ROYAL ASCOT PREVIEW
With only days to go before the start of the centrepiece of the
British flat racing calendar, here is a preview of the five days
racing at Royal Ascot from the exciting perspective of the
Juddmonte Stallion Roster.
The potential 2006 team is made up of a heady mix of entrants
who have shown enough on the track and at home to be considered
worthy of taking their place in the line up against some of the
world’s most talented horses.
Tuesday 20th June
Dansili is well represented on each day beginning with
CHAMPION’S GALLERY in the St James Palace
St Gr.1. With a timeform rating of 96 and trained by David
Elsworth he is reported as being “A big, strong colt with plenty of
scope”. Bred to stay over 1 1/4m and happiest on good to firm
ground it remains to be seen whether he can follow in the footsteps
of the mighty horses such as Giant’s Causeway and Rock of Gibraltar
who have added this prestigious race to their cv’s in the past.
HOME AFFAIRS, (tf 116+) “a strong,
close-coupled, smart performer” enters the Queen Anne St
Gr.1 on Tuesday on the back of a Listed win at
Windsor in May and an unlucky 3rd in the Diomed St
Gr.3 at Epsom earlier this month. The step up in trip from
last year’s Royal Ascot (at York) 3rd placed performance in the
Jersey St Gr.3 can only be a positive. “He’s a
nice, progressive horse” remarked his trainer Sir Michael
Stoute.
As one of Observatory’s flagships, NIDHAAL (tf
107) sails into Royal Ascot with three possibilities in the
King’s Stand St Gr.2, the Coronation St
Gr.1 and the Golden Jubilee St Gr.1.
Having already scored at Listed level and been unlucky in
sustaining a fracture in the Cheveley Park St Gr.1
when 3 lengths fifth to Donna Blini, she is a free-going filly and
thought to be best around 6f. However if the ground remains on the
firmer side of good, it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of
possibility to expect an exciting performance from her.
Wednesday 21st June
In a race where class as well as courage is required of the winner
to circumnavigate a huge field to the winning post, the
Juddmonte Stallion roster has three potential runners vying to come
out on top in the Royal Hunt Cup. At this stage
DANSILI DANCER (tf95) fresh from an easy victory
in a decent Goodwood Handicap last week is a horse whose
connections will be hoping for ground on the easier side of good if
he is to take his chance. Filled with the very bluest of
thoroughbred blood PERCY’S PEARL (tf87+)(Rainbow
Quest ex Ridgewood Pearl) holds an entry for David Elsworth but may
also need a little cut in the ground if he is to fulfil his early
promise. The lightly raced but promising MINORITY
REPORT (tf107+) is the final Juddmonte Roster entrant in
this competition. Will he convert his recent winning streak into a
hat trick?
Thursday 22nd June
The soft going was
not in the favour of HIGH HEEL SNEAKERS (tf105)
when she ran in the Musidora St Gr.3 behind Short
Skirt but she should put up a much better display on firmer ground
in the Ribblesdale St Gr.2. She has enough placed
experience in top class races such as May Hill St
Gr.2 and Fillies Mile Gr.1 at Newmarket
to stake her claim in this company and as such is an exciting
prospect if she is allowed to take her chance.
Traditionally held on Ladies Day the Ascot Gold Cup
Gr.1, the feature of Thursday’s card, sees a Rainbow Quest
entry for GOLDEN QUEST (tf123) “A very smart
performer who vastly improved in 2005” under the the gentle
tutelage of Middleham master Mark Johnston. Can Golden Quest follow
in the footsteps of his trainer’s previous dual Cup winner Royal
Rebel and bring this Royal Ascot prize back to Yorkshire once
more?
Friday 23rd June
The Coronation St Gr.1 sees a multitude of
Juddmonte related entries with the leading lights of 2006 for both
Dansili and Observatory involved at this stage such as the recent
Classic demoted PRICE TAG (tf 116) and
DON’T DILI DALI (tf102) (Dansili), while
VIOLETTE (109+) and NIDHAAL
(tf107) represent Observatory. An interesting addition to the field
though is SILVER TOUCH (Dansili) a Mick Channon
trained filly who has a sky high reputation at home and confirmed
this promise to some extent on debut in a Newbury maiden which gave
hints of what she has yet to expose…………
Saturday 24th June
It may be the final day but that doesn’t mean there
is any action lacking, especially in the Wokingham
Handicap where STARLIGHT GAZER’s (tf86) last
couple of runs suggest that he is an interesting prospect and that
the experience can only benefit this tall, close-coupled colt by
Observatory.
Date: 15 June 2006