Equinties - Royal Ascot prep

Author

BGP Capital
June 05, 2024

Equinties

Gm Equinauts

This is a huge month for British flat trainers and ambitious jumps trainers as Royal Ascot is but a few weeks prep away.

Many good horses will be out for their final runs in order to tune up for their Olympic final.

Yesterday we saw a furious battle between Godolphin’s AL QUDRA and our new hire Norm’s horse to track SOLDIER’S HEART, both will be heading to the famous Berkshire track in a few weeks time.

Today, eyes will be on the 14.57 Nottingham, an all girls line up, all will be trying to earn their credentials for their Royal Ascot entry and we’ve previewed it for Young Blood.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

A LOOK AHEAD

The ‘A Look Ahead’ section is back and the race under the microscope is the 1m4f £50,000 handicap at Haydock on Saturday (14.25).

LA YAKEL heads the market who is having his first start of the season; he was second on debut off a mark of 92 before winning two starts later, so it’ll be interesting to see how he goes fto.

The race he won last season was a fairly weak race on soft ground and now he has a rating of 100, so this will be much tougher.

MAGHLAAK is a progressive type with seven wins and three runs under his belt, so he could well have improvement to come from a mark of 89. He is also a half-brother to the Group 2 winner MUTASAABEQ and is out of the 1000 Guineas winner GHANAATI, so that pedigree is solid. He only ran

IRON LION is starting in his first Class 2 handicap having won a Class 4 handicap off a mark of 80 in May at Doncaster. By ROARING LION, he is a sibling to the Group 1 winner JOURNEY, the Group 2 winner INDIGO GIRL, and the Group 2 winner MIMIKYU. That’s another sterling pedigree, but the sterner test is an unknown.

KNIGHTSWOOD tends to run himself into form from the end of May and through June as all four of his wins have been in these months, so the fact he has three runs under his belt already is a bonus.

This was also emphasised on his last run as he had a troubled passage through the field, though when the gap opened, he extended to finish a good third. That race came on Friday, so there is a possibility that he’ll be recovering from the run, but he defied a seven-day turnaround to win last year so that gives hope of another good run here.

SCENIC was a nine-race maiden coming into her last race at Kempton in early May, but she got off the mark in a fillies’ novice stakes. She won by two lengths while giving 19lbs away to NOWHERE, a Hughie Morrison-trained filly from the family of SCOPE (French St Leger winner).

The lack of winning would be a worry, but her performance at York last season when third to MIDNIGHT MILE and MUKADDAMAH and ahead of QUEEN FOR YOU is solid form. Maybe she’s best watched here, though.

One horse that is worth mentioning at the bigger prices is DIVINA GRACE. She won a Newmarket handicap off 82 on good to form ground last season and with the lack of rain Haydock is expected to get, one can imagine the ground will be similar.

She beat CRYSTAL DELIGHT that day, but that form can be disregarded because CRYSTAL DELIGHT has improved 20lbs since thanks to a trainer change!

As for the ‘classy animal’ angle into the race, WISE EAGLE will shoulder top weight due to his mark of 105. Based on last season’s form with COLTRANE from the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes, a rating like that is deserved and he beat the subsequent Chester Cup winner METIER at Musselburgh last year. A mark in the high 90s would be more attractive, though.

Verdict: We didn’t mention STRUTH because we’re not sure he’ll run so quickly after Epsom. That said, he was given an easy time by James Doyle when beat so if he comes out of his race well and gets declared, then he’s interesting back on predicted quick ground. Epsom would have been too slow for him and on his best form, he’s massively over priced at 16-20/1 depending on book. Wait for dec’s.

ELLIOTT AT ASCOT

The Derby is now in our rear view mirror and that can only mean one thing…Royal Ascot is on the horizon.

All the usual suspects will be sending their top horses, though one man who could have a strong team is prolific Irish jumps trainer Gordon Elliott as he is preparing for a raid of the royal meeting.

His big hope lies in the hooves of PIED PIPER, second in last year’s Cesarewitch, as he could run twice during the week. The 6yo was given just 2lbs for his fast-finishing effort at Newmarket in October and his last run came in the County Hurdle when third to ABSURDE (Ebor winner) and L’EAU DU SUD.

Elliott said: "We could have a strong enough team heading over to Ascot, maybe four or five will make the trip and hopefully we have some nice chances among them.

“Pied Piper will run in the Ascot Stakes and could show up again on the Saturday for the Queen Alexandra, if that goes well. He was a bit unlucky in the Ascot Stakes two years ago when he got no luck in running.

"I thought he ran a cracker in the County Hurdle and seems to be in great form. We've had Ascot in mind for quite a while and we're looking forward to it. He's very classy on his day."

As for his other horses at the meeting, NDAAWI (3rd in the Boodles at the Festival) has the Ascot Stakes and Copper Horse Handicap as options, ZAYNAB is on-course for the Sandringham, and PARTY CENTRAL is also another for the Copper Horse.

Elliott is particularly sweet on the latter, as he said: “I do think Party Central is absolutely made for the mile-and-six handicap [Copper Horse] if she can sneak into it. She has loads of pace and you'd have to be happy with her run at Down Royal last week. She's coming along nicely."

ANOTHER WATHNAN PURCHASE

A relatively new (and interesting) operation who want to establish themselves in the UK game, Wathnan are single handedly propping up the thorough bred market so it’s always worth noting when they part ways with some of their money for an up-and-coming Flat horse.

It’s therefore fair to highlight that they have bought SHADOW ARMY, Richard Fahey’s Norfolk Stakes hopeful.

The SHOWCASING colt beat FRANCISCO’S PIECE by a short head on his last start who has since won a Listed juvenile race at Chantilly by two-and-a-half lengths.

On SHADOW ARMY’s Norfolk Stakes prospects, Wathnan Racing's adviser Richard Brown said: “We're fortunate that we've had a few two-year-old colts who have won since we bought him and we might be in the position where we may have to separate them.

“We could, however, run two in the same race at Ascot which is a bit different than running two in a maiden. Luckily, there are two five-furlong options for us at the meeting." 

YOUNG BLOOD

14.57 NOTTINGHAM

LEOVANNI was purchased for 190k as a breezer after being bought for 20k as a yearling. Dam is a full sis to PARBOLD who was second in the Coventry, theres a lot of 2yo form on the page. Trainer won this race last year (newsletter found her in Young Blood) and the market says he will again.

SHOSTAKOVA by standout first season sire SERGEI PROKOFIEV. She’s a half sister to Gr2 winner EL CABELLO and Gr2 placed SYMBOLOGY, wouldn’t be a shock if she makes a winning start with her pedigree.

BERMUDA PRINCESS by KINGMAN was bought back by her owners for 100k at the breeze ups, her pedigree is a lot of 2yo speed. Haggas rarely has a fto 2yo winner but this girl could buck the trend having come from the breeze up master Mark Grant who likes her a lot. Our latest newsletter contributor Norm Duncanson has seen this girl and was impressed.

CLOUD STREET made an ok debut, didn’t show enough to give the market leaders in this a worry but she could improve a bundle.

COEUR JAUNE has an appealing pedigree and cost 140k as a breezer at the Arqana Sale, arguably the best Sale for Breeze Ups. She’s a nice individual and looks speedy but it’s actually the family of Good Cup winner Estimate. Interesting newcomer, keep eye on market.

SUNSHINE SOUL also came from the breeze ups but didn’t do a spectacular breeze, she’s possibly one for further down the line.

FACOULTY’s Pedigree is 2yo speed, the mare has had 4 progeny to race to date and all 4 have won, including at 2. Looks a speedy type, market to guide but best watched today for future engagements.

The others are best watched on debut.

Verdict: We have some expensive Breeze Up purchases in here, COEUR JAUNE looks over priced and BERMUDA PRINCESS looks speedy. It will be interesting to see any market support for SHOSTAKOVA because she has the best pedigree and will have the rail to help. On paper the one which appeals most is market leader LEOVANNI purely because Burke has them ready to rock and roll first time up. That said, we know BERMUDA PRINCESS is smart. Yes, there’s loads of worries - namely the draw on the wing and the fact that Haggas hasn’t had a 2yo win fto yet but she’s Norm’s horse to follow and should be destined for Royal Ascot.

A non-betting race but a must watch as a few of these will have Royal Ascot ambitions.

RISK ON

Henry Brooke got sent flying when looking to take the lead on LIPA K when full of running. Can’t help but feel the double should have come in. Anyway, nice to landed a bumper winner for the confidence boost.

No bets as of yet.