TWO-YEAR-OLDS
Ian Heitman looks at the top juvenile races at the Royal meeting
Ian Heitman looks at the juvenile races at Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot is for many the highlight of the Flat season, with five days of top-class racing, with at least one Group 1 race on each day. The meeting gets off to a spectacular start with three of the first four races Group 1 contests, with the first twoyear-old race of the meeting, the Group 2 Coventry Stakes the second race on the card.
COVENTRY STAKES
Run over 6f, the Coventry Stakes is the first Group race to be held in the UK for two-year-olds and has been won by some smart horses in recent years, Canford Cliffs, winner in 2009, and Dawn Approach, 2012, both went on to Classic success the following year, while 2016 winner, Caravaggio returned to the Royal meeting in 2017 to win the Commonwealth Cup, a race 2018 Coventry winner, Calyx, is a short priced favourite for after his impressive return at Ascot on May 1.
Aidan O’Brien has the best recent record with three winners from 16 runners in the last 10 years, Caravaggio being one of the three winners, and he will no doubt be well represented again this year. There are plenty of opportunities for O’Brien to unleash a few smart two-year-olds between now and June 18th, but of those that have run, ARIZONA ran well on his debut at the Curragh on May 6th, running on well to be second behind all the way winner Sunday Sovereign who had the benefit of having had a previous run. Arizona should be winning in maiden company before potentially running in the Coventry. The yard’s MONARCH OF EYPGT, successful on debut in midApril is currently the 5/1 favourite.
Richard Hannon’s father won the Coventry three times during his training career and whilst Richard Hannon has yet to win the race, he has had a second and a third from eight runners since he took over the licence in 2014. THREAT will be one the yard’s main contenders based on his impressive debut win over 5f at Newmarket on May 5th, running on strongly inside the last furlong and a half beating odds-on favourite ELECTRICAL STORM by two and a quarter lengths.
SISKIN looked a useful prospect when he made a winning debut at Naas on May 11th for Ger Lyons, travelling well close to the pace, he took the lead with a furlong and a half to go beating Aidan O’Brien’s HARPOCRATES by two- and threequarter lengths. Ger Lyons has only had four two-year-old runners at Royal Ascot but two of them, Cappella Sansevero and Psychedelic Funk both placed in the Coventry in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
There hadn’t been too many races run over the Coventry distance of 6f up until the time of writing, the first in the UK was at Wolverhampton on May 10th and it produced an impressive debut winner in the shape of PINATUBO from the Charlie Appleby yard who quickened clear inside the last 100 yards beating PLATINUM STAR, who missed the break but finished well, by three and a quarter lengths. For such a successful trainer, Charlie Appleby has only had one Royal Ascot two-year-old winner from 13 runners, Sound And Silence in the 2017 Windsor Castle Stakes.
The 6f maiden at York on the second day of the Dante meeting in mid-May attracted a field of 12. Caravaggio’s half-brother, HONG KONG, was due to make his racecourse debut of Aidan O’Brien but was withdrawn in the morning of the race. STORY OF LIGHT from the Charlie Appleby yard was the well supported 13/8 favourite but he could manage only fifth behind impressive winner REPARTEE who raced prominently throughout and ran on strongly inside the last furlong, drawing clear to win by five lengths from FORBIDDEN LAND and BOMA GREEN. Repartee’s trainer, Kevin Ryan, hasn’t had a two-year-old runner at Royal Ascot since 2016 and said after the race it’s not all about Ascot but he looked a smart prospect here and will be a leading contender should have take his chance.
Newbury’s two-day Lockinge meeting had a two-year-old race over 6f on each day. The first, a maiden, won in 2009 and 2010 by subsequent Coventry winners Canford Cliffs and Strong Suit respectively, saw John Gosden’s LIGHT ANGEL, second over 5f in a three-runner race at Doncaster 13 days earlier, win at the second attempt. He didn’t take the eye in the paddock beforehand, not having as much scope as some of his 11 rivals but the previous racecourse showed as he pulled clear of the 7/2 favourite, HEAVEN FOR
FEND, the first runner of the year for Sir Michael Stoute, to win by a length and a half with JIM ‘N’ TOMIC improving on his debut run to be third. SIR OLIVER, a full brother to high-class sprinter, Mecca’s Angel was the nicest horse in the paddock and he was only beaten five lengths in sixth for Richard Hughes and Jamie Spencer (Hughes has a very poor strike rate first time out, only 3%, this rises to 11% second time out) and Sir Oliver should be competitive next time. BAADIRR, the first juvenile of 2019 for William Haggas, was a nose behind Sir Oliver and he should step up next time he runs. ZIGGLE POPS was the disappointment of the race, a strong colt by Zoffany he looked well in the paddock beforehand but never managed to land a blow finishing in 10th.
The second of the 6f races was a valuable conditions race where five of the eight runners had won their only starts. Wesley Ward, who has an excellent record at Royal Ascot (all two-year-old winners come over 5f),
SIR OLIVER, a full brother to highclass sprinter, Mecca’s Angel was the nicest horse in the paddock
sent JOKER ON JACK, an easy winner over four and a half furlongs at Keeneland in mid-April. A powerfully built colt by Declaration Of War, Joker On Jack certainly looked the part but there were other good-looking horses in the paddock, debut winners WELL OF WISDOM, sent of favourite, and TEMPLE OF HEAVEN both looked to have improved for the debut successes. The Aidan O’Brien pair, FORT MYERS and newcomer UNITED FRONT (colty in the paddock) also looked well. Joker On Jack had typically good early pace, but he wandered with a couple of furlongs to go hampering Temple Of Heaven, Fort Myers and Well Of Wisdom and it was this trio that fought out the finish as Joker On Jack faded out of contention. Temple Of Heaven just got the verdict, a short head in front of Fort Myers with Well Of Wisdom only a nose behind. United Front kept on well to be fourth and wasn’t given too hard a time by Wayne Lordan and it could be that he is the best of the them. FIREPOWER never managed to land a blow in sixth, not getting the clearest of runs, his debut win at Salisbury suggests he is worth another chance.
It is likely most of the runners will line-up at Royal Ascot with the Coventry or the Norfolk possible races with Richard Hannon indicating the winner might go for the Norfolk.
HURRICANE IVOR entered the betting as second favourite for the Coventry on the back of a very easy debut win at Chantilly on May 17th, leading all the way, he quickened clear in good style with two furlongs to go and was eased close home, still able to win by seven and a half lengths. His trainer, Fabrice Chappet, has only had one Royal Ascot two-year-old runner in the last 10 years but this colt by Ivawood looked a smart prospect and won’t be out of place if he does make the journey from France.
QUEEN MARY STAKES
The first of two two-year-old races on day two, the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes over 5f gets the action underway and it will no doubt be the target for leading US trainer Wesley Ward who has sent out three winners in the last 10 years, the most recent being Lady Aurelia in 2016. Her half-sister, LADY PAULINE, impressive winner in the US on her debut, made the journey for a taste of Ascot’s five-furlong course in a conditions race on May 1st. She certainly looked the part in the paddock, strong and well-muscled, she set off in front as she had done at Keeneland on her debut, but she couldn’t get clear and was caught with 75 yards to go by Richard Fahey’s unbeaten colt VENTURA REBEL. Lady Pauline only had a few days to recover from the long journey from the US and if she is to return for the Queen Mary, no doubt connections will give her longer to acclimatise.
There have been a number of impressive wins in recent weeks from fillies who should make the line-up for the Queen Mary. ICKWORTH maintained her unbeaten record with a comfortable success in the first Listed race to be run in Ireland, the First Flier Stakes at the Curragh on May 6th. She travelled strongly throughout the 5f contest and took the lead a furlong and a half from the finish, easily beating Aidan O’Brien’s well back favourite, KING NEPTUNE by two and a quarter lengths.
Plenty of rain at Chester for their prestigious May meeting saw an intended field of 11 for the opening race of the meeting, the Lily Agnes conditions race, reduced to seven. GREAT DAME benefitted most from the withdrawals as she was should have been in stall three but was in effect in stall one against the favoured rail. Quickly away from the stalls, she led all the way under Danny Tudhope and held of recent Doncaster winner, IVA REFLECTION by half a length and continued the excellent start David O’Meara’s two-year-olds. SHOW ME SHOW ME, who was having her first start since winning the opening juvenile race, the Brocklesby, was favourite for the race but had a wider trip than was ideal,
keeping on to be fifth but never dangerous.
Great Dame was one of 12 previous winners in the largest field (18) ever assembled for first Listed race to be run in the UK for two-year-olds, the Marygate Stakes at York on May 17th, with seven of the runners defending unbeaten records. LADY KERMIT, like Great Dame, had won two races, and she was the well supported 11/4 favourite to land the hat-trick for the season’s leading two-year-old trainer Archie Watson. She had plenty of pace and was in front until the last 100 yards. Mighty Spirit made progress on the outside of the field from halfway and looked a big danger to Lady Kermit inside the last furlong but neither were a match for GOOD VIBES (winner of a fillies conditions race at Salisbury at the end of April), who having travelled well held up in midfield, finished strongly under Harry Bentley, taking the lead inside the last 100 yards, drawing clear close to the finish to win by a length and a half from Mighty Spirit who won’t be long in getting off the mark with Lady Kermit a further half a length away. Good Vibes was the second winner in the race for David Evans (Patience Alexander won in 2014 before going on to finish third in the Albany Stakes) who said afterwards she is the best horse he has ever trained and will now head for the Queen Mary. The eyecatcher of the race was GALADRIEL trained by Kevin Ryan who was making her racecourse debut in the race, she was last to halfway but weaved her way through the field in the last furlong and half and was running on well at the finish, five and a half lengths behind the winner. She is sure to progress from this and will have no trouble getting off the mark next time. There were a couple of disappointments, once-raced winners, LADY FANDITHA (11th) and FLEETING PRINCESS (13th) never managed to land a blow from midfield. Great Dame had pace to halfway but gradually weakened out of contention and was 14th. Good Vibes was soundly beaten on her racecourse debut by Charlie Appleby’s CHASING DREAMS who hasn’t run since her five-length win at Newmarket on April 16th but looks a smart prospect given what Good Vibes has done in two subsequent races.
Jamie Osborne doesn’t have too many first-time out winners, only eight since 2010. EMTEN made it nine when she made a winning debut at Windsor on April 29th comfortably beating TOP BUCK who went on to run well behind Great Dame at Chester. She has a speedy pedigree and she could make the line-up for the Queen Mary or the Windsor Castle Stakes.
Soft ground at Ascot on May 10th saw five of the intended 11 runners withdrawn for a 5f maiden fillies race. STAR ALEXANDER was a warm favourite for Clive Cox and Adam Kirby but she nor the other four runners were a match for FINAL SONG from the Saeed bin Suroor yard. Leading all
the way, she was challenged with a furlong and half to go by MRS FLANDERS but quickened clear impressively under Oisin Murphy inside the last furlong to win by five lengths. She was very effective on the soft ground here but her action suggests she will be equally as effective on quicker ground and deserves her place in the Queen Mary field however her trainer has a modest strike rate at the Royal meeting with one two-year-old winner from 19 runners in the last 10 years.
Mark Johnston’s AUCHTERARDER could run in either the Queen Mary or the Albany Stakes given the way she won her debut over 5f at Beverley on May 14th. Leading all the way, she stayed on well inside the last furlong and a half, beating odds on favourite QUIET PLACE (beaten by another Johnston runner, Companion on debut at Yarmouth) by two and a half lengths in a much faster time than the second division. Auchterarder was the second winner from two runners for her sire Gleneagles who progeny should be given close attention to over the coming weeks. Like Saeed bin Suroor, Mark Johnston has a modest strike rate at Royal Ascot with two-year-olds, only two winners from 60 runners (0/8 in the Queen Mary and 1/9 in the Albany).
WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES
Run over 5f, the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes attracts the biggest two-yearold fields of the week, nine of the last 10 years have seen 22 runners or more and it is a race that often produces big priced winners with the last three returned 20/1, 16/1 and 12/1.
Wesley Ward with two winners is the most successful trainer in the last 10 years and he will no doubt have a runner in the race, 2012 was the only year in the last 10 when he didn’t. Richard Fahey, with a winner and two seconds, could run VENTURA REBEL in this race or the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes the following day.
Richard Hannon has yet to have a horse place in the Windsor Castle from nine runners but KEMBLE could be the horse to change his fortunes given the way he won on his second start at Windsor on May 13th, drawing clear from race favourite Exclusively inside the last furlong to win by five lengths.
BOMB PROOF could run in either the Windsor Castle or the Norfolk based on his debut win at York on May 15th for Jeremy Noseda (second debut winner of 2019) and Frankie Dettori when he beat Mark Johnston’s MONOSKI by a length and a quarter with SUMMER SANDS keeping on well to be third for Richard Fahey.
NORFOLK
The first race on day three is the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes over 5f where Aidan O’Brien and Wesley Ward have won four of the last six running’s between them and both trainers are likely to be represented in 2019.
Charlie Appleby has to yet have a runner in the race, but he could be represented by EXPRESSIONIST who made a winning debut at Ascot on May 11th. A strong colt by first season stallion Night Of Thunder (1st winner for the sire), he beat fellow newcomer CLAN ROYALE (first two-year-old runner of 2019 for Roger Varian) by three quarters of a length, the pair clear of PRAXEOLOGY who had the benefit of having had a previous run.
Andrew Balding has had an excellent start to 2019 and got off the mark with his juveniles at Salisbury on May 16th when SYMBOLIZE made a winning debut. He was colty in the paddock beforehand but was walking between two fillies, that didn’t seem to make any difference to his attitude in the race as he travelled well close to the pace set by AROHA (fourth to Good Vibes at Salisbury on debut), and picked up well for David Probert, taking the lead inside the last furlong and going clear to win by a length and three quarters with SHAMMAH running well in third having raced prominently throughout. Balding had only had five juveniles run at Royal Ascot in the last 10 years but Symbolize showed enough here to suggest he will be the sixth.
Aidan O’Brien’s representative in the race could be PISTOLETTO. He was very edgy in the stalls and he kicked off both his back shoes prior to maintaining his unbeaten record at Naas on 19th May. Sent off the 1/5 favourite, he was made to work to beat RED EPAULETTE, the winning margin half a length but has plenty of ability and will bang there in the Norfolk should he run in this race.
It could be that horses mentioned above in the Windsor Castle preview run in the Norfolk depending on how much progress they make in the next few weeks.
ALBANY
The Group 2 Albany Stakes over 6f is the fillies equivalent of the Coventry Stakes and is the most recent addition to the two-year-old Royal Ascot programme, first run in 2002. No trainer has saddled more than one winner in the last 10 years.
There haven’t been too many 6f races for fillies so far. One of the first saw an impressive debut win for the Roger Varian trained DAAHYEH at Newmarket on May 18th. She was always travelling well in midfield and picked up well on the outside of the field, taking the lead from pace-setting RAFFLE PRIZE a furlong from the finish to win by a length and three quarters. Varian won the Albany in 2014 with Cursory Glance, his only Royal Ascot two-year-old winner to date.
PEACE CHARTER finished half a length in front of SO WONDERFUL at Naas on April 29th, the pair clear of the third, and they met for the second time in Ireland’s first Group race for two-year-olds, The Fillies’ Sprint Stakes at Naas on May 19th.
So Wonderful was preferred in the betting for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore but was disappointing, never managing to challenge from the rear of midfield, keeping to be fifth.
Peace Charter ran better in third, having every chance a furlong and a half from the finish but it was the second-string from the O’Brien yard, ETOILE, on her racecourse debut who finished off strongly inside the last furlong, denying pace-setting AMERICAN LADY close to the finish. Etoile looked a smart prospect winning here and will be hard to beat in the Albany for which she was quoted at 5/1 immediately after the race.
CHESHAM
Run on the final day of the meeting, the Listed Chesham Stakes is run over 7f. Aidan O’Brien, with three winners from 11 runners is the most successful trainer in the last 10 years. One of his winners, Churchill, went on to dominate the 2016 season and also landed the English/Irish 2000 Guineas double.
The 7f races in the UK hadn’t started at the time of writing but there had been one in Ireland at Leopardstown on May 17th. O’Brien was triplehanded, all homebred by Coolmore, MASTEROFFOXHOUNDS fared best, running on well from midfield under hands and heels but never getting close enough to challenge the all-theway winner MOHICAN HEIGHTS and LIL GREY. The other O’Brien runner, TORONTO kept on from the rear but was never dangerous whilst WAR LEADER raced up with the pace before fading a furlong and a half from the finish.