DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
WEDNESDAY JUNE 18
2.30 ROYAL ASCOT – QUEEN MARY
Zeliana passed the eye test when scoring in ready fashion on her debut at Nottingham and since then she has been all the rage to follow in the footsteps of stable mate Leovanni, who landed the same race before coming on here to success twelve months ago.
However, there was nothing flash about her time figure at the Midland venue and whether she deserves to be quite so short in the betting is a moot point.
STAYA (best price 12-1), on the other hand, did clock a notable time figure when she opened her account first time up at Yarmouth and at the current prices, George Scott’s filly rates a more appealing proposition.
There were strong vibes surrounding many of the participants at the seaside venue a month ago, but it was this filly by Havana Grey who came out on top, showing a nice turn of foot to win going away.
To add to the visual aspect of the performance, the data she compiled backed up the view she could be well above average and hailing from a stable whose two-year-olds have been largely coming on a good bit for their initial experience, it could well be significant she has been the only one to buck that trend.
STAYA – ½ point each-way@12-1 (four places)
3.05 ROYAL ASCOT – QUEENS VASE
Upgraded to Group 2 status in 2017 to breathe new life into the division, we have seen some useful winners in recent times that justified the change in stance but it’s safe to say this year’s renewal looks well below the usual standard.
Regardless of the apparent lack of class, the one constant over the years has been Aidan O’Brien’s dominance, and SCANDINAVIA (best price 11-1) could easily prove good enough to supply the master of Ballydoyle with winner number nine.
Well regarded as a juvenile, things didn’t quite pan out for the son of Justify but upped in trip on his first start this season he looked a totally different model.
Although he probably didn’t beat much, the time figure he posted suggested it was useful performance and with the strong possibility of even more to come, it wouldn’t come as a complete shock if Wayne Lordan ended up being on the best of the two horses from Ballydoyle.
SCANDINAVIA – ½ point each-way@11-1
3.40 ROYAL ASCOT – DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES
Paddy Twomey isn’t renown for having too many social runners and the fact he is prepared to bring over ONE LOOK (best price 5-1) to contest this Group 2 should be heeded.
Ever since running away with a sales race on debut, she has always been highly tried, and she couldn’t arrive here in any better form judged on her first two starts this season.
She posted a smart time figure when winning with a bit to spare at The Curragh on her seasonal bow and even though she failed to get the better of genuine Group 1 filly Porta Fortuna over the same C&D last time out, the data suggested she improved significantly on her previous outing.
Based on all known evidence, a stiff mile suits here best and with her usual patient ride, the daughter of Gleneagles can swoop to conquer late in the piece.
ONE LOOK – 1-point each-way@5-1
5.00 ASCOT – ROYAL HUNT CUP
A typically wide-open renewal of one of the toughest mile handicaps run during the season but if there is a horse well clear of his current mark, MY CLOUD (best price 9-2) fits the bill.
Opening the season off a mark of 80, Roger Varian’s inmate made a mockery of that initial assessment when trouncing a competitive field over today’s C&D and with the speed figure he posted only just marginally behind the likes of Sardinian Warrior and subsequent Queen Anne winner Docklands, his performance warranted plenty of praise.
Well supported to back up the view he was a very well-treated horse at Newbury last time out, he made heavy weather of justifying favouritism but given the race at the Berkshire venue was very slowly run, it probably didn’t see him to best advantage.
Drawn bang up the stands side fence, anything like a clear run should see the lightly raced four-year-old hugely competitive.
EPICTETUS (best price 25-1) was another who wouldn’t have been suited by how the race panned out at Newbury last time out and, as a result, his effort deserves to be marked up.
Likely to be all the better for that initial outing after a 335-day break, its worth noting he now runs off the same mark (101) that saw Jamie Osbourne win this race with Field Of Dreams a few years ago and this former Group 3 winner is fancied to outrun his odds.
MY CLOUD – 1-point win@9-2
EPICTETUS – ½ point each-way@25-1 (five places)
6.10 ROYAL ASCOT
Looking at the draw from day one of the meeting, being positioned down the middle wasn’t a bad thing and OLD IS GOLD (best price 7-1) and GAGA MATE (best price 18-1), drawn 7 and 9 respectively, are taken against the field.
The former impressed with the way he travelled throughout the Beverley Two-Year-Old Trophy last time out and he showed a sharp turn of foot in lowering the colours of some useful juveniles.
Posting a useful speed figure at the Yorkshire venue, Andrew Balding’s inmate appeared to benefit greatly from his initial outing over tomorrow’s C&D and hailing from a team who seem to have a decent crop of juveniles in their midst, the son of Mehmas can start the ball rolling for the Kingsclare outfit.
The latter also created a favourable impression when winning a small event at Catterick and it would be dangerous to dismiss him out of hand just because of the location.
His time figure pointed towards a horse capable of holding his own against better quality opponents and that theory has been seized upon by new connections, clearly keen on gaining his services.
OLD IS GOLD – ½ point each-way@7-1 (four places)
GAGA MATE – ½ point each-way@20-1 (four places)