Toronado leads the market over Verrazano where it’s fair to say there is not the same depth of quality we have come to expect in the Queen Anne. Take out the front two and you would find a race where only Side Glance, a 40/1 here was a previous G1 winner.

Of the two we have a choice between a proven turf miler in Toronado the winner of the Sussex Stakes from Dawn Approach last year and Verrazano, the US import whose feet have only once touched the ground in battle on turf before.

Last year Toronado played second fiddle to Dawn Approach who set the standard in the three year old division having won the Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes, a short head from Toronado.

Neither Dawn Approach or Toronado managed a win when pitched against older opposition last year. Dawn Approach failed in France in the Jacques La Maoris and also in the QE 11 on Champions Day while Toronado went down a dismal 22 L in the International at York behind Declaration Of War the winner of this last year.

Verrazano was well fancied for the Kentucky Derby last year but could do no better than finish 14th. He didn’t contest either the Preakness or the Belmont but instead was kept for the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park where he duly obliged by an impressive 9 3/4 L from Power Broker.

He was stepped up to 10 F for The Travers Stakes but didn’t stay and was then brought back in distance for the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile going off favourite when beaten 7 L by Will Take Charge. The last throw of the American dice was the Cigar Mile in late November where Flat Out had 3 1/4 L on him.

The lads decided there was still a stallion in there hence the move across the pond from Todd Plecther to Aidan O’Brien.

Thanks lads must have been how Aidan felt. A dirt failure in the hands of the best in America and now you want me to make a turf stallion out of him. The Haskell proved he had an engine, that the talent was there. The step up in trip didn’t work and brining him back proved he had got stuck in the wrong gear. His season was wrecked but still there was an engine there to be tuned.

Aidan introduced him to grass in the Lockinge where he ran a very respectful race to finish third to Olympic Glory. The engine still ticked.

It’s a big ask to bring Verrazano to Europe and establish himself at the top but if it can be done then Aidan is the right man to do it. They brought Hardasun from Australia in 2008 to do it and of course Declaration Of War came from France to do it last year. They were both turf horses and so to do this with a dirt horse will prove an even bigger achievement.

Thanks lads.

Recommendation : Verrazano 4/1 win

In the other races

The Coventry Stakes (Group 2)

Ger Lyons could well have a Guineas horse on his hands in the shape of Cappella Sansevero. He was the sale topper in the Goffs London Sale yesterday when picked up by Qatar Racing for £1.3m. He’s unbeaten in three and Dick Whittington gave the form a boost at Navan on Saturday when he beat Dandyleekie also from Ger’s yard. Don’t be surprised to see Dick Whittington win the Norfolk on Thursday.

Recommendation : Cappella Sansevero 9/1 ew

The King Stand Stakes (Group 1)

He’s a 5 F specialist who came from last to first to nick it off Shea Shea last year. The ground has come right for him and whilst he won’t have the benefit of Johnny Murtagh in the plate he has a more than able replacement to repeat the dose in Richard Hughes.

Recommendation : Sole Power 5/1 win

The St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1)

Toormore can prove his two year old career stands up in the ranks of the three year old division. He beat The Grey Gatsby (subsequent winner of the Dante and French Derby) in the Craven before going down in the Guineas when leading the group on the stand side before weakening in the last 75 yards. He’s the value price.

Recommendation : Toormore 10/1 win