Confirmations have been made for day one of Royal Ascot on Tuesday 16 June. The opening day features three Group 1s, the most of any day at the royal meeting.
The headline race looks set to be the St James’s Palace Stakes. The 1m race is for three-year-olds only, but the nine horses confirmed include the winners of the British, Irish and French 2000 Guineas.
Bow Echo is the first of those. George Boughey’s charge was sensational in winning the 2000 Guineas t Newmarket, powering home to defeat Gstaad. That Aidan O’Brien-trained rival gained compensation when scoring in the Irish equivalent later in May. He is set to potentially reoppose on Tuesday.
A repeat clash between that pair would be good enough. However, French Guineas hero Rayif is also among the possibilities. Francis-Henri Graffard’s charge won that Classic by a length, building on his juvenile campaign. Puerto Rico, who was the odds-on favourite in that race for O’Brien, could seek to gain revenge at Ascot to add further depth to the race.
Even then, there is also the prospect of Talk Of New York stepping up in class. Charlie Appleby has been patient with the Godolphin owned runner, but he blitzed his rivals in Sandown’s Listed Heron Stakes and could be another out of the top drawer.
Ten confirmed for Queen Anne Stakes
The opening Group 1 is also the first race of the entire week. The Queen Anne Stakes, unlike the St James’s Palace Stakes on the round course, is run on the straight mile at Ascot. Last year’s winner Docklands will attempt to retain his title, but he will face fearsome competition.
Impressive Lockinge Stakes winner Notable Speech is the ante-post favourite. He won very comfortably at Newbury and looks every bit as good as he did when a 2000 Guineas winner at three. Lockinge runner-up More Thunder is a fellow five-year-old, but remains an improving type too.
Another Godolphin horse is the four-year-old Opera Ballo, who showed brilliant speed to win Sandown’s Group 2 Mile. Cicero’s Gift, Damysus and Zeus Olympios add further class angles.
27 remain in King Charles III Stakes
27 sprinters are still in contention for the King Charles III Stakes. The 5f showpiece is one of two Group 1 sprints, along with the 6f Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on the Saturday.
Last year’s surprise winner American Affair is among the star British-trained runners in the race. The in-form Night Raider, a winner on both starts this season, joins him, though significant challengers are likely to emerge from further afield.
Australia-based seven-year-old Overpass is a Group 1 winner in his home country. Sprinters from down under have an excellent recent record at the royal meeting.
Similarly, a French sprinter won the 6f Group 1 a year ago. Rayevka could go for this shorter race. Trained by the aforementioned Graffard, she was third in the Commonwealth Cup a year ago behind Time For Sandals, another entry here. A Group 1 would not be the same without some Ballydoyle involvement either: Mission Central is a three-year-old nominee for O’Brien and co.