The meeting started with a bang as Canford Cliffs overwhelmed
Goldikova to land the Queen Anne and confirm himself as the world’s best miler
(we will get onto the merits of another performer later on).
Canford was typical Canford. Settled beautifully in the
earlier stages off a cracking gallop provided by Cape Blanco and Flash Dance respectively,
he eased into the picture at halfway and was following Goldikova like a spy.
Hughes had to wait to deliver his challenge but that is his way; And Canford swept
past Goldikova in the final furlong to notch his fourth Group 1 prize. Beating
such a classy mare makes him the best miler in the world and it will be fascinating
to see where he goes next, with connections feeling much more inclined to target overseas targets than usual, which makes him appeal as a banker for the
Breeders Cup Mile if he turns up.
Many were quick to belittle and slam Oliver Peslier’s unprofessionalism
after he weighed out 1lb overweight but weighed in 2lb overweight but it is in
no doubt that Goldikova was beaten by more than the weight margin allowed and
in any case there was no jockey that would have made 2lbs difference in the
race. Goldikova lost little in defeat
& and is likely to race in France for much of the rest of the season,
before going to the US in a bid to land a fourth Breeders’ Cup Mile and she
should hold no fears of getting beaten unless Canford Cliffs decides to take
her on again and should Canford swerve the BC Mile then it’s all roads to the
winner’s enclosure again.
Of the others it was discouraging to see Cape Blanco so well
beaten but this trip was all wrong for him and he had competition for the lead
which ended his race before it began. Many will have lost the faith but he’s
going to be an artificially big price when returned to a proper trip and there
are all sorts of scenarios which could see him being a winner of a big race and
he’s still worth waiting for.
Cityscape seemed to make light of the fact that he’s a soft
ground horse with an excellent run in third (seeming set to throw down a big
challenge at some stage) and he’d be a fascinating runner in the Jacques Le
Marois should he go, while Rio De La Plata has confirmed the impression he left
on his better starts and should win Group 1’s again on the continent.
The King’s Stand didn’t have the clash that the Queen Anne
did but it contained no less allure thanks to the presence of raiders from 7
countries. The fact that it had gone overseas seven times in the previous 11
seasons with the British sprinting division perceived to be in the doldrums
makes the performance of Jim Crowley and Robert Cowell to bring Prohibit
through to beat them all on the day.
He’s always shown talent and was given a very astute ride by
Jim Crowley, who took advantage of the blistering gallop that several set and
many tried to chase in vain to win cosily in the end, and while there are many
who could reverse the form (such are sprinters) he should take a hand in every
big race this season. This was to be the first of two unlucky efforts in a week
for Star Witness, who lost the race when bumped at the start, while the real
eyecatcher was Sweet Sanette. She blitzed Rose Blossom into the ground when on the far side and had them all beaten until
stamina told (Ascot has a hill at the end of the track) and would have won on a
flatter track, so it’s a shame that she’s not going for the Nunthorpe, a race
she’d have been a certainty for in my book.
Overdose, in finishing fourth, confirmed that he was probably
at least nearly good as we all thought he was a couple of years ago and while he
might not land a Group 1 he’s performed with credit and should land a stack of
races if kept fit. Bridgetown was a huge disappointment but getting taken on
for the lead took his chances out.
Even with the clashes of the big two in the Queen Anne and
the truly International King’s Stand all eyes were truly on Frankel in the St
James’s Palace & I don’t think that any of us beforehand were expecting the
fallout from the race that we got, for all kinds of reasons.
The brilliant speed which had been Frankel’s trademark since
his second run at Doncaster had exactly the same event of putting the race to
bed, but sadly for a number of reasons it did not leave the impression visually
that many had been hoping for, first and foremost being that he kicked far too
early to catch a pacemaker that was never going to present any threat. As it
has been said before, Ascot is a stiff mile at the best of times and the
straight there is a long and lonely place, so to be there 3 lengths infront at
the turn and still be infront at the line is some performance (hindsight) and
kicking that early made him very tired indeed, as it was clear to see at the
end.
Secondly, a factor that new have put into consideration, the
fact that his field was far better than that which he faced in the Guineas (not
to mention the fact that the jockeys were far wiser anyway to his tactical
speed) & also a far fitter field than the one he faced in the Guineas (I
know that Dubawi Gold + Native Khan were racefit but many of his better form
rivals were unprepared that day) and these three factors brought them closer together.
People were quick to point fingers at Tom Queally but he’ll
have learnt from this and I speak nothing but the truth when I suggest that
anyone else riding would be a major negative. The second, Zoffany ran a huge
race and if the correct number turn up in the Sussex he’s an each/way bet to
nothing and actually quite an exciting horse given that he’s got valid excuses
for his defeats (soft ground and a poor passage/fitness). Grand Prix Boss (warm beforehand) was a huge disappointment
and it’s a shame not to hear anything from his connections afterwards. This is
a let down in the form of Ofvere, who is probably capable of +130 performances
this season.
The first positive result for followers of the Vic Page and
myself came when Aidan O’Brien got off the scoresheet with Power, who justified
favouritism in a nip-and-tuck driving finish after getting involved in a late
barging-match with runner-up Roman Soldier but had the beneficiary of another barnstorming
Ryan Moore ride to get up.
Rousted from the stalls, he was actually quite prominent
early and while he was never on the bridle he engaged overdrive a long way from
home and actually passed a lot of horses to get to the winner in taking style.
Many will ask how much improvement there is to come but he should improve for a
trip will get a mile at 3, has the physical advantage over his rivals (and may
do for some time yet) and his trainer’s record with runners from this is quite
brilliant, and certainly he should win a Group 1 this year.
Runner up Roman Soldier ran a huge race and came home in
style. How he’ll progress is also an interesting quandary but he’s one of those
horse who will land a Group 2 at a backable price while the same can be said of
St Barths, who came from miles back. He’s an exciting Meehan 2yo and found
trouble in running, although nothing like Lethal Force ( drawn horrible) and
Gatepost (too far back, switched sides 2f out, passed about 15 horses and then
had nothing left).
The Ascot Stakes was the Ascot Stakes, and Veiled got a good
ride from Eddie Ahern in a race where it really paid to be prominent around the
turn. She can win another race on the flat while Zigato clearly stayed the trip
and will be winning again soon, and Junior was always struggling in a better
race with a higher mark and no easy rope from the front.
I was on the scoresheet once again with Federick Engles in the
last on Tuesday who looked a colt who was far better than Listed class in the
Windsor Castle. He put two lengths between himself and a useful bunch of colts
in the last furlong and wouldn’t be out of place in the July Stakes, a race
that could be his for the taking if the Coventry principals give it a miss.
Stonefield Flyer( a 6l winner on last previous start) Caspar
Netscher (an unlucky Listed fourth/ previous winner) and Gentlemans Code (easy
winner from another easy winner) were all well tonked but all held very solid
form through which the winner can be nicely rated and Bear Behind back in fifth gives the form an
even better look.
HIGHLIGHT – The epic battle royale between Goldi and Canford
will be many’s highlight and while I’m not one to argue, Power and Federick
Engles were also taking winners, with the former getting Day 1’s highlight.
LOWLIGHT – Bridgetown proving unable to deal with being
hassled in the King’s Stand, and Star Witness never getting there in the same
race.
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