Aidan O’Brien has long been synonymous with horseracing excellence and he again showed why he is revered internationally by creating history with his 400th Group 1 victory on the Flat with AUGUSTE RODIN’s win in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes (2005m) at Royal Ascot.
The statistics surrounding Aidan’s glittering career are simply astounding and it is remarkable to consider that, at only 54, he is already the most successful trainer in history at Royal Ascot with 89 wins so far and has also won the meeting’s top trainer award a record 12 times.
In a wonderful training performance, Aidan last night added a record-extending ninth G1 Gold Cup (3991m) to his collection as KYPRIOS crowned a magnificent comeback from career-threatening injury under Ryan Moore.
Committed to competing internationally, Aidan has achieved at the highest level around the world, including Hong Kong, where he has been a great supporter of our major race days – LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and FWD Champions Day.
Ryan has played an integral role in Aidan’s success, partnering several Ballydoyle champions to Group 1 victories and his effort to move into second place on Royal Ascot’s all-time list for the most wins by a jockey behind Lester Piggott (116) with 83 wins – after overtaking Frankie Dettori (81 wins) – is amazing.
Like Aidan, Ryan regular features in Hong Kong’s most important race days and, apart from enjoying great success here, he has had a positive influence on many of our home-grown jockeys, whom he has generously helped with career advice.
I congratulate both Aidan and Ryan on their achievements and wish them all the best for the future.
It was wonderful to see GOING THE DISTANCE win the King George V Stakes (2392m) at Royal Ascot last night for Hong Kong owner Marc Chan. GOING THE DISTANCE made it four wins in a row and I wish Marc all the best with this talented three-year-old.
Congratulations also to the Siu family on the impressive win of MICKLEY in the Britannia Stakes (1600m). Trained by Ed Bethell and ridden by Callum Rodriguez, MICKLEY was bought before the race and, being a gelding, it is likely he will head to Hong Kong for the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
On Friday night (21 June) at Royal Ascot, the G1 Commonwealth Cup (1200m) is carded as S4-2 and will be run at 10.05pm.
INISHERIN was sixth in the English Guineas after leading and fading over the last 200m.
Trainer Kevin Ryan switched INISHERIN back in trip in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes (1200m) over the straight course at Haydock and he won impressively by a big margin. He is a win and place chance for Tom Eaves.
JASOUR won the G3 Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes over this course and distance on 1 May when he was held up and finished strongly to comfortably win when resuming. He is a place chance for Jim Crowley.
ELITE STATUS is in the same ownership as INISHERIN for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and he also comes into the race off a winning reappearance at Newbury at Listed level. ELITE STATUS is a place chance for Clifford Lee.
This is a competitive race and Irish trained colt GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS also has claims, coming off a close second to BUCANERO FUERTE in a Group 3 race at Naas on 19 May when he finished strongly in the closing stages.
The G1 Coronation Stakes (1594m) is run over the round course and is carded as S4-3 at 10.45pm.
French-trained fillies have a good record in this race and the last to win was WATCH ME in 2019 for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who is represented by ROUHIYA, last-start winner of the French 1000 Guineas. Her owner HRH The Aga Khan won this race last year with star filly TAHIYRA and ROUHIYA is a place chance.
The other French challenge comes from RAMATUELLE who hit the front in the English 1000 Guineas 200m out at Newmarket before being headed by ELMALKA and PORTA FORTUNA. RAMATUELLE may have hit the front too early in that race and with Oisin Murphy taking the ride, RAMATUELLE is a win and place chance.
ELMALKA won the 1000 Guineas at big odds but was only having her third race start and will continue to improve with racing. James Doyle takes the ride on ELMALKA for Roger Varian and she is a place chance, as is PORTA FORTUNA who was runner-up in that race staying on strongly in the closing stages for Tom Marquand.
Aidan and Ryan combine with race favourite OPERA SINGER, who ran a distant third in the Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh on 26 May. OPERA SINGER is expected to improve on that effort which was her first appearance for the year and she is a place chance.
The fifth and final day of Royal Ascot on Saturday night (22 June) features the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) is run over the straight course and carded as S5-3 at 10.45pm.
Marc Chan is represented by KINROSS, who finished seventh in this race last year to KHAADEM. KINROSS finished the year with a close second to ART POWER in the G1 British Champions Sprint Stakes over this course and distance in October. Rossa Ryan takes the ride and KINROSS is a place chance.
MILL STREAM comes into the race off a narrow win over SHOULDVEBEENARING in the G2 Duke Of York Stakes at York on 15 May when he was held up for a run at a crucial stage. William Buick retains the ride and he is a win and place chance.
MITBAAHY defeated REGIONAL in the G2 Greenlands Stakes at The Curragh on 25 May. REGIONAL ran well when second to ASFOORA in the G1 King Charles III Stakes (1000m) on Tuesday and MITBAAHY is a place chance for Jamie Spencer.
ART POWER was close up when fourth to MITBAAHY last start at The Curragh. He is at good odds and can run well and BELIEVING was a good fourth on Tuesday behind ASFOORA and can run well on the quick back-up.
As the market suggests this is an open race and SHARTASH, THE WIZARD OF EYE and WASHINGTON HEIGHTS are all worthy of consideration.
Comment
