The Queen Anne is such a brilliant way to start Royal Ascot, and it really is the curtain-raiser for five brilliant days of Flat racing. I was lucky enough to win the race a couple of years ago on Triple Time and it’s a sensational thrill to land this contest. The race was ultra open and competitive that day, and it looks the same this year with some of the best milers around taking each other on.
You’ve got last year’s St James’s Palace and Irish Guineas winner Rosallion at the head of the betting, and he’ll be looking to bounce back from a third on his comeback in the Lockinge. Notable Speech is another who ran well in that race and he’s the one that’s caught my eye the most.
He looked to be in need of the run massively that day at Newbury and it seems like Charlie Appleby had targeted the Lockinge as a springboard to the Queen Anne. He was the Guineas winner last year and if Charlie has got him back to nearer his best, which he ought to have after he blew away a few cobwebs at Newbury, he will take some beating for Team Godolphin.
15:40 – King Charles III Stakes
The King Charles III is a belting race and always has a fantastic international flavour to it, especially when you get the Australians coming over looking to win it with their speedy raiders. Asfoora is obviously the defending champion from Down Under and got the rub of the green in last year’s renewal, but I’ve got to be in Believing’s camp.
We’ve got to know her very well as she has spent a lot of time at my stud farm in between runs and was so unlucky on so many starts in Group One races last year. She got her day in the sun in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan earlier this year which was exactly what she deserved after all those big efforts.
She’s drawn on the wing a bit, but I think there’s plenty of speed drawn around her and she should hopefully get a good tow into the race. Where the speed is in a race is always a big consideration, particularly in these competitive top-level sprints at Royal Ascot. Hopefully from her stall one draw she can be nicely dragged into the race and have something to aim at in the closing stages.
It’s really exciting to see her running in foal to Frankel and she can give George Boughey another big win carrying those famous Coolmore colours.
16:20 – St James’s Palace Stakes
The St James’s Palace Stakes looks like an absolutely top-class renewal this year with the three Guineas winners clashing. To that extent, it could end up being quite a tactical affair as the riders of the three big guns could be keeping a very close eye on one another.
You’ve obviously got Field Of Gold in there as a short-priced favourite who didn’t have things go his way at Newmarket but got back into the winners’ circle in the Irish Guineas on his next start. He looked very good that day, but I can’t take anything away from Ruling Court, who beat him when they took each other on in the Guineas at Newmarket.
He was meant to run in the Derby a couple of weeks ago but was pulled out on the day due to the slower ground. That could well play into his favour as he arrives here without a hard race and a bit of a break since the Guineas. Henri Matisse represents the French Guineas form, and he is a rock-solid and tough runner for Aidan O’Brien, so also merits respect.
For me, though, I’d be siding with Ruling Court. He’s got a load of class and his turn of foot ought to negate the likely tactical nature of the race. William Buick will be able to press the button on his lad wherever he’s sat in the race, whether it’s falsely run or not. He’s the one for me.
Best of the Rest
We’ve rattled through the Group Ones on Day One of Royal Ascot but there’s also plenty more serious action to get stuck into on the day. The Coventry Stakes (15.05pm) is always a big race to watch with some of the best two-year-olds looking to land what is one of the most prestigious juvenile races in Europe.
One horse who caught my eye in the build-up to this meeting was Postmodern. He was ultra impressive on debut at Yarmouth, and it was unusual for Jamie Spencer, who rode him that day, to ride him the way he did. He usually likes to be patient, but he went a real fast pace, and he barely moved on him as he recorded a very impressive victory. He could be anything as he steps up in class.
Another runner who people should keep an eye on is Kevin Ryan’s Rock On Thunder. He was very good on debut at Leicester on ground that was on the soft side, which would’ve been against him. He toughed it out that day and is one at a double-figure price for punters to keep on side.
My eye is also drawn to the Wolferton Stakes (17:35pm) which is a race I’ve been lucky to win before. It’s a very hard race to win as you’ve got plenty of progressive types as well as Group performers dropping into Listed company. I know things haven’t gone perfectly for Ambiente Friendly since his second and third in the Derby and Irish Derby respectively last year. His comeback at Newmarket was encouraging, though, and putting a line through his next effort, hopefully he can get his career back on track. The 16/1 about him makes him look like an each-way contender.
All the best,
Neil