Royal Ascot has commanded international racing’s centre stage over the past four days and with the return of unrestricted crowds, superb weather and champion horses, the meeting has delivered on every front.
The Group 1-winning feats of Nature Strip, Baaeed, Coroebus, State Of Rest, Kyprios, Perfect Power and Inspiral have been celebrated not just at Royal Ascot, but around the world – proving once more the appeal of elite international competition.
The stunning performances of Perfect Power in the G1 Commonwealth Cup for Christophe Soumillon and Richard Fahey and Inspiral for Frankie Dettori and John & Thady Gosden in the G1 Coronation Stakes on Friday were deservedly hailed as Royal Ascot shimmered in glorious conditions.
The Royal meeting attracts the best of the best and it is remarkable to think that Aidan O’Brien, at only 52 years of age, now has 80 Royal Ascot winners – only two fewer than Sir Michael Stoute – with many of those conquests coming in tandem with Ryan Moore.
Ryan is an amazing jockey and his timeless skills were on display with a double for Aidan with Meditate and Changingoftheguard to take his Royal Ascot tally to 70 wins, just seven fewer than Frankie as the pair attempt to bridge the gap to Lester Piggott’s record 116.
Saturday night marks the fifth and final night of our Royal Ascot simulcasts with the G1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes featured as the fourth of seven races and run at 11.20pm Hong Kong time. Run over a straight 1200 metres with a big field, all eyes are on Australian sprinter Home Affairs as trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald try to double up after Nature Strip won the King’s Stand Stakes by a wide margin on Tuesday.
Home Affairs is better in my opinion over a shorter trip and the steep rise toward the finish of the Platinum Jubilee can prove testing. His lone win in five attempts over this trip was in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes in October and it was impressive. Due to his lack of consistency over 1200m, I make him only a place chance.
One horse that catches my eye is the American filly Campanelle, a brave winner via disqualification last year in the G1 Commonwealth Cup over the course and distance. She tuned up with a good win while covering ground against much softer opposition at Keeneland in April and appears set for a big effort with Irad Ortiz, Jr taking the ride. She is a win and place chance.
Minzaal is second up for regular rider Jim Crowley and has the versatility to be either forward or midfield in the run. He is a place chance along with Highfield Princess and jockey Jason Hart.
At Sha Tin on Sunday, the Premier Plate is the first of two Group 3 races during the meeting and will be run under handicap conditions over 1800 metres as the fifth race. The pace for the Premier Plate will be only good to slow with Reliable Team, second in this race last season, pushing forward from the inside barrier to make the running with Matthew Chadwick. Mighty Giant will likely show more pace and will be in close attendance along with Ka Ying Star.
Turin Redsun is winless from seven starts since arriving in Hong Kong but he has shown enough to merit a rating increase from 73 to 92 and a win here can take his earnings to nearly $8 million in his initial season. He will get a nice run from inside midfield under a lightweight and this may be his ideal trip, as evidenced by his second-place finish behind California Spangle in the Classic Cup in February. Jockey Matthew Poon picks up the ride and I make Turin Redsun a win and place chance.
Ka Ying Star is trying to do what Southern Legend did last season and win this race carrying 133 pounds with Luke Ferraris taking the return engagement. He will be in the mix from the outset and comes off a big effort when second over 2400 metres in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup. He is a place chance.
Excellent Proposal has been working very well and is also a place chance for Joao Moreira along with Columbus County and jockey Vincent Ho.
The Group 3 Premier Cup is a 1400 metre handicap carded as race 7 with Californiadeepshot likely to make the running with Matthew Chadwick. Healthy Happy will also go forward under Karis Teetan to ensure a good pace. Silver Express will be forwardly placed behind the leaders under new jockey Harry Bentley.
All of the nine runners in the race are either stepping up or turning back in trip which makes this an interesting contest. Beauty Joy did not enjoy a smooth journey when winning three weeks ago but he is in career-best form and overcame a slow pace to win convincingly with a big closing sectional. He has won four of six races this season and is a win and place chance to make it three in a row under regular rider Zac Purton. He will make his run from midfield and is strong in the finish.
Lucky Express will do his running from the back and the step up in trip will suit with Antoine Hamelin riding. He will be closing ground late as a place chance along with Cheerful Days and Blaze Warrior. Cheerful Days is a two-time winner over the course and distance, and though he prefers longer, he is capable under the light weight under Alexis Badel. Blaze Warrior is another that will be aided by a light weight and will be making ground with Joao Moreira.
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