The opening three days of Royal Ascot have lived up to expectations with brilliant equine and human performances and, as the countdown continues towards Wellington’s appearance in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on Saturday (24 June), tonight’s racing promises more exceptional competition.
Frankie Dettori’s effort to win a ninth G1 Gold Cup at his farewell appearance at the Royal meeting on Courage Mon Ami, who was having only his fourth career start, was the clear highlight on Thursday, while Waipiro’s strong win in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes was an outstanding result for Hong Kong owner Siu Pak Kwan.
Before the racing gets underway on Friday, an agreement to continue the tripartite partnership between Ascot, UK Tote and the World Pool will be signed in the Parade Ring at Royal Ascot. The choice of the venue is appropriate, given the fact Ascot was our first partner and we practically initiated the World Pool with them.
Since its introduction in 2019, World Pool has proved extremely beneficial for global racing with its ability to generate unmatched liquidity by commingling in partnership with pari-mutuel operators around the world.
With more than 25 countries and regions participating, World Pool has enabled customers around the globe to not only enjoy the finest racing on the international stage, but also the benefit of the largest and deepest pari-mutuel pools which deliver higher returns and greater certainty of odds.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is very pleased with the positive impact the World Pool operation has on global racing and this is evidenced at Royal Ascot alone with turnover growing from HK$1.09 billion in 2019 to HK$1.76 billion in 2022.
I look forward to the continuation of the agreement with great optimism.
Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien have again been prominent over the first three days at Royal Ascot and the pair seems well placed to again contend on Friday night when the first of the two feature events is the G1 Commonwealth Cup, which is carded as S2-2 and run at 10.05pm over 1200m.
First run in 2015, the Commonwealth Cup is for three-year-old colts and fillies only.
Little Big Bear goes into the race as the overwhelming favourite. He started his three-year-old season with an inglorious performance behind Chaldean in the 2000 Guineas where he was stretching to the mile for the first time in his career and failed to handle the conditions on the day.
Aidan O’Brien switched him back to sprinting and he immediately hit form again over the straight course at Haydock at G2 level, winning comfortably. Little Big Bear is easily the highest-rated horse in the contest and is my win selection to give Ryan Moore another victory at the Royal meeting.
Shaquille has won his last four starts and most recently looked impressive in winning a Listed race at Newbury on 20 May when he ran good time and was dominant beating Noble Style and looks a danger to the favourite for Oisin Murphy and trainer Julie Camacho.
Lezoo won the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes as a two-year-old and was stepped to the mile of the 1000 Guineas at her first run this year and similarly Sakheer ran first up at the mile as a three-year-old behind Chaldean in the 2000 Guineas. Both disappointed and switch back to sprinting here and have place chances.
The G1 Coronation Stakes is carded as S2-4 and run at 11.20pm over 1594m.
Tahiyra was a Group 1 winner as a two-year-old and, after being narrowly beaten by Mawj in the English 1000 Guineas, made amends by winning the Irish equivalent of the race on 28 May. She easily accounted for runner-up Meditate once finally getting clear room in the straight as a long odds-on favourite. Tahiyra dominates the market again and should win for master trainer Dermot Weld and her owner, His Highness the Aga Khan.
Meditate was also runner-up to Tahiyra in the G1 Moyglare Stakes last year and should prove the hardest for the favourite to beat again. Sounds Of Heaven and Queen For You who raced each other at Listed level last start are chances to fill third place.
On Saturday, Wellington makes a highly-anticipated appearance in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m), which is carded as S1-3 and run at 10.40pm.
This race was won for Hong Kong in 2005 by Cape of Good Hope and we wish Richard Gibson and his owners every success with Wellington.
Wellington won the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint in December and in four runs this year has been placed behind the world’s highest-rated sprinter Lucky Sweynesse. Wellington trialled well before leaving for England and if he was to run to his peak rating of 121, he would go very close to winning the race. The engagement of champion rider Ryan Moore is a major positive for his chances and he is a win and place chance.
Al Suhail will be strong at the end of the race as a dual Group winner over 1400m and comes to the race fresh from his close third in the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai in March. He is a place chance at good odds for William Buick and Charlie Appleby.
Highfield Princess ran well on Tuesday when runner-up in the King’s Stand Stakes and has raced with success in the past on a quick back-up. She is a place chance along with Australian sprinter Artorius, who ran third in the race last year to Naval Crown and will be ridden by James McDonald.
I would also like to wish Marc Chan, the owner of Kinross every success as he starts a campaign hopefully targeted towards Hong Kong in December. Kinross has his first run for the year here after winning twice at G1 level in 2022 and will be one of the last rides for Frankie Dettori at Royal Ascot. He is also a place chance.
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