It could be a wonderful day for John & Thady Gosden on Wednesday as we continue with a full round of selections for the second day of Royal Ascot.
2.30 Ascot (Queen Mary Stakes – Group 2) – QUICK SUZY
It’s been hard to read the American form, though Wesley Ward always does well in these speed dominated races.
It’s been equally difficult to match up times, speed figures and actual form as far as the rest of the field goes, but the only one solid in all categories is Quick Suzy who also comes from a good draw.
Gavin Cromwell’s filly has clocked up a few miles having already run three times, but that experience could prove to be really useful for her in this 22-runner field. She hasn’t had a chance to run on proper fast ground yet, but it may just bring about a new level of form and she is a nice price too.
Desert Dreamer, Twilight Gleaming and Mas Poder were best of the rest.
3.05 Ascot (Queen’s Vase – Group 2) – KEMARI
This is the race that Charlie Appleby had his eye on for Adayar who ultimately won the Derby. He may yet have the winner of this event in his yard anyway in the shape of big improver Kemari.
Having only made his debut in mid-May we know there is the veritable ton of progression to come from the son of Dubawi, while his first win came at Yarmouth just 15 days after his initial run and was incredibly easy.
Based on the time, the form of that run, the need for him to step up to this 1m6f trip and by using a good comparison in the shape of the yard’s former young stayer Brundtland, it appears Kemari can get to a level now the others can’t quite reach.
Law Of The Sea can continue to get better for the Godolphin team, Wordsworth is no.1 for the Aidan O’Brien yard and Stowell is another Gosden horse and another big improver who can come of age now.
3.40 Ascot (Duke of Cambridge Stakes – Group 2) – INDIE ANGEL
Strong favourite Lady Bowthorpe chased Palace Pier home last time in the Lockinge and deserves her place at the head of the market. She may not quite reach that level again, but she’s still bang in there based on the form of her Dahlia Stakes win at Newmarket.
That day she just about wore down Queen Power, in opposition again, and Lavender’s Blue with the three very close.
Just behind them however was Indie Angel. That day the Gosden horse raced all on her own, got rather caught out on the wing and wasn’t asked for too much of an effort once it became clear she was booked for fourth.
She is right up there with the principal runners, is improving all the time and also receives a 3lb weight pull given that Queen Power and Lady Bowthorpe are penalised. She’s very interesting at a nice price, as is Fooraat who can get to this level in time.
4.20 Ascot (Prince of Wales’s Stakes – Group 1) – LORD NORTH
The favourites have flip-flopped this week with 2020’s star three-year-old filly Love now replacing last year’s winner of this race Lord North at the head of the market.
Love is superb, we know that. While she was awesome in the Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks, we can’t forget that she took the 1000 Guineas as well last season and so the drop to a mile-and-a-quarter should be fine for her.
She’s been off the track since August however and is fallible. Lord North reached a peak in this race last season when winning a strong renewal comfortably, he was good thereafter and on his one appearance this season looked very smart once more when taking the Group 1 Dubai Turf in March.
He did break a blood vessel that day, but all appears fine now and his form stacks up with the filly. It’s Gosden again then, the two big guns perhaps being clear with the rest all of a very similar ability.
5.00 Ascot (Royal Hunt Cup – Class 2 Handicap) – HAQEEQY
Another race, another strong chance for the Gosdens. In fact, they have two big opportunities in this fast and furious straight mile in the shape of Magical Morning and Lincoln winner Haqeeqy.
Magical Morning might be good enough if fit enough, but Haqeeqy loves these conditions and is likely still some way ahead of the handicapper as heads almost inevitably for Group company later in the season.
We should see a strong run from Astro King, while had Irish Admiral been drawn on the near side in this strongly-run mile he would also have entered calculations for sure.
5.35 Ascot (Windsor Castle Stakes – Listed Race) – GOLDEN BELL
We’ve not exactly been all over the Wesley Ward horses so far, but this Golden Bell possibly has just too much pace and would even have been favoured without the 5lb fillies’ allowance.
If she breaks out nicely under John Velazquez she may just prove too hot for them, while somehow she is four times the price of her stablemate and Frankie Dettori’s mount Ruthin. Watch out too for Flaming Rib, Armor and Tipperary Sunset in a very quick race.
6.10 Ascot (Kensington Palace Stakes – Class 2 Handicap) – MOSTLY
On what just might be a big day for the Clarehaven operation of John & Thady Gosden, Mostly can finish it all off with a win in the one-mile Kensington Palace Stakes.
Although it’s not a prerequisite, every contender here is four years old and all have similar improvement in them. For her part Mostly has had both of her career wins at Kempton, but she’s been more than competent on the turf so far and is ready to reach a new level over the mile.
Angel Of The Glen, Dreamloper and the well fancied Lights On of Sir Michael Stoute’s are also in contention.
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