June 19 – Lingfield – Sea The Casper – 104
The day before Royal Ascot is traditionally very quiet, but such was the performance on the clock by Simon & Ed Crisford’s gelding that we predict he will be one the names from last week who makes a big impact going forward. Extremely well supported beforehand despite being off the track for 231 days, the son of Sea The Stars impressed with the way he travelled throughout a strongly run affair and when asked to go and seal the deal late on, he readily came clear of his five rivals to score going away. Clearly effective under these conditions, it also worth noting he has winning from on the turf and if he can translate this sort of performance when he goes back to the grass in due course, the four-year-old chestnut can easily bag a decent prize along the way.
June 20 – Ascot – Triple Time – 101
The first of the big Group 1’s at Royal Ascot and it produced one of the better times of the week, although it was not the result many predicted beforehand. Nevertheless, it was a performance that suggested there was no fluke attached, so it is probably wise to treat the outcome accordingly. Despite being extremely keen during the early part of the contest, Kevin Ryan’s gelding kept on very gamely to repel the late thrust of Inspiral in the latter stages and with the pair well clear of the rest, the form looks solid. Likely to be campaigned around all the best mile races around the globe, it will be dangerous to count him out of calculations in future.
June 20 – Ascot – Paddington – 101
The big clash between the two Guineas winners either side of the Irish Sea was won in convincing fashion by Aidan O’Brien’s colt and he thoroughly deserves the title of the best three-year-old miler in Europe based on his overall profile. The way he travels and quickens has rather a simplistic approach but he just keeps getting the job done at the expense of others who could not match his levels of improvement. Likely to head to the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, he has all the attributes to provide the older horses with plenty to think about.
June 21 – Ascot – Crimson Advocate and Big Evs – both 94
In overall terms, the numbers for the two-year-old races at Royal Ascot were disappointing but in the shape of the Queen Mary and Windsor Castle, at least we had a couple of encounters worth noting. The former contest was won by blazing overall speed by an American horse difficult to assess beforehand but it was the runner-up, Relief rally who should take all the credit. The only one to break out of the pack to offer any resistance to the winner, William Haggas’ filly proved she is easily one of the fastest five-furlong juveniles seen out so far this season and she could be even better when asked to race over further.
The latter contest was dominated in a similar style by a horse who was a maiden heading into Ascot and he looks destined for further success during the remainder of the season – especially when the emphasis is on pure speed.
June 23 – Ascot – Shaquille – 97
Not the fastest time of the week by any means, but easily the most incredible performance by some margin. Having totally blown the start, Julie Camacho’s colt looked to have forfeited any chance of winning but somehow he managed to work himself back into contention before finding the necessary requirements to win going away. Quite where that level of energy came from is hard to evaluate but either way, there is little denying the son of Charm Spirit is a rare talent with an engine to match.
June 24 – Ayr – Makarova – 103
Bookending the week away from Royal Ascot came a performance from Ed Walker’s filly right out of the top drawer and she looks one to follow in this category. Noted travelling strongly through the early exchanges, the daughter of Acclamation found a smart turn of pace to leave several useful fillies trailing in her wake and she looks capable performing at a much higher level on this evidence.