Fame and Glory will face eight rivals when he defends his crown in the Group
1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday. The multiple Group 1 winner successfully
took up the mantle from Aidan O’Brien’s star stayer Yeats when winning the 2
1/2-mile feature 12 months ago.
The six-year-old subsequently went on to land the inaugural Group 3 British
Champions Long Distance Cup at the same track and made a winning return in the
Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.The pair likely to give the hot favorite most to
think about hail from the Godolphin team.
Mahmood Al Zarooni’s Opinion Poll was second to Fame and Glory a year ago and
has made an excellent start to the new campaign, landing the Group 3 Dubai Gold
Cup and the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown on his return to Britain.
However, Frankie Dettori has deserted him, opting to ride Colour Vision
instead with Mickael Barzalona coming in for the plum ride on Opinion Poll.
“It was Frankie’s decision. It’s taken a while for him to make up his mind
but he has decided to go with the younger horse as he thinks he has improved a
lot from last year,” said Ray Cochrane, Dettori’s agent. “It’s going to be a
great race. I think we all hope it’s run on decent ground.”
Colour Vision made a most impressive debut for Saeed bin Suroor in the
rearranged Group 3 Sagaro Stakes on the all-weather at Kempton and is another
major player.
John Oxx’s Group 2 Doncaster Cup winner Saddler’s Rock is expected to improve
significantly off his recent return at Leopardstown, while the consistent Gulf
of Naples takes a significant step up in grade for Mark Johnston. Askar Tau,
Bridge of Gold, Caucus and Nehaam complete the line-up.
Several beaten fillies in the Group 1 Oaks will aim for compensation in
Thursday’s Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes. The Fugue, who many thought was unlucky
in the classic after meeting trouble in running as the beaten favorite, is again
likely to be well fancied for the John Gosden team. She finished just behind
Oaks runner-up Shirocco Star, who renews rivalry.
Just behind those two was William Haggas’ previously unbeaten Vow, who was
reportedly unsuited by Epsom. Others beaten in the Oaks turning up again include
Godolphin’s Kailani, once again ridden by Mickael Barzalona, the Ralph
Beckett-trained Colima and Aidan O’Brien’s Twirl, who will be partnered by Ryan
Moore.
Chances of a Royal winner rest with Michael Bell’s Momentary, who beat
Shirocco Star in a trial at Newbury. Pink Damsel was impressive when winning her
maiden, while Princess Highway had Oaks heroine Was behind her when she claimed
the Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes.
Chella Thriller, Dinvar Diva, Hazel Lavery, Inchina and Salford Art complete
the 14-runner field.
The other Group 2 race on the card is the five-furlong Norfolk Stakes, in
which Aussie jockey Craig Williams teams up with his former trainer Mick Channon
to ride Cay Verde, a hat-trick seeking course-and-distance winner.
The Group 3 Tercentenary Stakes, run over 10 furlongs, has attracted
international interest in the shape of Group 2 German Two Thousand Guineas
fourth Energizer.
Thirty runners will line up for the one-mile Britannia Stakes, and the other
handicap is the closing King George V Stakes, run over 1 1/2 miles.
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