Royal Ascot is the meeting of the year for many and if the entries on the 4 days are anything to go by, it should be filled with memories to come.
The Queen Anne Stakes starts proceedings with the older generation fighting over a mile. The distance should be on the sharp side for Benbatl who makes his return after this Dubai exploits. The Godolphin representative is best over a further furlong and I suspect he will lack the speed require to land this. Rhododendron from Ballydoyle won the Lockinge and should be in the whereabouts again, particularly that she will enjoy her filly allowance against the boys. But it is Recoletos from France that seems to hold the aces for this race. The son of Whipper is two-for-two this year and seems to be thriving on the shorter than middle-distances in which he had been running in prior years. The French don't usually cross the channel unless they have a fighting chance and the quick ground and master rider Peslier could very well steer Recoletos to good effect.
The King's Stand Stakes will be the race of the whole meeting for many as it will pit super sprinters Battaash against Lady Aurelia; they met once before last year in a race where it was Martha who prevailed by nailing the US star on the wire. Battaash was a no-show on that day, possibly due to pre-race antics. The son of Dark Angel will have to be at this best behaviour to have any chance against Lady Aurelia who's won at Royal Ascot in spectacular style for the past 2 seasons. It is really a penalty kick between the two.
The St James' Palace Stakes looks to be a competitive affair regrouping quite a few top milers from the Classic generation. The favourite is Without Parole, an unbeaten son of Frankel in 3 starts. His win on fast ground on his seasonal debut was visually impressive and he should be able to give a good account in similar conditions. Wootton is held in high regard from the Godolphin base in France but his reputation was somewhat dented when he finished a close-up forth in the French Guineas although he had every chance to pounce in that race. He has a big race in him, I believe. But the one with the best from going into this race is Tip Two Win who came out a gallant second to Saxon Warrior in the 2000 Guineas. This son of Dark Angel has never been out of the first 3 in 8 races and should be at the finish if he replicates his Newmarket form.
Win: Tip Two Win, Recoletos
The Queen Anne Stakes starts proceedings with the older generation fighting over a mile. The distance should be on the sharp side for Benbatl who makes his return after this Dubai exploits. The Godolphin representative is best over a further furlong and I suspect he will lack the speed require to land this. Rhododendron from Ballydoyle won the Lockinge and should be in the whereabouts again, particularly that she will enjoy her filly allowance against the boys. But it is Recoletos from France that seems to hold the aces for this race. The son of Whipper is two-for-two this year and seems to be thriving on the shorter than middle-distances in which he had been running in prior years. The French don't usually cross the channel unless they have a fighting chance and the quick ground and master rider Peslier could very well steer Recoletos to good effect.
The King's Stand Stakes will be the race of the whole meeting for many as it will pit super sprinters Battaash against Lady Aurelia; they met once before last year in a race where it was Martha who prevailed by nailing the US star on the wire. Battaash was a no-show on that day, possibly due to pre-race antics. The son of Dark Angel will have to be at this best behaviour to have any chance against Lady Aurelia who's won at Royal Ascot in spectacular style for the past 2 seasons. It is really a penalty kick between the two.
The St James' Palace Stakes looks to be a competitive affair regrouping quite a few top milers from the Classic generation. The favourite is Without Parole, an unbeaten son of Frankel in 3 starts. His win on fast ground on his seasonal debut was visually impressive and he should be able to give a good account in similar conditions. Wootton is held in high regard from the Godolphin base in France but his reputation was somewhat dented when he finished a close-up forth in the French Guineas although he had every chance to pounce in that race. He has a big race in him, I believe. But the one with the best from going into this race is Tip Two Win who came out a gallant second to Saxon Warrior in the 2000 Guineas. This son of Dark Angel has never been out of the first 3 in 8 races and should be at the finish if he replicates his Newmarket form.
Win: Tip Two Win, Recoletos
