St George returns to Royal Ascot to slay his Gold Cup dragons
– Order Of St George suffered heartache in the final strides of last year’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but he can regain his crown on day three of this year’s meeting.
Aidan O’Brien’s six-year-old found Big Orange a short-head too good in the 4000m showpiece and had to hand over the title he had claimed so impressively the previous year.
Order Of St George subsequently put that rival to the sword when winning on Champions Day, with the interim period filled by victories in the Irish St Leger Trial and the Classic, as well as a fourth over 2400m in the Prix de la Arc de Triomphe.
Order Of St George seemed
London
suitably refreshed when hosing up in the Vintage Crop Stakes on his return this season, before following a familiar path in the Saval Beg.
He did not beat much on either occasion, but won easily and the runs should have him spot on.
The staying division has serious strength in depth and the likes of Stradivarius and Vazirabad do pose a threat. However, it is hard to side against a runner who has, quite literally, been there and done it.
Wild Illusion has similarly clear-cut claims in the Ribblesdale Stakes after finding only Forever Together too good in the Oaks at Epsom. She did not have sufficient pace to grab the favoured rail that day and merely kept on for second, but it was a fine run nevertheless.
Vintage Brut can strike a blow for the north in the opening Norfolk Stakes.
Trained by Tim Easterby, this Dick Turpin colt was a sevenlength winner on debut at Thirsk before following up in the National Stakes at Sandown last time.
He was not the quickest away that day but came out on top in a bunched finish and will progress.
Wadilsafa is the pick in the Hampton Court Stakes after reversing last year’s form with the well-regarded Herculean on his only start so far this term.
Owen Burrows’ runner clearly felt the benefit of a winter on his back as he turned a 1.75-length defeat last term into a 3.25-length victory last month.
He was getting a decent chunk of weight off the winner, but it was a good performance and he is bred to excel at this 2000m trip and beyond.
Josephine Gordon can secure a landmark first Royal Ascot victory as Corrosive makes plenty of appeal after sneaking in at the bottom of the field for the Britannia Stakes.
The duo have struck up a good relationship and recently scored over this course and distance. –