WESLEY CAN SCORE AGAIN ON CHELSEA
2.30 QUEEN MARY STAKES GROUP TWO —5 FURLONGS
AMERICAN trainer Wesley Ward has made a habit of landing the Queen mary Stakes in recent years and
CHELSEA CLOISTERS looks another from his conveyor belt of ready-made juvenile speedballs.
Ward has not hidden his admiration for a filly who blitzed her rivals on debut at Keeneland and she is reported to have prepared well for today’s event at Paul cole’s stable where she is housed.
Stall 14 looks a reasonable berth and she could well provide the irresistible Frankie Dettori with yet another royal winner. Windsor scorer come On Leicester clocked a terrific time at the Thames venue and could be underestimated.
SELECTION: CHELSEA CLOISTERS DANGER: COME ON LEICESTER
3.05 QUEEN’S VASE GROUP TWO — ONE MILE, 6 FURLONGS, 34 YARDS
The opening day of the meeting was further evidence, if any were needed, of the unparalleled ability of John Gosden to condition and place his horses.
Victories for calyx and Without Parole again advertised Gosden’s record in identifying when to pitch a young and seemingly inexperienced horse in at the deep end. Ascot maiden winner STREAM OF
STARS is the latest to fit those criteria when he tackles this Group Two after landing, what seemed at first glance, a modest affair last month. Gosden is also happy to allow Almoghared his chance and today’s step up in trip should suit the chepstow scorer.
SELECTION: STREAM OF STARS DANGER: ALMOGHARED
3.40 DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES GROUP TWO — ONE MILE
A RECENT spin at the Curragh should have put the versatile
HYDRANGEA spot on for this assignment and she can confirm the superiority official ratings suggest she holds over her rivals.
The daughter of Galileo wound up her three-year-old campaign with two Group One wins over 10 and 12 furlongs to prove her versatility trip-wise so today’s stiff mile should be within her compass.
Indeed, she was one of few horses to beat brilliant race-mare Winter last season, managing the feat twice in tight finishes where her will-towin was displayed. She is likely to be prominently ridden today and is fancied to see off Tomyris late on.
SELECTION: HYDRANDGEA DANGER: TOMYRIS
4.20 PRINCE OF WALES’S STAKES GROUP ONE — ONE MILE, 1 FURLONG, 212 YARDS
CRACKSMAN was more workmanlike than brilliant in the Coronation Cup earlier this month, but everyone is afforded an off-day and he still managed to win despite not looking comfortable at any stage.
Today’s drop back in trip on faster ground provides punters with an interesting conundrum given his price, but the balance of his form, including when slamming Poet’s Word by seven lengths in the Champion Stakes last autumn, suggests he remains the horse to beat.
The prospect of a tactical affair would be a concern, but the fact he lines up suggests trainer John Gosden is content his four-year-old is over his Epsom exertions.
SELECTION: CRACKSMAN DANGER: POET’S WORD
5.00 ROYAL HUNT CUP HERITAGE HANDICAP — ONE MILE
THE talents of Jamie Spencer on the straight track at Ascot have been well documented this week and RAISING SAND could provide the Irish rider with another Royal winner in the Hunt Cup.
The gelding’s reappearance in a similarly competitive handicap at today’s venue is probably best forgotten as it very much looked as though the Royal meeting was the primary objective.
Raising Sand has given some good course performances and looks to have plenty of pace with last year’s winner Zhui Feng drawn low. The form of Afaak’s York win worked out well and he is preferred to Seniority and Tricorn as the main danger.
5.35 JERSEY STAKES GROUP THREE — 7 FURLONGS
SOCIETY POWER has become a winning machine since last summer and he bids to make it the joy of six in this prestigious event.
Described as a raw, unfurnished model earlier in his career, the Society Rock colt has learned on the job with a series of narrow wins since his debut and, although there has been little flash about the performances, his attitude and tenacity have shone through.
The Goodwood handicap he secured in the dying strides last time was run at a breakneck gallop and, although he meets runner-up Emaraaty on worse terms, he could confirm their placings granted a strong pace.