ROYAL INVASION
Japan star heads Ascot challenge 10 HORSES TO FOLLOW…
JASON HEAVEY
Equine machines from the USA, Japan and across Europe will form a truly cosmopolitan team at the five-day thoroughbred festival.
American mare Tepin is strongly fancied for the curtain raiser, the Queen Anne Stakes, while fellow US challenger Miss Temple City will tackle the Duke of Cambridge.
And Japanese star A Shin Hikari will also grace Ascot with his significant presence in Wednesday’s Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
He was dubbed the world’s best middle-distance horse after his Prix D’Ispahan romp at Chantilly last month. He thrashed rivals with proven Group One form and also showed his ability to handle soft ground.
The ground is likely to ride on the slow side when the meeting begins on Tuesday. Half a month’s rain (20mm) fell on Friday night prompting the going on the straight course to ease to good to soft. It is soft in places on the round course.
Clerk of the course Chris Stickels said: “We had a storm on Friday night and 20mm of rain fell in about an hour.
“The average rainfall for the month would be about 40mm.” Stickels believes that the conditions might improve if the course misses the forecast showers. But horses who love fast summer ground may well be worth opposing this week. RACING Editor JASON HEAVEY gives his 10 to follow for the royal meeting… ENDLESS DRAMA (Queen Anne Stakes, Tuesday): Ran a blinder in the Lockinge and is fancied to turn the tables on Belardo. MOKARRIS (Coventry Stakes): Impressive on his debut and the dogs have been barking about his home work since. WESTERN HYMN (Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Wednesday): An each-way alternative at 16-1 to Time Test, A Shin Hikari and The Grey Gatsby as he will relish cut in the ground. MECCA’S ANGEL (King’s Stand Stakes, Tues): Will have her favoured slow ground and should be very difficult to beat. QUEEN KINDLY (Queen Mary Stakes, Wed): This speedy daughter of Frankel won on her Catterick debut and is highly regarded. JET SETTING (Coronation Stakes, Thurs): Irish 1,000 Guineas winner who revels in soft ground and the 6-1 still available looks a steal. GLOBAL APPLAUSE (Norfolk Stakes, Thurs): Two wins out of three and there were excuses for his Newbury defeat. Will be very hard to beat. GERSHWIN (Tercentenary Stakes, Thurs): May have been let in lightly off a rating of 91 and has the talented George Baker in the saddle. PALLASATOR (Gold Cup, Thurs): This giant is a sporting each-way alternative to Order Of St George. If he stays he’ll be in the mix. GEORGE DRYDEN (Wokingham, Sat): Talented on his day and if everything drops right he could run into a place at big odds.