Royal Ascot (Day 1)
June 18, 2013
The Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)
The best race meeting in the world get’s off to a lightning start with the American star Animal Kingdom turning out for the Queen Anne. A Kentucky Derby winner on dirt and Dubai World Cup winner on tapeta he returns to turf, a surface has won on before in a minor race at Gulfstream Park in 2012. There’s been some chatter that Ascot’s turf will inconvenience him today but in The Breeder’s Cup Mile last Autumn coming back from injury he ran a cracking second to Wise Dan. Caught in a pocket on the rail when he eventually got out he flew with the line coming in time for Wise Dan. His prep for Dubai in February was also on turf in The Gulfstream Park Handicap where he put in another fine effort behind Point Of Entry when beaten 1 1/4 L. The two times he tried turf at top level he’s been beaten but at the expense of the two best turf horses we’ve seen in North America in a long time.
While Declaration Of War has yet to live up to the reputation he arrived with in Ireland from France he still the most likely to chase Graham Motion’s charge home.
The St James’s Palace Stakes
This has certainly been lit up by the return of Dawn Approach. Beaten by the tactic’s in the first furlong of the Derby where pace was shut down he tried to go from first to fourth without going into second or third. There will be no such fears today. The team know he’s awesome and today he’ll confirm same. Leitir Mor will ensure it”ll be quick from the get go and when he run’s out of petrol Kevin Manning who will have brought Dawn Approach through the gear’s will open the throttle.
Ballydoyle’s Magician after a classy Irish Guineas can chase him home.
Recommendation : Animal Kingdom 1/1 win
Dawn Approach 7/4 win (and double on the two)
