In the big race yesterday at Royal Ascot, Order Of St George justified favouritism to run out an impressive winner. On to Friday and the feature is the Group 1 Coronation Stakes but there’s also a cracker in store with the 6 furlong Group 1 Commonwealth Cup.
2.30: Albany Stakes
We open with a 6 furlong race for 2 year olds and, as with most of these contests, it pays to stick with the fancied runners. At the head of the market is Cuff who is Aiden O’Brien trained and has the assistance of Ryan Moore in the saddle. She’s won 2 of her 3 starts and looked impressive last time out winning a Listed event by 3 lengths. This ground, however, is vastly different to that and she’ll need to improve again for O’Brien to land the Albany for the first time.
The 2 dangers, according to the market, are Queen Kindly and Create A Dream. The former is once raced and won easily at Catterick with the form not exactly solid. However, she’s by the brilliant Frankel and it’s been well documented about the record of them. Improvement needed but any relation to Frankel cannot be easily dismissed. However, I prefer the chances of Create A Dream, the US challenger from Wesley Ward’s powerful yard. He has a good record at Ascot and what I particularly like is that a jockey with excellent knowledge of the track gets the leg up. You don’t get much better than Frankie Dettori. She won her one and only start, here at Ascot last year, so she definitely will appreciate the track. That win was on good to soft; whether softer will suit is anyone’s guess but at least she has shown she can act on softish ground.
PLACED Back Create A Dream (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 7.50 Coral (¼ odds 1-4 BOG)
3.05: King Edward VII Stakes
Just the 9 runners for this 3 year old contest over the Derby distance of 1 mile 4 furlongs. There looks to be little between the runners and, despite the field size, I could not recommend a bet. Humphrey Bogart might the best each way proposition.
3.40: Commonwealth Cup
The first of the Group 1 races, a 6 furlong sprint. 4 of these contested the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock 3 weeks ago. I was there that day and the way Quiet Reflection quickened up and left her rivals for dead was as impressive as I’ve seen in a long time. She likes the soft ground, is a winner of 5 of her 6 starts and still appears to be improving. I wouldn’t be putting up a bet at odds shy of 2/1 but, by the same token, I couldn’t oppose her.
4.20: Coronation Stakes
The second of the Group 1s, this time on the 1 mile round course for 3 year old fillies. Following her game victory over Minding in the Irish 1000 Guineas, Jet Setting is the favourite. It would be difficult to oppose her on this sort of ground but I prefer the chances of French raider, Qemah.
She’s closely matched with Nathra and Besharah on her French 1000 Guineas 3rd but she didn’t have the best of runs that day. She took a keen hold and stumbled some way out before making late headway. She was thought good enough to be made favourite that day and I think compensation won’t be long in coming. She’s better judged on her win in the Prix De La Grotte, a Group 3 contest, where the help of a pacemaker and soft going allowed her to quicken smartly and win with any amount in hand. There are a couple in this that will like to go from the front and that, coupled with the ground, makes Qemah an excellent each way bet.
WON – Back Qemah (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 7.00 Bet365 (¼ odds 1-3 BOG)
5.00: Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap
A 1 mile 4 furlong handicap and this is a race I’ve been looking forward to for one particular horse, Cymro. I’m a big fan of Tom Dascombe and stable jockey Richard Kingscote, and they’ve already said Cymro is their best hope of a winner this week. The only thing that put me slightly was the widest draw but it is possibly no bad thing on this ground, and you could also say that most of the market rivals have a similar wider draw than ideal.
He’s a winner of 4 of his 13 starts but this 4 year old seems to excel on soft ground. In 5 starts on good or better, he’s finished 2nd once in a maiden. However, in 8 starts on good to soft or worse, he’s never been out of the first 3, winning half of them. On his seasonal reappearance, he was stepped up to this trip on soft ground at Thirsk and was impressive as he bounded away winning by 2 lengths. He was then thought good enough to go for a Group 3 at Chester but was only good enough to finish 4th of 5. That said, he was only 2 lengths back and wasn’t helped by having to be switched at a crucial stage. The trip may also have been a bit too far and the ground was quicker than ideal. He is still improving and, to me, he’s a Group horse on soft ground.
Ivan Grozny and Fabricate are the dangers and I have a soft spot for both these horses. I just hoped I’ve picked right!
Back Cymro (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 12.00 BetVictor (¼ odds 1-4 BOG)
5.35: Queens Vase
Ascot don’t make the closing races easily. Nothing of appeal and we’ll keep money in our pockets ready for the last day on Saturday.
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