3.45 Royal Ascot (Day 2, Race 3)
Prince Of Wales's Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group
1) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £283,550
Advice: 1 pt win Al Kazeem (5/2 general), 1 pt win The Fugue
(6/1 Stan James)
Afsare: Trend into a useful globetrotter for Luca Cumani,
coming fourth in Arlington Million after string of consistent efforts in
Europe, but 0-8 at Group level and needs much more to make and impact here on
his seasonal debut. 
Al Kazeem: Had immense promise as 3yo before injury had intervened,
but deeply impressive in Jockey Club Stakes last May and came back once again
to landing 10f Sandown group 3 after long time out; Widely expected to come off
second best in what was effectively a match race between himself and Camelot
but never looked as if he wasn’t going to win and did the job cosily in the
end; Worthy favourite off the back of that. 
Camelot: Champion 3yo of last season, winning first two legs
of Triple Crown before disappointing in Leger and then Arc (couldn’t go through
ground at end of long season); Coclic threatened career in winter so impressive
achviement tht he’s back but beaten fair and square behind Al Kazeem latest at
Curragh in Tattersalls Gold Cup; Some say he’s well capable of improving from
that and better can be expected, but had the benefit of previous run behind him
and will do well to reverse form although one of main contenders.
Maxios: Really beginning to live upto his breeding, a smooth
winner of Group 2 in style this season before close second in Prix Ganay and
win in D’Isphan latest; Form of both those races stacks up very well through
those closet to him and has to be respected here with big form chance. 
Miblish: Showed he’s got class when he pushed Planteur to
just half a length on reappearance but that flatters him a little bit and
little realistic chance here.
Mukhadram: Only just beginning to reach his full potential
and everything to like about the way he beat Main Sequence on his return at
Sandown, but this might be too big a step up too soon and passed over although
he retains significant potential. 
Red Cadeux: Has strong claims on his Hong Kong Vase win or
Dubai World Cup third, but lifeless showing when only eight behind Military
Attack latest and wonder if he’s better over 1m4f here and better overseas in
general. 
Saint Baudolino: Would have to be given a shout on his
French form last year, for all that the French classic generation didn’t really
impressive last year and the form of Prix Du Jockey Club and Grand Prix De
Paris not worked out properly; Beaten favourite on UAE return and got a lot more ground to make up.
Side Glance: Grown into a very smart horse, unable to do
better than sixth behind Excelebration here on Champions Day but fourth in two
Group 1’s since; Probably not upto winning here. 
Windsor Palace: Pacemaker for Camelot. 
The Fugue: Top class filly of last season but could easily
have won more than just the Nassau Stakes, having been caught close home for
stamina in the Yorkshire Oaks (unlucky not to win Epsom equivalent) before getting
no sort of run in the Breeders’ Cup T&M Turf at the end of the year; This a
very tough task on return, but her form stacks up with the best of these and
always shaped as if she was capable of making mark in all aged company; Needs
considering.
VERDICT: An interesting renewal with four Group 1 inners who
are well capable of winning this, although if AL KAZEEM repeats his Tattersalls
Gold Cup win over Camelot he has first rate chances of landing this event.
France’s Maxios should go close, but THE FUGUE could and should have won more
than Group 1 last year and if raring to go on her debut, will take some
stopping.
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