Royal Ascot 2012 - 150th Anniversary Of Prince Of Wales´s Stakes

3.45 Royal Ascot (Day 2, Race 3)

150th Anniversary Of Prince Of Wales´s Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1) (Class 1) (4yo+) Winner £283,550

Advice: 4 pts win So You Think (11/10 Blue Sq, 888 Sport), 1 pt each/way Planteur (10/1 Bet Victor)

Big Blue Kitten: US raider capped rather rapid progression last year when winning the Grade 2 Hall Of Fame Stakes at Saratoga last year but since beaten in Allowance and then third (getting 5lbs) in the Gulsftream Park Turf handicap; Had no answer to Wise Dan last time out and needs more to get involved.

Carlton House: Sent off favourite for last year’s Derby after winning Dante Stakes and ran a brave race to be third, running out of gas late on having taken a wide course; Expected to win Irish Derby but disappointed in fourth that day (reportedly came back sore); Off since but confirmed his wellbeing with smart win in the Brigader Gerard Stakes at Sandown, pulling away at the end despite tanking through the race (yard also not in best of form); Must have big chance.

City Style: Improver throughought Dubai carnival, coming a close enough second to Musir before coming a close runner up to Master Of Hounds in the Jebel Hatta; Third in Dubai Duty Free (shaped as if he’d like this track and trip) but worry about him transferring that form towards today.

Colombian: Improved for step up in trip when a well backed and clear cut winner of Chester maiden, and has bettered that with two huge runs in major French races, fourth in the French Derby and then a luckless third in well contested Group 2 Guillame D’Orono; Held his own really well towards the end of the season and back in style when landing Gordon Richards Stakes on heavy ground last time; Well behind Carlton House at Sandown and hard to fancy.

Farhh: Only had the three runs but deeply impressive in winning all of them, especially when bolting up by 6 lengths (could have been double that if he wanted) in Thirsk Hunt Cup; Looked as if he was good enough to handle Group 1 class that day and has to be respected coming here for yard that have had such a good record in this race.

Planteur:  Seemingly limitless potential when breaking course record to beat Sarafina in the Prix Ganay last season but disappointed since then, coming well behind So You Think in last year’s renewal (disappointing fourth) before finishing unplaced when tried over a mile twice; Much better on return in Dubai World Cup (ahead of So You Think) and bumped into class acts Cirrus Des Aigles and Golden Lilac when third in the D’Isphan; Serious each/way chance on that.

Reliable Man: Rapidly progressive as a 3yo, with 5 wins from 6 starts including the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly in most taking style, having made up plenty of ground in straight; Beaten in Grand Prix De Paris where questionable ride left him with too much ground to make up and reversed that form in Niel; Been disappointing since though, unplaced in Arc and then well held in Ganay/D’Isphan; Needs far more and while he had physical excuse latest, beginning to disappoint.

Robin Hood: Pacemaker for So You Think.

So You Think: Australian champion who went some way to fulfilling the hype that he carried with him when winning Tattersalls Gold Cup, Coral Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes last year, proving to be too keen of his own good on two other occasions (one of them being last year’s renewal, when beaten in last 100 yards by Rewilding having gone for home around home turn) and given too much ground to make up during the Arc; Poor effort when only sixth in Breeders Cup Classic but then again over the top; Flat on seasonal return (behind Planteur) in Dubai and easy win in Tattersalls Gold Cup once again proved nothing (beat Famous Name same distance he did last year) but still has first rate chance.

Sri Putra: Third in this last year but not matched that since and further behind So You Think when seventh in Champions Stakes; Listed win over returning Saamidd good form but since been well beaten in Italian Group 1 and needs far more.

Wigmore Hall: Gained a deserved Group 1 win after many unlucky trips (most of all when blocked for a run behind Cape Blanco in Arlington Million) in Canadian International; No wins since despite strong efforts in many races, never able to get a blow into the Dubai Duty Free or the Ganay the last twice, but hinted at return to form when lumping penalty in very testing ground at Chester into Huxley Stakes third; Needs more in this company even if back to best.

VERDICT: SO YOU THINK hasn’t been quite the sensation that he threatened to be last year but his form’s still top class (it’s worth remembering that he won the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes last year), and he has valid excuses for most of his defeats. He can beat Carlton House, who promises to be much better than at Sandown today on account of having a strong pace to aim at (very keen) along with the improvement he should have made naturally from his first run of the season, although PLANTEUR, who looked like a world class horse when winning the Ganay so impressively last season before losing his way, might be a good each/way bet with a pleasing pair of third place finishes in the Dubai World Cup and then the D’Isphan to his name this season.