The Beast from the East’ – that’s the nickname of the biggest star on show at Royal Ascot.
Real name: A Shin Hikari.
The world’s top horse is odds on to give Japan their first win at this festival. He lines up in the Prince Of Wales Stakes at 4.20pm and is worthy banker material. He didn’t just handle soft ground last time in Chantilly, he demolished the Group 1 field as if they were a bunch of Shetland ponies chasing a sugar cube.
His biggest headache could come from Breeders’ Cup winning filly Found, although she hasn’t looked as brilliant yet this season.
Another arriving with air miles on their clock is the American, Lady Aurelia. She’ll line up in the Queen Mary Stakes at 3.05pm and her trainer, Wesley Ward, who sent out Acapulco to win this last year, described her as a ‘flying machine’ but will her turbo button which she allegedly has be able to be switched on on this slower ground?
Al Johrah has showed her versatility in these conditions and poses a significant danger, while Ireland’s representative Roly Poly looked less convincing on them last time.
I’m going to take my chance that like Tepin yesterday, this American girl will adapt to the new terrain and shine.
The Duke of Cambridge is historically not a great race for favourites with just three winning in 10 years. Looking to buck that trend at 3.40 is Usherette, who the master trainer Andre Fabre says is possibly his best filly yet. Arriving off a hat-trick of wins, she’s very hard to oppose but Willie McCreery’s Devonshire has every chance of making the places. She won a Group 2 in Ireland beating Lucida, who she’s pitched against again today, and she’ll appreciate if any more rain comes.
The Sandringham Handicap at 5.35pm is very hard to decipher but there was lots of chat at the picnics about Mick Halford’s filly Anamba. It’s not a race I’ll be having a lofty bet on but a fun fiver might be worth having.
The opener, the Jersey Stakes at 2.30pm is tricky too, but I’m cheering on Herald The Dawn at a big price on the basis he’ll return to his best and that his trainer Mr Jim Bolger is no stranger to the winners enclosure at the Royal meeting.
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