Royal Ascot 2013 - Coventry Stakes

4.25 Royal Ascot (Day 1, Race 4)

Coventry Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)  (2YO only) 
Winner £68,052 

Advice: 1 pt win Stubbs (3/1 general), 1 pt win Sir John Hawkins (11/2 general)

Championship: RPR of only 82 on debut but that irrelevant when one considers the trouble in running that he overcame to win contest used to introduce recent winners Canford Cliffs and Strong Suit, and not hard to see him making good amount of progress from a race which has been boosted significantly since; Richard Hughes sees fit to choose him over stalemate Thunder Strike; Major player.

Dubawi Fun: Made a positive impression when winning 6 furlong AW (Fibresand) Southwell maiden on his debut and suggested better was to come, but this looks to be a step too far on first turf start.

Jallota: Only fifth behind Championship pn Newbury debut and has improved enough to come third and win in two starts since; More to come form him likely but looks a little exposed already and held on earlier Newbury form.

Lanark: Built on debut when second over 6f at Goodwood (no threat, but easily best of the newcomers) when winning over same C&D, but left in lead when likelier winner unseated and will need to be a lot better here.

Mawfoor: Belied big price on debut when only finding odds on stablemate too good at Nottingham and well in command from start to finish when improved markedly at Haydock; The fact that Paul Hanagan has picked him over Wahaab of Richard Hannon’s speaks volumes and shortlisted.

Parbold: Might be hard to rate the form of his soft ground debut win at York’s Dante meeting too highly but nothing wrong with the way that he did it and no telling how much he’ll come on for that run, so has to be given a chance here and respected.

Riverboat Springs: Smooth winner at Bath when well on top in the closing stages of his maiden and incredible effort just to get second to Thunder Strike in the Woodcote when hating every yard of the track, and must get closer to that rival today so has to be respected.

Rogue Wave: Clearly well bred – half brother to several winners including two who won upto 1m; This is a mammoth task on debut.

Rosso Crosa: Off the mark at third attempt when winning Chester maiden (had been previously unlucky at Goodwood) but this a level above that.

Sir John Hawkins: Bred to be a star, by two-time Royal Ascot winner Henrythenavigator out of four time Group 1 winner Peeping Fawn, and made the most promising of starts when stretching out nicely to beat solid runner up who has since run second to opposing stablemate War Command at the Curragh over 6f; Shaped for all the world as if he’d come on greatly for it and should take a big hand here.

Stubbs: Another regally bred type, out of Irish Oaks winner Moonstone by Danehill Dancer, and followed up promising debut on first day of Irish season (heavy ground) when romping to win at Navan and then an impressive winner of 6f Listed event at Naas latest, quickening up smartly and winning easily in slowly run 4 runner event latest; Been out three times but highly unlikely we’ve seen best of him and the one to beat.

Thirtypointstothree: Shaped as if he would win a maiden event when fourth past the post (upgraded to third) in Bath maiden, but this a different task altogether.

Thunder Strike: Three from three so far and hard not to be impressed with the way that he dismissed rivals in Epsom listed event latest, looking as if he was clearly ready for test like this, although runner up Riverboat Springs should be getting much close today; Discarded by Hughes for maiden winner Championship but still much respected here.

Wahaab: Another regally bred sort, being out of Cheveley Park and Coronation Stakes winner Indian Ink, and while Hanagan prefers Mawfoor, nothing wrong with the way this one cruised home on debut at odds on with stablemate and subsequent winner third; Of interest.

War Command: Everything to like about the way that he nailed evens favourite Intensifier (runner up to Sir John Hawkins) on debut at Leopardstown and highly doubt that he lacks ability compared to stablemates, but was relishing every yard of 7 furlongs there and drop in trip might not suit; Others make more appeal but respescted nevertheless.

VERDICT: A really exciting renewal with any number worthy of consideration and a whole host with plenty to offer. Aidan O’Brien’s recent record in this is as good as any trainer’s and in STUBBS and SIR JOHN HAWKINS, he has two of the most promising juveniles seen this season. Stubbs has been seen more than one might want for a Coventry winner but that doesn’t mean we’ve seen the best of him and Sir John Hawkins is set to improve for his debut win at the Curragh a lot if his top class breeding is anything to go by. Any one of the home team could throw down a big challenge, although the notifer of Richard Hughes picking Championship marks him down as a big threat; Brian Meethan’s Mawfoor is the choice of Paul Hanagan but there was a lot to enjoy about Wahaab’s debut win.