DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY JUNE 20
2.30 ROYAL ASCOT
The race won by Libertango was regally advertised by George Boughey’s filly in the Albany Stakes here today and it would come as no surprise if SAVAGE MARINER were too follow suit and go well in the opener in the final day.
Hugo Palmer’s inmate travelled as well as the winner throughout at Leicester but he couldn’t quite match the finishing kick on his main rival inside the final furlong, which was certainly no shame given the scenes we witnessed here today.
Considering the speed he exhibited 25 days ago, the son of Blackbeard should easily find the drop back to the minimum trip ideal and he hails from a yard who almost struck oil with Adaay Of Scarlett in the Coventry Stakes.
SAVAGE MARINER – ½ point each-way@16-1 (four places)
3.40 ROYAL ASCOT
Joliestar has been all the talk in the big-race build up but it could well be that she meets her match in the shape of SANTONO REVE.
The Japanese raider was narrowly touched off in this race last season and no doubt connections have had geared their throughs around trying to come back and go one place better.
Runner-up to the world’s best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising in the Grade 1 Chairman’s Sprint on home soil last time out, he arrives here in great shape and drawn similarly to where he was twelve months ago, hopefully he ends up being in the right part of the track this time around.
SANTONO REVE – 1-point each-way@9-2 (four places)
4.20 ROYAL ASCOT
William Haggas has enjoyed a brilliant week and things could get even better in the shape saddles SABRE STRIKE, arguably his best chance of the entire week.
A spectacular winner on his only start as a two-year-old, the data he produced at Redcar suggested he was a very good juvenile and that view has not diminished based on his victory on his seasonal bow at Newmarket a month ago.
Reportedly said to be need of the outing at HQ, the son of Night Of Thunder overcame the pre-race unease with a performance of some note and that success looked a natural stepping stone to come here for this contest over the same trip.
A good cruiser with a lovely, long flowing stride (8.64 max), this flashy colt should be well suited by the galloping nature of the Berkshire terrain.
Of the rest, the one who could go well at much bigger odds is THESECRETADVERSARY and he is well worth a small interest just in case the wheels come off the main selection.
Fozzy Stack has already enjoyed success at the meeting with Nola Soul yesterday and this lad went very close to winning the same race last season.
Warming up for a tilt at this prize with a performance in the Irish 2000 Guineas that would have been much better had he enjoyed a smoother passage over towards the far rail and dropping back in trip should prove no inconvenience for a horse who has run over seven-furlongs many times.
SABRE STRIKE – 2-point win@5-2
THESECRETADVERSARY – ½ point each-way@10-1 (four places)
5.00 ROYAL ASCOT
As ever, the draw and pace is likely to have a determining factor to the outcome of this six-furlong sprint handicap but providing the middle of the track proves to be no poison chalice, SOLDIERS TREE is strongly fancied to have a big say in the outcome.
James Owen’s inmate has come a long way in a short space of time and his effort in a listed contest at Cork back in April prompted new connections to bring him over the UK.
Tackling some useful sorts in the Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury, the five-year-old thoroughly justified his position in the field with a solid effort and there is a theory he may well have won had he not pulled too hard early and met all sorts of trouble in running.
The way he hit the line suggested a stiff six-furlong is right up his street and he could easily provide his trainer with his second winner of the week.
SOLDIERS TREE – 1-point each-way@20-1 (six places)
5.35 ROYAL ASCOT
John & Thady Gosden have had plenty of near misses here this week but hopefully HARMONICS can prove good enough to add to their sole winner, Ombudsman, in this competitive handicap.
Very lightly raced, the son of Lucky Vega produced a visually impressive display when scoring with ease at Doncaster recently and with the clock backing up the view he could be quite smart, an opening mark of 97 looks more than workable.
Nicely drawn in the middle of the pack, a decent break should hopefully put him in a good position to make his challenge down the straight.
HARMONICS – 1-point each-way@8-1 (five places)