On Wednesday at Royal Ascot, the middle distance horses take center stage in
the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes with So You Think looking to go one better
than he managed last year against The Queen’s Carlton House and French
challenger Reliable Man.
Aidan O’Brien’s former Australian ace So You Think, who will face 10 rivals,
suffered a shock loss at the hands of Rewilding in the 10-furlong showpiece 12
months ago and connections will be hoping the six-year-old can put the record
straight. After four reverses in a row, So You Think registered his ninth Group
1 victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup with a six-length romp at the Curragh last
month.
His stablemate Robin Hood, who was third that day, is likely to be used in
the role of pacemaker again.
Carlton House carries the hopes of a notable triumph for The Queen. Third in
the Group 1 Derby last summer, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt made a
successful return after a long layoff in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at
Sandown three weeks ago.
Stoute speaks warmly about Carlton House, who could provide Her Majesty the
Queen with a Royal Ascot winner in her Diamond Jubilee year:
“He’s very honest. He’s got a great attitude… at Sandown the other night,
he really wanted it,” Stoute said.
Reflecting on his defeats in last year’s Derby and Group 1 Irish Derby,
Stoute added, “We think he’s better over 10 furlongs.”
Big Blue Kitten is a fascinating runner from the American stable of Chad
Brown while France is represented by last year’s Group 1 Prix du Jockey-Club
hero Reliable Man, trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre.
Godolphin are double-handed with the unbeaten three-times raced Farhh from
Saeed bin Suroor’s yard and Mahmood Al Zarooni’s City Style.
The Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes, run over a mile, has attracted 13 classy
fillies, including Nahrain, who won the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera before finishing
a close second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Wednesday’s opening race is the Jersey Stakes, a Group 3 seven-furlong
contest for three-year-olds, while the juvenile fillies get their chance in the
Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes, run over five furlongs
The Royal Hunt Cup is one of the biggest spectacles of the meeting, as 33
handicappers will charge up the straight mile course. The action closes
with the Sandringham Handicap, a listed race for fillies over a mile.
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