St George is my best bet
2.30 - Sioux Nation
He surprised me a bit with the convincing manner of his win in the Free Handicap on his return.
He still needs to improve, though the quicker surface will suit as he is a big, beautiful horse with a good action. 3.05 - Orderofthegarter
I have a lot of time for Mirage Dancer as I, like everyone else, saw how well he shaped in fourth behind Cliffs Of Moher at Chester. He impressed me when I won on him at Doncaster last season.
They have taken a patient approach with him and it could pay dividends but my colt has shown a much better level of form as it stands and I thought he was very unlucky in the French Derby last month. Well, unfortunate not to finish a lot closer anyway, as he continually got no run up the rail.
You have to give him a serious chance in what is obviously a competitive renewal of this contest. He ran well on fast ground on his debut. 3.40 - Alluringly I’ll be honest. I do think Mori is the one to beat in here. I know a lot of people focus on her pedigree but they’d be better off looking at her progressive profile, as she is learning about racing all the time and has a good attitude, and she did it really well for me at Goodwood. There is plenty more to come from her, and she is a filly I rate.
But Alluringly has achieved more to date in finishing second at Chester and third in the Oaks, albeit at a respectful distance at Epsom, and she is a filly in her own right. very classy 4.20 - Order Of St George
Everyone knows what this horse brings to the table. He is a proper Group One horse, from middle distances upwards on any ground, and he was at his devastating best when winning this race last season. He was well below-par when beaten by Torcedor first time up at Navan in April but he teed himself up nicely for this when winning at Leopardstown
last month. 5.00 - City Of Joy He is a horse I liked at two and obviously nothing he has done this season has taken me away from that view. He won what I thought was a strong Doncaster handicap and then defied a 5lb rise in the weights to beat a progressive horse in Tricorn at Chelmsford last time. He has gone up another 5lb but, with luck in running, I’d expect him to be thereabouts. 5.35 - Homesman He was blinkered for the first time when he showed a very willing attitude to win at the Curragh.
The distance is the main question mark in a competitive race like this, for all he won his maiden over an extended 1m3f. Interview by Tony Calvin
on behalf of Betfair HIGHLAND REEL, one of the great street fighters of the turf, stepped into the ring and again came out victorious when taking the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
Given a confident ride by Ryan Moore, the five-year-old took his career earnings to £5.97million when landing his sixth Group One success after holding off the challenges of Decorated Hero, the second home, and Ulysses, third.
Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien, who was landing his 300th Group and Graded success on the Flat and over jumps, understandably lavished praise on the little bay with the heart of a lion.
“He’s just an incredible horse,” said O’Brien. “Pace, courage, tactical speed, he has everything.
“We’ve travelled the world with him and he has answered every question. He has been racing at the top level for the last few years and is just amazing. Sometimes he gets beaten, but if the pace is strong and if it comes to courage, then he’ll be in there fighting.”
Moore, in recording his 44th Royal Ascot success, also shared O’Brien’s praise for the son of the mighty Galileo, saying: “This lad has been everywhere but he keeps coming back.
“It was a tough performance at Epsom [Coronation Cup] and another one today. I’d say that was probably a career best.”
Qemah, winner of last year’s Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, again showed her liking for the course when taking the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.
Given a patient ride by Gregory Benoist, she showed her superior class when proving too strong for Aljazzi, with Usherette taking third place.
“Congratulations must go to the filly, jockey and the staff at home including her lad Jerome, who does a wonderful job with her,” said winning trainer Jean ClaudeRouget.
“I was happy to see her before the race today because she looked a different filly from Lingfield last time [when she ran too free when second to Mix And Mingle] – there was a big change in her.
“She will now go to Deauville for the Prix Rothschild and then certainly the Matron Stakes after that.”
The Scout had another good day, thanks to Le Brivido (2-1) and Heartache (5-1) winning the first two races. The former made up several lengths to catch Spirit Of Valor in the dying strides.
Andre Fabre, celebrating his ninth winner at Royal Ascot, said: “It was exciting because he looked beaten with half a furlong to go but showed his class.”
Le Brivido was current French champion jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot’s first Royal Ascot winner.