12 Jun 2019
After a Classic weekend at Epsom, the build-up to Royal Ascot continues. On Saturday, the ITV cameras are at Haydock Park, where the Pinnacle Stakes and the John of Gaunt Stakes are among the highlights.
HAYDOCK PARK
2.25pm – PINNACLE STAKES (Group 3), 1m4f 4yo+
Key Trends
8 of the last 12 winners were aged 4yo
4 of the last 12 winners were favourite/joint-favourite
4 of the last 12 winners had won their previous start
11 of the last 12 winners had a rating of 94 or higher
Analysis
The last three favourites have been successful and it appears as though the Willie Mullins-trained TRUE SELF will be among the likely market leaders. Rated 112, the 6yo mare has won her last four, including three successive Listed prizes, the last of which came on her seasonal debut at Gowran Park (1m6f, yielding) following a 186-day break. This is a slight jump in class, but she won over 1m2f at Newmarket in November, so the drop in trip should not be too much of a concern.
KLASSIQUE, who hails from the in-form William Haggas yard, has been knocking on the door at Pattern level and was beaten less than a length in a Group 3 at Saint-Cloud in October. The daughter of Galileo perhaps needed her seasonal debut run when touched off in a Listed race at Goodwood last month by Enbihaar, who seemed to frank the form next time when she was just touched off in warm York Group 3 contest. Klassique is likely to come on for the run and looks the value against the likely favourite.
HIGHGARDEN, from the John Gosden stable that won this prize in 2014 and 2016, makes her seasonal debut after a 253-day break. She improved steadily last term and signed off with a Group 3 Nayef Stakes success over a similar trip at Newmarket in September. The only minor doubt is the ground – she might appreciate faster conditions than she is likely to get.
PILASTER won the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood last August on only her fourth outing. Following a close-up third in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster next time, she was pitched in at the deep end in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot in October, and was found wanting. The Roger Varian-trained 4yo has yet to blossom this term in two starts, but she takes a drop in trip and that might see her in a better light.
MRS SLIPPY, winner of a Listed 1m4f race at Longchamp in September, was last of six on her seasonal bow in the Group 2 Middleton Stakes at York last month, but David Simcock’s 4yo Blame filly is no back number.
Lingfield handicap scorer DANCE LEGEND, recent Haydock handicap winner JEDHI, MAGNOLIA SPRINGS and JET STREAMING complete the line-up.
3.00pm – ACHILLES STAKES (Listed), 5f 3yo+
Key Trends
5 of the last 10 winners were favourite
10 of the last 11 winners were aged 5yo or over
6 of the last 10 winners were rated 110 or higher
5 of the last 5 winners were drawn between stalls 2 and 5
Analysis
This is invariably a fascinating 5f sprint where the draw could be important and this lacks the depth of recent renewals, with STAKE ACCLAIM the top rated on a mark of 108.
Dean Ivory’s 7yo would appear to have a decent chance. Well drawn in stall three, he is one of the more consistent in the field, having won six and finished runner-up on five of his 25 turf starts. He landed a decent 0-110 handicap at Newbury on his seasonal debut in soft ground, having been off the track since the end of the 2017 turf season and he should make a bold bid to follow up.
DANZERO, rated 97, had been off the track since last July before making the most of the handicapper’s lenience to score by six lengths in a Nottingham 0-95 handicap, and he will likely head to the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot after this. Any rain will help his chance and he is not badly drawn in stall six.
TARBOOSH is one of the most consistent sprint handicappers around, with eight wins from 23 on turf and he was not out of the first two in his last six starts last season, winning four of them. He was not entirely discredited when beaten almost seven lengths by Mabs Cross in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket last time and this drop in class should help Paul Midgley’s 6yo.
INTENSE ROMANCE is also consistent, having won five of her 16 turf outings and placed second in three. She was a revelation last season, winning her last three, two of them in Listed company and she is entitled to come on for her seasonal bow at Naas when beaten four lengths in a Listed race. She will relish any ease underfoot, too, and is not dismissed lightly, despite being drawn in stall seven
MADE IN INDIA will need to find plenty on her first outing since November and while the ground should be fine, she might find this trip a little too sharp.
TREASURE ME has yet to break her turf duck in four attempts and tries 5f for the first time, having been beaten a head in a 6f Listed race at Nottingham last month. She will be staying on late and Jamie Spencer is an interesting jockey booking by Charlie Fellowes.
LADY IN FRANCE is the least exposed, having had just one run – a winning effort in a 5f Newcastle all-weather novice last month. She was a bit keen and a little green, so this is a major step up.
DAVE DEXTER, winner of a Ayr Listed prize on heavy ground last September, is better drawn than he was for his seasonal return at Chester and is entitled to come on for that run, his first for seven months and his first since being gelded. Ralph Beckett’s string is in good heart, so he may be of interest despite his likely big price.
ONE LAST NIGHT has yet to set the world alight since arriving from France but remains relatively unexposed.
3.35pm – JOHN OF GAUNT STAKES (Group 3), 7f 4yo+
Key Trends
9 of the last 12 winners were aged between 4-5yo
4 of the last 12 winners were favourite/joint-favourite
9 of the last 12 winners came from the top three in the betting
10 of the last 12 winners had a rating of 108 or higher
3 of the last 12 winners had previously win a Group race
8 of the last 10 winners came from stalls 1-3
Analysis
With 12 declared, this looks an open renewal of a 7f contest where the draw has proved a significant factor in recent years.
SAFE VOYAGE ticks many of the trends boxes. He is drawn in stall three, which has produced four of the last eight winners, he is rated 109 and is a three-time course and distance winner from three outings, and all three came on good to soft or soft ground. John Quinn’s representative has won half of his 12 turf starts and bids for a hat-trick, having won his first two of the campaign here.
SIR DANCEALOT enjoyed another fine campaign last year, winning four times and signing off with a fair fifth to Sands Of Mali in the Group 1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot before a tilt at the Hong Kong Gold Cup, where he was last of 11. While he was also down the field in the Lockinge at Newbury on his seasonal bow, this drop back to 7f and a drop in class should help. He is not badly drawn in stall seven and David Elsworth’s 5yo looks set for another fruitful season.
MANKIB was beaten a length and three-quarters by safe Voyage here last time and they meet on similar terms. The fact that Safe Voyage still won, despite not getting a clear run, would suggest that Jim Crowley’s mount will have to find improvement to overturn that form. However, that was his first run of the season, against a match-fit rival. Despite this, he has a tricky draw in stall 11 to overcome.
TIP TWO WIN is the highest-rated in the line-up on a mark of 116 and his handily drawn in stall five. Roger Teal’s representative makes his 4yo debut and it is worth noting that he was runner-up in the 2000 Guineas on his return to action last season. Subsequently a fair fourth in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, he was below par when last in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes over 7f at Goodwood in July and was not seen again until December when sixth in the Qatar Derby. He has won on easy ground, but now has a few questions to answer.
BRETON ROCK has a terrific 25% strike rate, winning 10 of his 40 turf starts, but the last of them came in August 2017. He was placed in a couple of Group 2s last summer, but his form tailed off and he was a little disappointing on his seasonal bow, when third of four in a Listed Winsor mile contest.
SUEDOIS won at the highest level in the States, taking the Turf Mile at Keeneland in October 2017, but did not score last year. The closest he came was a short-head runner-up effort to Sir Dancealot in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood. He is nicely drawn in stall four and while held by Safe Voyage here last time, he is 3lb better off for a three and a half-length beating, so is by no means a back number and is an interesting each-way prospect.
BURNT SUGAR, who is well drawn in stall one, had two wins last season, but both were on ground much quicker than he is likely to encounter here and SHEPHERD MARKET might be a better option. Drawn in stall three, Clive Cox’s 4yo filly did not run a bad race when two-lengths fourth to Pretty Baby in a soft-ground Group 3 at Lingfield last month.
Ayr Silver Cup winner SNAZZY JAZZY subsequently won a soft-ground Group 3 at Maisons-Laffitte in October, but those wins came over 6f and it is questionable he will get the 7f trip on his first start for 220 days.
KEYSER SOZE has won three of his last four on the AW, but a one-from-11 record on turf does not inspire confidence, while LARCHMONT LAD has yet to convince on easy ground and was beaten 16 lengths by Safe Voyage here last time.
BEVERLEY
2.00pm – HILARY NEEDLER TROPHY FILLIES’ CONDITIONS STAKES 5f, 2yo
Key Trends
2 of the last 10 winners were favoruite
7 of the last 10 winners had won their previous race
6 of the last 10 winners were drawn in stall 6 or higher
Analysis
This speed test for juvenile fillies is usually a good pointer to either the Queen Mary or the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. Eight are declared and five of them are last-time-out winners.
MOON OF LOVE is the only debutant in the field. Trained by Richard Fahey, who won this race last year with Kodyanna, this daughter of Kodiac cost £30,000 as a yearling and £140,000 as a juvenile. She is a sister to 5f 2yo winner Reflect Alexander and her unraced dam is closely related to 6f Group 3 winner Moon Unit.
ROSE OF KILDARE is the most experienced in the line-up with four runs under her belt, the last two victories for the Mark Johnston yard. She defied a penalty to follow up a 6f Redcar success at Hamilton when dropped to 5f, and again looks suited by the conditions of this race for the hat-trick bid.
THREE COINS, the other Fahey runner, looked very green when scoring on her debut at Ripon in easy ground over this trip, but she should get further than this in time and is entitled to find more after that initial experience.
EXECLUSIVE, who is closely related to a couple of winners including Group 2 scorer Porsenna, won on her debut here, having grabbed the rail from a wide draw. It did not look a great race, but the Archie Watson yard is in good form with its juveniles.
LIBERTY BEACH, trained by John Quinn, beat three with experience on her 5f Redcar debut and while that did not look a great race from a depth perspective, she has a very willing attitude and looked smart.
YARROW GATE showed improvement from her first run here when runner-up to Exceptional at Carlisle and handled the soft ground well. She is a likely improver from the Michael Dods stable.
BELLA BRAZIL got off the mark at Redcar last time, but the drop back to 5f is not certain to suit on her third start for the David Barron yard.
LADY QUICKSTEP has had three starts, winning her maiden in good style at Brighton, before tackling Listed company at York when well held. She may have subsequently bumped into a good filly in Liberty Beach (who re-opposes) at Redcar when the pair were clear. Improvement is needed, though.
3.15pm – TWO YEAR OLD TROPHY CONDITIONS STAKES 5f, 2yo
Key Trends
5 of the last 10 winners were favourite
3 of the last 4 winners went on to score at Group level that season
8 of the last 9 winners were drawn in stall 1-4
Analysis
This sprint for juvenile colts and gelding is another good pointer to Royal Ascot, with 2017 scorer Cardsharp going on to place in the Norfolk Stakes and 2016 winner Prince Of Lir landing that same Group 2 event.
A select field of six is due to face the judge this time, with OH PURPLE RAIN likely to take a high rank in the market. Richard Hannon Jr’s Sir Prancealot colt won on debut at Nottingham and was then runner-up to the useful Pinatubo in the Woodcote at Epsom. He is an athletic type who may be better when he goes over 6f.
SUMMER SANDS was third on his debut at York and overcame greenness behind Bomb Proof. He was sold for £85,000 at the breeze-ups, and should start paying some of that back soon.
DREAM SHOT scored on his debut for in-form James Tate, getting on top of Spanish Angel in a 5f novice auction event at Goodwood. He should improve for the experience, but this looks a better event.
XCELENTE was beaten a neck in a 5f at Pontefract novice, attempting to follow up a Thirsk 5f maiden debut win. Mark Johnston’s colt was conceding 6lb to the winner, whom he had previously beaten at Thirsk and conceded weight to all but Oh Purple Rain again. He is sure to attract support, however.
COOL SPHERE, trained by Robert Cowell, produced a solid effort when second of eight on his Leicester debut, but would be one of those who would not welcome any appreciable forecast rain.
RODNEE TEE won here on debut and was a shade unlucky in defeat at Ripon next time. Giving 12lb to Probable Cause in a Wolverhampton novice auction 5f event, he was beaten a nose last time and is not without hope on this return to turf.
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