The curtain is ready to fall on another successful Royal Ascot carnival. The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes is the perfect way to finish the world-class week of racing, and the Australian flag will being flying high with the enigmatic Artorius representing our proud country. Can Highfield Princess bounce back after her shock defeat in Tuesday’s King Stand, or will the Group 1 bragging rights come home to Australia with the Anthony and Sam Freedman camp?
Royal Ascot Race 1
#16 Pearl And Rubies
Pearl And Rubies will start favourite after an impressive victory on debut. The No Nay Never filly turned heads fresh, and she looks well placed stepping out in trip second-up from a spell. From a middle gate, she can sit midfield with cover, and if Ryan Moore can angle her out at the right time, she can remain undefeated.
Lightning Leo will have supporters after a dominant win at Great Yarmouth. The Night Of Thunder colt will roll forward from barrier nine, and if he can find the lead uncontested, he will look for the winner inside the final furlong. If you have a live ticket with his name on it, cross your fingers and toes the last 50m!
Warnie can run well on debut at a decent price. The valuable Highland Reel colt has been well supported in early betting, and the James Mcdonald and Joseph O’Brien combination looks ominous. It may pay dividends to watch for further market support.
Suggested Bet: Pearl And Rubies @ $3.00
Royal Ascot RACE 3
#14 Highfield Princess
Highfield Princess can bounce back after having her colours lowered in the King’s Stand Stakes. The Night Of Thunder mare produced a flat second-up performance, and she looked wobbly running up the arduous Ascot straight. Despite her below-par performance, she was only narrowly beaten, and she arguably should have been awarded the race on protest in the steward’s room. She looks dangerous on the quick backup, and I expect her to peak third-up from a spell.
Artorius will start favourite after a stunning autumn campaign in Australia. The Flying Artie colt was an eye-catching winner first up in the Canterbury Stakes and brave and luckless second-up in the George Ryder Stakes. His best form reads incredibly well for this event, and I expect him to be fully wound up for his last career race start before retiring to stud. He should have won this race last year, and with a clear passage in this year’s edition, I expect him to figure in the finish.
Wellington has been well supported since markets opened. The All Too Hard gelding has raced well at the top level in Sha Tin, and he has been ultra-consistent this preparation against world-class gallopers. From barrier fifteen, he will roll forward and look for pole position, and if he is allowed to dictate throughout, he may prove hard to run down. Using too much petrol early is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Highfield Princess @ $5.00
Royal Ascot Race 4
#5 Hukum
Hukum will start one of the shortest-priced favourites of the meeting. The Sea The Stars gelding was a brilliant first-up winner at Sandown Park, and he looks well placed here, meeting similar opposition. His second-up record is near perfect, and he will be hard to toss over his pet distance. The Jim Crowley factor will attract further market support, and he will jump close to odds-on. Watch him sprout wings late!
Deauville Legend resumes after a gallant fourth in the Melbourne Cup. He looked the winner on straightening and lost no admirers’ despite being outstayed late. He has performed well first-up previously, and the shorter trip looks ideal fresh. Despite the long layoff, I am expecting a forward performance.
Changingoftheguard looks poised to strike after an impressive fresh performance at Chester. The Galileo entire will appreciate the drop back in distance, and he is a winner previously second-up. From barrier one he can seat in the box seat, and if the leaders spend their pennies early, he can strike in the shadows. The Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien combination must be respected.
Suggested Bet: Hukum @ $2.50
Royal Ascot Race 6
#2 Londoner
Londoner can run a massive race at a reasonable price. His two runs this preparation have been full of merit, and he looks ready to explode third-up from a spell. The Saxon Warrior colt looks well placed to meet easier opposition, and I suspect he has the fitness edge on most of his rivals. He has been well-supported in early betting, and I expect a forward showing from the perfect inside draw.
Canute will start favourite after a consistent campaign. He was a last-start winner at Navan, and with even luck in transit, I expect him to figure in the finish again. He should be rock hard-fit at this stage of his preparation, and if the leaders leave the kettle on during the early stages, he could blow away his rivals late. He looks talented!
Ziryab will have supporters with Frankie “The Goat” Dettori aboard. The Kingman colt was racing well this preparation and was a last-start winner at Leicester. He deserves his shot at this race, and the step out in distance is advantageous at this stage of his preparation. It may pay dividends to watch for any significant market support.
Suggested Bet: Londoner @ $21.00
