June 14 – Cork – Spruan Nua – 80
Jim Bolger’s filly has been a bit of a slow burn in terms of her figures but her number in this Group 3 contest suggests she very much belongs in the big league. In a well run race, she finished off best of all to win in the style of a very progressive filly and the Irish Oaks was muted as a potential target for her next time.
June 16 – Ascot – Ten Bob Tony – 87
First shock of the week took place in the curtain raiser but the data suggests there was no fluke about the performance of the winner. Despite quicker ground than ideal and a question mark over the trip, Ed Walker’s flashy gelding belied those pre-race thoughts by coming through strongly off a solid pace to win, and this was by some way a career high on the figures (previous best 80). Whether he can confirm form with his rivals remains to be seen but now we know he is capable of a very big effort, at least he will always be in the conversation – unlike here beforehand. Of the rest, Opera Ballo comes out of the race with great credit considering how aggressively he was ridden and on a more sharper, turning track – such as Goodwood – he will become a more potent force.
June 16 – Ascot – Daquiri Bay – 80
A competitive conclusion to day one and Alan King’s chestnut ran out a worthy winner. Held up towards the rear early, the four-year-old made steady headway down the outside to challenge at the furlong pole and from that juncture, he kept on well to gain the advantage close home. A winner off a mark of 100 here, his days in handicaps are probably numbered but given his progression, the son of New Bay would not be out of place in pattern from here on in. Of the rest, Paddy The Squire once again ran way beyond his station and he might well have been a little closer had he not been so keen early and got a better passage through from three out.
June 17 – Ascot – Victorious – 76
On the whole, the times we awarded the two-year-old races were below the standard of years gone by but this fillies contest bucked the trend with a figure to suggest it was easily the pick of the six on offer during the meeting. Aidan O’Brien’s filly had been plying her trade over six furlongs prior to arriving the the Berkshire venue but she overcame the drop back in trip in spectacular fashion, quickening smartly to put the race to bed inside the final furlong. Considering the way the straight track rode all week, her effort in winning from stall five made her performance an even more impressive one and she should continue to take high rank in her division throughout the rest of the season. As for the runner-up, Senorita Bonita, she can count herself unlucky to bump into a horse of the highest quality on the day and she remains very much one to keep on side. Although clearly very fast, she shapes as though she will get an extra furlong at least and Simon & Ed Crisford’s filly has options at Newmarket or coming back to Ascot for the Princess Margaret Stakes in a month’s time.
June 17 – June 17 – Ascot – Ombudsman – 88
The race of the week in terms of class and the speed figure coincided with that pre-race view. It was always going to be a strong run contest given the addition of several pacemakers and the scorching tempo from the start played right into the hands of John & Thady Gosden’s entire. Once again, his ability to cruise through his races before quickening with a deft touch at the business was seen to full effect and all roads now lead to York for the defence of his Juddmonte crown.
June 17 – Hamilton – Dubai Champion – 75
Away from Royal Ascot, the best two-year-old on show all week according to our figures was this guy and, as a result, he is well worth putting into the notebook. Sitting just off the strong early pace, Ben Haslam’s colt picked up nicely once meeting the rising ground and he soon bounded clear to record a cosy success. The son of Persian Force has previously taken part in two above-average affairs and it will be interesting to see how the handicapper reacts when his opening mark is released tomorrow. A mark in the mid-80’s should make him competitive in nurseries.
June 18 – Ascot – Moonfall – 81
As ever, the Britannia Handicap is one of the most competitive of its kind all week and it went the way of a horse who caught the eye on his prep run at Chester. Leaving the impression there was plenty more to come on the Roodee, George Boughey’s gelding backed up that view with a performance of some quality and he will no doubt be pitched into pattern company in due course. Of those vanquished, Jamestown once again caught the eye with the way he performed and there is a big handicap in him on this evidence, while the likes of Laureate Crown (first of his group far side), and Crest Of Fire ran way better than their finishing position suggests. The latter, in particular, keeps leaving the impression he requires further than a mile and he is worth noting when connections finally step him up to 1m2f.
June 19 – Ascot – Libertango – 74
One of the big gamble of the week Sun Goddess, had her claims enhanced when stable mate Victorious landed the Queen Mary two days before, but she came unstuck against a filly who exhibited the better turn of foot in the closing stages. Due to her low draw, George Boughey’s filly was dropped right out of the back by Billy Loughnane, but she managed to fire in a 23.7 closing sectional and that turn of foot proved the decisive factor. Only her and Victorious managed to overcome a low draw during the week and she deserves to be upgraded accordingly. The other to catch the eye back in the pack was French raider, Valentina Bella. She too, was handed a rotten draw in stall one and unlike the winner, she explored a daring passage up towards the nearside rail having been switched early. Despite not getting the clearest of runs, she still managed to run the last two furlongs in the same time as the runner-up (24.2) and given the energy she expended in coming across, she clearly must be an exceptionally good filly.
June 19 – Ascot – Opportunity – 83
Virtually every pundit worth their salt kept ramming home the importance of a high draw on the round track, so the fact this fella managed to land this competitive handicap from stall 1 was something of a miracle. Based on the trends, William Haggas’ gelding must have had a load in hand and it was a performance of some class. Additionally, it was a ride by James McDonald that cemented the view he is one of the best riders in the world and three winners for the Australian is not to be sniffed at.
June 19 – Ascot – Bacio – 82
Not withstanding all the shenanigans that took place post-race, this was arguably one of the big ‘wow’ moments of the week, with the winner showing blistering speed from the gates and maintaining the gallop all the way to the line. Evidently miles better than a handicapper, it would be interesting to see whether connections came over again at some stage with this speed ball, as he wouldn’t look out of place in something the Nunthorpe later in the season.
June 20 – Ascot – Orthodox – 74
A race run at a blistering gallop courtesy of the exploits of the two American horses and it was Clive Cox’s colt who was best place to take advantage of their capitulation late on. Unable to go the pace early, the son of Havana Grey was just about enough in touch to pick up the pieces and his winning speed figure was a big jump up from the one he posted on his only other start at Salisbury. Set to stretch out to six furlongs next, races such as the Robert Papin and Middle Park were muted as potential targets further down the line.
June 20 – Ascot – Giavellotto – 85
A very classy renewal of the Hardwicke and it produced a rousing finish, with three warriors involved in a dust-up from two out. Once Goliath’s jockey had lost his equilibrium in the saddle, it was left between the eventual winner and Kalpana to fight out the finish and it was Marco Botti’s gelding who just gained the day close home. This was due reward for a horse who has been knocking at the door whilst travelling all over the globe but despite winning over the C&D for the first time, the King George was cast aside in favour of a race in Hong Kong as his long term plan. As for the runner-up, this was a very good display by a super-tough mare and she did her reputation little harm in defeat. It was a fine effort and her record at Ascot now reads 31212, the two victories coming on an easier surface in the Group 1 Fillies’ & Mares on British Champions day.
June 20 – Ascot – Double Rush – 82
Once again, the data suggests there was very little between this top-class handicap at the Group 1 over the same C&D and the winner will surely head down that route from this point onward. Since moving to Andrew Balding, the four-year-old has gone from strength to strength and he shapes as though there should be plenty more to come. As for the rest, Completely Random was easily the pick of the rest, with his closing sectional of 34.4, on par with the one posted by Almeraq in the Golden Jubilee (34.3). Roger Charlton’s grey also belongs in Group company and strongly run races clearly suit him best. Soldiers Tree did his reputation as an improving sprinter no harm and he surely has more to come given this was only the fifth start of his life.
June 20 – Redcar – Quillan – 74
Finally, last but not least was a performance by a two-year-old on debut worth noting, particularly coming from a stable not renown for first-time-out juvenile winners. David & Nicola Barron’s colt was understandably outpaced while the experienced Undercover Affair trailblazed upfront but he managed to kept in touch and once engaging top gear, he came home best of all to claim the spoils close home. Based on the clock, this was a very good effort first time off the bat and likely to no more next time, he will be worth keeping on side in a better race.