Royal Ascot 2012 - Albany Stakes

2.30 Royal Ascot (Day 4, Race 1)

Albany Stakes (Fillies' Group 3) (Class 1)  (2YO only)

Winner £34,026

Advice: 0.5 pts each/way The Gold Chesongsam (7/1 general) & Tassel (10/1 general)

Agent Allison: Hugely impressive start to career when winning by seven lengths on Pontefract debut, justifying the strong support that she received late on; Much better at the end of the race than the start and not hard to see her playing a big hand.

All On Red: Would have a much bigger chance than her price suggests based upon her third in Musselburgh Conditions Stakes (winner Ahern ran well in the Norfolk yesterday) and return to 6f on soft ground (conditions for her  most impressive win so far) sure to suit, so not one to discount.

Amazonas: Took her time to get going but always going to win when getting going in Yarmouth conditions stakes (travelled well; Penny dropped properly two furlongs out) and while that bare form needs far more, sure to progress a ton and respected.

Ana Emaritya: Listed race on debut proved for be far too much for her and while better last time out, that suggests that she’ll take an ordinary maiden, not a race of this quality.

Becky Lou: Shaped well when fifth on debut at Newmarket, slow away and making all her best headway at finish; Second and third have both won since so form looks good.

Equtitana: Travelled well before run flattened out in maiden over 5f (soft ground) here; Convinced that she could win a race based on that but will need to find more off the bridle to win here today.

Judy In Disguise: Looked like a good horse on her first two starts, winning by a combined total of 7 & 1.2 lengths and being sent off favourite for the Hilary Needler at Beverley last time; Suggested that ground might have been too fast for her but won on lightning fast ground on debut and this asks much more of her.

Kosika: Too keen and ran around at the crucial point of the race when making winning debut at Haydock, but taking in how she wasn’t asked serious questions despite winning only by a neck; Definite improver.

Light Up My Life: Defied odds of 16/1 on Newbury debut when winning in thoroughly professional style; Form of that race worked out only OK for the grade (1 winner and one placed horse come out of it) and while she can improve, looks down the Hannon pecking order.

Mary’s Daughter: Totally different proposition to the no show that she offered on Ripon debut when bolting up at Leicester last time, putting race to bed at the furlong pole; Would not surprise to see her put a bold showing with that behind her.

Newfangled: Made one of the most impressive debuts seen this season when tracking the leaders and then going away when meeting the rising ground in July Course maiden, winning by 4 & ½ lengths; Likely that this requires far more of her but can’t fail to be impressed with how she went about her business when winning first time out and should take the beating here with ground not a problem.

Premier Steps: Newbury maiden that she made debut in has worked out supberly and showed benefit of that when making all and then outstaying the reopposing Equitania on soft ground over 5 furlongs; Needs a bit more than that here but drew away like she’d make it over this trip and ground in her favour.

Sandreamer: Made very promising start to life when travelling strongly on outsider and then finding plenty when push came to shove in maiden at Newmarket; Runner up and fifth were 1-2 in maiden and fourth has since won on July course, so form looks good; Yard has won three of the ten runnings including with Samitar last year and was also responsible for the 1-2 in 2003, so highly respected here.

Sendmylovetorose: Looked to be very good when handing out good thrashing to her rivals at Navan; Much more on her plate here but second and fourth have since been placed in the same maiden and respected despite steep step up in class here.

Shafanni: Showed promise late on but no answer to late finish of Amazonas in Yarmouth novice event on debut and can’t be backedwith confidence to reverse the form.

Tassel: Travelled like a horse who had a lot more in hand then the winning margin of a length and a half when coming right away from next time out winner at Newamrket; Lame next time when beaten at 2/5 but Hughes retains the faith.

The Gold Chenongsham: Sent off favourite for what turned out to be good maiden at Goodwood, with winner Mister Marc running second in Listed company and runner up then winning well with plenty in hand the next time; Too green for own good at the end of this and sure to attract support given that trainer has twice won this with debutants.

Threes Grand: Best efforts have come in succession despite having only one win, getting within a length of Jadanna at Beverley latest; Midfield in Queen Mary and this looks just as hard.

VERDICT: An competitive renewal of what usually turns out be the strongest of the fillies juvenile races. It’s very hard to get away from NEWFANGLED, who was so impressive on her debut at Newmarket and is likely to relish the stiff climb and easy ground. However with so many promising fillies in opposition, it’s impossible to recommend her at just 9/4. TASSEL was talked off as a Royal Ascot filly after winning (and her form has been represented well, even if not in group company this week, while Agent Aillsion and THE GOLD CHEONGSAM, who was backed like a good filly before running around late on in a strong Goodwood maiden, are surely going to bring more to the party this time around. Either of the two should make good each/way bets. Amazonas had to wait a long time for the penny to drop at Yarmouth but looked very good when she did, while Kosika and Sendmylovetorose can also be given chances if improving from their debuts; Agent Allision would be no surprise winner.