The Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes is the highlight of another top day of action at Royal Ascot on Wednesday. With a fascinating clash at the top and throughout the mark, Joe Napier previews the race and picks his 1-2-3.
Mostahdaf belied his position towards the bottom of the betting to claim a first Group 1 success in dominant fashion in 2023.
AUGUSTE RODIN
(Ryan Moore/Aidan O’Brien)
As enigmatic as they come, but seriously talented when he wants to be, Auguste Rodin has won five Group 1s, and been tenth or worse in three others, including finishing last in the King George and Dubai Sheema Classic within the last 12 months. Yet, among those five top level successes are both the English and Irish Derbies, the Irish Champion Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
We know what he can do when his mind is on the job at hand. The issue with backing him as favourite here is that he had never lost two races in a row before until beaten by White Birch in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time out, and his one previous run at Ascot saw him effectively pulled up in the aforementioned King George. He is definitely top of the list on peak form, but whether he finds that here can be readily questioned.
INSPIRAL
(John & Thady Gosden/Kieran Shoemark)
Trumping Auguste Rodin by one in having won six Group 1s to date, Inspiral had been exclusively campaigned as a miler up until the Breeders’ Cup last season. That day, she stepped up to 1m2f to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf under Frankie Dettori, delivering on a long-held promise that she would suit that trip on pedigree.
However, she returned with an underwhelming effort when 13 lengths behind stablemate Audience in the Lockinge. Even though there were excuses, it was her lowest RPR since her debut victory and staying 1m2f round tight American tracks on firm ground will be easier than doing so around Ascot on less rattling going. She is a contender if bouncing back and getting home, but she too has questions to answer.
HORIZON DORE
(Patrice Cottier/Mickael Barzalona)
One of four French-trained runners in the race, Horizon Dore has won Group races on three occasions, but has come up short as yet when racing in Group 1 company. He has not lost by far in this three attempts at the top tier though, finishing third to King Of Steel in last season’s Champion Stakes, fifth, but beaten less than a length in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp, and then runner-up by a short head, again at Longchamp, in the Prix d’Ispahan.
He is getting closer and improving with every near miss. Though the prevailing going in his homeland is regularly on the softer side, he looks capable of performing up to the same standard on good, and any chinks in the armour of the top two could be exposed by Patrice Cottier’s charge.
Andrew Mount’s Horse Racing Tips – Royal Ascot Day 2, Wednesday, 19th June
Royal Ascot day two features seven more extremely competitive races from start to finish and our top tipster Andrew Mount has four selections for Wednesday at the Royal meeting. Back his selections with BetMGM’s HUGE new customer offer of £60 in Free Bets when you deposit and bet £10! Posted: 1:37pm, Tuesday, June 18th 3.45…
Tue 18 Jun 2024
THE FIELD
Among the primary challengers down the market is another French runner in Blue Rose Cen, the impressive Prix De Diane winner from last season. She was disappointing on her one run in Britain, and her change of yard is yet to pay dividends, as it has with other horses in these colours. Therefore, if Big Rock wins the Queen Anne on Tuesday, there could well be money for her.
Alflaila is another whose profile suggests he could be a Group 1 winner. Owen Burrows excelled in his handling of multiple Group 1 winner Hukum, and this five-year-old could be another gradual improver. His fifth in the Irish Champion Stakes was not representative of his improvement given how much work he was given to do, and he goes well fresh.
Zarakem and Snobbish are the other French raiders. The latter looks out of his depth, and looks a potential pacemaker for Blue Rose Cen, though Zarakem beat Horizon Dore on his return and may benefit from having been freshened up since disappointing in the Prix Ganay.
Hans Andersen is the pace angle for Ballydoyle, so the other two of note from a winning perspective bar an enormous shock are the veteran Lord North, who was still up to winning at Group 1 level as recently as last March, while Royal Rhyme is at the other end of his career but would probably have preferred more rain.
VERDICT
ALFLAILA is being backed with good reason, and with more of a gamble to come, it is worth chancing Owen Burrows’ charge to lower the colours of Auguste Rodin and Inspiral. His profile firmly suggests he could still be on the up, and the top two both have questions to answer in this race. Horizon Dore has been getting closer at Group 1 level and is next best, with Inspiral third choice.
- Alflaila
- Horizon Dore
- Inspiral
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