicapper later in the term.
Fujaira Prince didn’t race again in 2019, but he will have every chance to make up for lost time this season, likely pushing towards the £1 million Ebor (1m 6f) at York before a Melbourne Cup bid is considered.
He can begin his 2020 on a high here.
Andrew Hawkins’ Royal Ascot Day 2 selections
Silver Royal Hunt Cup Handicap – #6 So Beloved
Hampton Court Stakes – #8 Russian Emperor
King George V Stakes – #10 Bodyline
Prince Of Wales’s Stakes – #6 Lord North
Royal Hunt Cup – #21 Baltic Baron
Windsor Castle Stakes – #2 Chief Little Hawk
Copper Horse Handicap – #10 Fujaira Prince