Fine Form
Auguste Rodin ra – 4.25
can capitalise on the absence of White Birch and return to winning ways in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the highlight on day two at Royal Ascot.
Aidan O’Brien’s charge was a clear second best behind the John Murphy-trained grey in the Tattersalls Gold Cup but his handler felt the rain-softened ground went against him that day and was eyeing revenge anyway.
A dual Derby winner, Auguste Rodin also won the Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf in a stellar three-year-old season, so it was a brave call from ‘the lads’ to keep him in training.
It could have been described as something else entirely when he bombed out on his return at four in the Dubai Sheema Classic but connections were not too disappointed, as he had done the same in the 2000 Guineas and King George.
Even in defeat, last month’s Curragh effort was far more encouraging and O’Brien has made no secret of the fact that he expects the son of Deep Impact to come on again for that run.
Connections are clearly confident Auguste Rodin is now ready to show his true worth again and with a sound surface in his favour, that is good enough for us.
Ballydoyle stablemate
Highbury ra – 3.05
is a strong fancy in the Queen’s Vase.
Given the type of horses his Coolmore masters breed, it is no surprise O’Brien has a good record in the Group Two, winning it four times in six years between 2015 and 2020.
The decision to shave two furlongs off the two-mile distance in 2017 has helped the race grow in stature, with such classy winners as subsequent St Leger winner Kew Gardens, Santiago, who won the Irish Derby on his next outing, Eldar Eldarov, an English and Irish St Leger hero, and of course, the brilliant Stradivarius.
There is every chance Highbury could follow suit, as he looked a hugely promising colt when winning by seven and a half lengths at Leopardstown in May.
Wayne Lordan could not pull him up that day, so stamina is of no concern and the distant second has come out and won since, as has the fourth.
Andrew Balding’s
Kassaya ra – 2.30
might prove some value in the Queen Mary.
A half-sister to the yard’s 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean, this filly looks all speed and while he was by Frankel, providing some stamina, Kassaya is by Kingman, which is giving that added boot to the dam’s side, which is all speed.
She looked sure to win on debut but threw it away by running green and swerving left. She made no mistake next time, however.
Ocean Jewel ra – 3.45
looked a different proposition on her first run at four when winning the Lanwades Stud Stakes in cosy fashion.
She contests the Duke of Cambridge Stakes and with the favourite Laurel not having yet run this season, she looks another who has been overlooked in the market.
Perotto ra – 5.05
loves Ascot and was sent off favourite for the Royal Hunt Cup last year but could finish only 10th.
In the meantime, he has won two major prizes for Roger Varian, yet runs here first time out this season off just 4lb higher than last year.
This meeting is a lot quieter these days for Saeed bin Suroor, but he has a live chance in the Kensington Palace Stakes with
Summer Of Love ra – 5.40
for whom Christophe Soumillon is an eyecatching booking.
The dogs were barking about Richard Fahey’s
Shadow Army ra – 6.15
before his York debut and he duly obliged, although it was hard work.
However, the form has really worked out, as the second, Francisco’s Piece, is now a Listed winner in France, so Shadow Army rates a bet in the Windsor Castle.
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