Below are our notebook horses from Royal Ascot 2018.
Mirage Dancer – 5th Wolferton Stakes
Travelled well but out-paced when turning for home and whilst not unlucky in running he was short of space. Stayed on well close home and will appreciate returning to 1m4f on ground perhaps not quite so quick. Reports pre race suggested he was showing real improvement and expectations are that he’ll prove his up to this class and above.
Upd: Ran a fine 2nd last time at Newmarket just unable to battle back to win.
Upd: Won in impressive style at Glorious Goodwood.
Gossamer Wings – 2nd Queen Mary
Travelled best of all behind the field and was the last to be asked a serious question. She quickened really well and hit the front close home, only to be run our of it on the line. This was a big improvement and she can be expected to progress from this.
Upd: Ran well when 4th at Newmarket in the Duchesss of Cambridge Stakes.
Southern France – 2nd Queens Vase
Looked to be struggling turning for home and never really looked comfortable on the quick ground, hanging slightly as he made his effort. But to his credit he battled on and stayed on best of all snatching 2nd close home. He looks a very progressive stayer who will appreciate a slightly easier surface and perhaps 2 miles in time.
Tomyris – 5th Duke of Cambridge Stakes
Although she’s won on a quick surface before and over a mile, she’d be best suited by perhaps 7 furlongs and some cut in the ground. She travelled really sweetly here but just couldn’t quicken in the grade and racing in conditions that we’re ideal. A winner on here return on watered ground, she’s still progressing and can when again.
Upd: Was outclassed in Group 1 company in France, but still ran with credit.
Burnt Sugar – 16th Royal Hunt Cup
On the unfavoured far side, he could be seen to be travelling very strongly a couple of furlongs out before fading in the closing stages. He wins and best runs have been with cut in the ground over 7 furlongs, and when getting those conditions has hinted he’s capable of winning sometime soon.
Upd: Landed a huge gamble from 25/1 into 7/1 in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket. – WON 7/1
Upd: Followed up at Ascot winning at 20/1.
Raising Sand – 7th Royal Hund Cup
held up at the back of the far side group he made good headway and stayed on best of those that raced on the unfavoured side. He’s done his winning with a little cut in the ground, and whilst he’s won over 7 furlongs and a mile, we’ve felt since he won on Shergar Cup day that the 1m1f test of the Cambridgeshire would be ideal for him. If he’s aimed at that later in the season, he’s be of great interest. In the meantime he can land a decent handicap, quite possible at Ascot, where connections feel he’s very much at home.
Upd: Runs as Sandown Saturday 7th July, but with the ground on the fast side, he doesn’t have conditions to suit, so we haven’t advised a bet. As expected, the ground was to fast.
Key Victory – 6th Hampton Court Stakes
Had a horrid run from the start getting caught out wide from a high draw and getting interfered with by Mini P who didn’t settle. He had a lot of ground to make up and whilst not flying home, he plugged on better than most. He’s better than this and with a clearer run of things next time can prove that.
George of Hearts – 9th Britannia Handicap
Held up last of the 30 runners, he travelled with ease for much of the race, but with the winner making all this chap was simply left with far too much to do. He made rapid headway when asked to chase down the lead before tiring late on. A drop back to 7 furlongs would make him a very interesting prospect next time.
Upd: Ran over 1 mile next time, and needs to drop down in trip.
First Eleven – 3rd King George V Stakes
Perhaps the eye-catcher of the meeting, he simply should / would have won but for finding trouble when making his challenge in the home straight. That interference lost him valuable momentum and a length or so. He flew home when getting a clear run on the inside and in another 20 yards would have got up. Still pretty much unexposed, he’s potentially better than a handicapper.
Upd: Disappointed at Newmarket in the Bahrain Trophy.
Pretty Pollyanna – 5th Albany Stakes
This was a big step up having just raced the once previously when winning her maiden at Yarmouth and she ran a race full of promise. She travelled really nicely and whilst she was slightly outpaced when the taps were turned in the final 2 furlongs, she stayed on really well once finding her stride suggesting with this experience she’s capable of competing at the grade.
Upd: Bolted up in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes – WON 20/1
Delano Roosevelt – 5th King Edward VII Stakes
With the stop start pace and then sprint for the line from the home turn, the race was simply not run to suit this chap and having found himself in a poor position was outpaced as the dash for home began. Ryan Moore clearly felt he was never going to peg them back as he didn’t once get serious with him. Delano still stayed on pretty well finishing the race off quite well. He may prefer it when conditions are not quite so quick; we’re keen to give him once more chance. He might just be a St Leger type.
Upd: Ran well when 4th in the Irish Derby and still rates as a potentially interesting St Leger contender if asked to step up in trip.
Perfection – 5th Sandringham Stakes
Raced completely alone on what we feel was the unfavoured far side, so did remarkably well to run so well for a relatively inexperienced filly. She’s very much one to keep on the right side of, as connections tend to run a nice type in this event and she’ll prove to be a fair bit better then her 85 rating suggests.
Upd: Ran well at Newmarket next time finishing 4th.
Sir Chauvelin – 2nd Duke of Edinburgh Stakes
Perhaps came across a future group horse in the winner Dash of Spice, which marks his performance up even more so, as his fast finishing 2nd was a cracking effort and but for finding all sort of trouble in running may have given then winner a proper race of it. He’s fairly handicapped at present, stays further and will be of real interest if running in the Northumberland Plate on Saturday.
Upd: Ran a cracker in the Northumberland Plate from a poor draw. He’s one to keep on the right side.
Upd: After a couple of runs over trips that didn’t really suit he won a Glorious Goodwood at 12/1.