Royal Ascot 2013 - Albany Stakes

2.30 Royal Ascot (Day 4, Race 1)

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

Winner £39,697

Arbada: Knew her job and always in control when all-the-way winner of five-runner Catterick maiden (5f, good to soft), beating subsequent winners, but still entitled to improve from that and extra furlong still likely to suit based on running style and pedigree, so can’t be dismissed out of hand.

Heart Focus: Third time lucky when beating subsequent winner at Naas and then second to Sandiva in Listed contests last time when improved again, but well beaten by the Fahey filly and no obvious reason why she should reverse that form today so others preffered.

Issemist: Gave the impression that 6f would suit when eh ran well in Hilary Needler stakes but field finished in a heap and this much hotter company demands improvement which hasn’t seemed forecoming.

Joyeuse: Always likely to be under the microscope given her being a half sister to Frankel (family members having incredible success), and justified strong marker support when a stylish and comfortable winner of Lingfield maiden on her debut despite being green for most of the trip; Sure to improve from that and exciting chance.

Kidmenot: Off the mark at the fourth time of asking in Warwick maiden but this a big difference in class and looks exposed here.

Kiyoshi: Her close fourth in hot contest at Newmarket has worked out exceptionally well (one place ahead of Queen Mary winner) and no surprise to see her win comfortably at Goodwood easily, with her and the runner up pulling clear of a solid yardstick, nicely clear with plenty to spare; Won with plenty in hand and has group feel to her.

Lady Lara: Can only be watched on this debut.

Lucky Kristale: Game success in Newmarket maiden stakes when pulling clear with runner up and subsequent winner Our Queenie and more comfortable winner in minor event at Yarmouth promising; This obviously harder, but achieved more than most so far and respected.

Midnite Angel: Nothing that one couldn’t like about how she ran away with small field Windsor maiden after shaping well on debut at Warwick; Likely that she has plenty more improvement in her still and has to be shortlisted.

Princess Noor: Bare form of her Kempton win is no more than fair (runner up disappointing but did the job very cosily and will surely offer more today, so not without her chance, for all that she needs to step up at least 10lbs to be placing today.

Race Hunter: Lot to like about the way she ran out a ready winner of 5 runner Catterick maiden and sure to improve but this is one of the clearer second strings of the week for Qatar racing; Again, respected but that a very ordinary event.

Rasheeda: Good support in market for Doncaster maiden on debut and way she came to nail runner up close home given encouragement for improvement and also stiffer test of stamina that this race will be; Lookds a decent prospect and no surprise to see strong late showing.

Red Lady: Typical of her stable in that she left debut effort (last here, hampered early on), behind when all the way winner upped to 6f ay Haydock latest; Subsequent scorer behind gives encouragement for improved effort coming up again today.

Sacred Aspect: Only sixth of seven on debut at Leopardstown by came on for the experience when scoring by a neck on yielding ground last time; This looks a big step up.

Sandiva: Sets the standard for the rest of the field to beat based on her Listed win at Naas, where she had Heart Focus well back in second and Queen Mary fourth third behind her; Sure to be a leading contender.

Sleepy Sioux: Could only manage eighth of 11 in Wedding Ring’s race on Newmarket debut and not even sure to win average maiden.

Suite: Winner at Kempton in ordinary race (albeit did it well) and lucky to be second in conditions race at Newbury latest; Surprise if she can land a blow.

Wedding Ring: A must for the shortlist following her excellent start in 6f Newmarket maiden where she beat stablemate that was second on debut ti Kiyoushi, and no surprise to see her make a bold show.

Wonderfully: 7/2, best placed of the chasers when off the bridle from a long way when snatching 6f Fairyhouse maiden from unlucky runner up on debut (stablemate won since, so has other Coolmore horse); Taking how she made up so much ground to get up in the nick of time there and test like this will surely suit her better, so has to be on shortlist; Ballydoyle been in fine form this week.

VERDICT: A cracking renewal, with most of the attention on Listed winner Sandiva and Frankel’s half sister Joyeuse. It’ll take a good performance to beat either, with Joyeuse just preffered, but there’s a lot of potential in this field and the amount of ground WONDERFULLY made to win on debut and she should enjoy a well run race on a stiff track just as Ascot. Knowing Ballydoyle, there must be improvement coming for that run and she is worthy of each/way support, with Wedding Ring, Kiyoushi, and Rasheeda all having potential to improve.