Aussie to rule on final day of Royal Ascot

The global appeal of Royal Ascot has grown incredibly in the last decade, in large part due to Racing and Communications Director Nick Smith, whose powers of persuasion have attracted raiders from America, Hong Kong, Japan and many other far-flung places.

This year’s renewal of the 6f Diamond Jubilee Stakes, won in the past by the likes of Choisir (Australia), Black Caviar (Australia) and Undrafted (America), has attracted 12 of the world’s top sprinters – and may provide a much-needed boost to Australian sport.

Let’s face it, it hasn’t been a particularly successful period for the Aussies.

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Their cricket team has not only disgraced itself with ball-tampering, it has collectively produced too many abject performances and their ODI team has been regularly thumped, slipping to No6 in the world rankings.

Last weekend, the vaunted Aussie rugby team lost to an under-strength Ireland, and their soccer team has yet to win at the World Cup. In fact, they have managed to keep one clean sheet in their last 15 World Cup games – and that was back in 1974.

So let’s hear it for Aussie horse racing.

Redkirk Warrior can save some face with victory in the Diamond Jubilee, the feature on the final day of what has been another incredible meeting.

Sprinters generally improve like a good wine and Redkirk Warrior is the oldest in the field at the age of seven.

Trained by the legendary David Hayes, who has saddled Melbourne Cup winners and tasted other top-class success in Hong Kong and Japan, Redkirk Warrior already has an Ascot success to his name, back in 2014, when trained by William Haggas – and that was over 10 furlongs.

After a stint in Hong Kong, he was shipped to Australia. Hayes explained: “He always had hoof problems, and he came to us and we decided to give him one more chance at racing, because he was extremely talented.

“We have been able to get them right and worked out he is best when fresh and as a sprinter, particularly on a straight course.”

Redkirk Warrior (4.20pm) brings the best straight-course Australian form to the table, with four wins from five runs, including when taking the Newmarket Stakes (twice) and the Lightning Stakes.

With the bonus of already handling the undulations at Ascot, Hayes added: “We come here with a horse that has a real chance.

“He has travelled well and everything he has shown us since he has been here has been positive. His work last Saturday was outstanding and I couldn’t be happier.”

The Clive Cox-trained Harry Angel is the Genting Bet favourite, having won the Haydock Sprint Cup last season. He showed his well-being with victory in a Group 2 at York last month.

However, trainer Clive Cox has not had much luck over the past couple of weeks and heading into yesterday, had saddled 34 runners without success.

Last Year’s winner The Tin Man won at Windsor last time, beating D’bai, who subsequently won at Haydock. The Godolphin runner re-opposes and with Charlie Appleby’s string in great heart, he could be massive each-way price at around 33/1.

Aidan O’Brien has had a few near misses himself this week and Merchant Navy produced an eye-catching success in a Group 2 at the Curragh last month and could be the main danger to Redkirk Warrior.

The Listed 7f Chesham Stakes gets proceedings underway and Aidan O’Brien seeks a hat-trick of successes with Cardini, following victories of Churchill (2016) and September (2017).
Preference is for Beyond Reason (2.30pm), who impressed on her Newmarket debut in defeat and then followed up with a decisive success on the all-weather at Kempton. She should improve for the step up in trip.

Those complaining about a lack of prize money in the game should take a look at the £127,580 on offer for the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes, which has a field of just five runners.

This has been something of a benefit for Sir Michael Stoute over the years. He has saddled the winner five times in the last eight years and holds another massive chance with Crystal Ocean (3.05). A three-time Group 3 winner, he scooted home at Newbury last time and is preferred to last season’s winner Idaho, who re-opposes.

Sprinters are to the fore again in the Windsor Castle Stakes and with American handler Wesley Ward having already struck this week with Shang Shang Shang in the Norfolk Stakes, Belmont winner Moonlight Romance is sure to have her supporters.

However, Van Beethoven (3.40pm) has already proven herself in Listed company, having chased home stablemate Fairyland over 6f at the Curragh last month, and she will be staying on over this stiff 5f.

The old adage ‘the bigger the field, the better the favourite’ looks apt in the 6f Wokingham Stakes where the John Gosden-trained DREAMFIELD (5.00pm, NAP) is a warm order. Unbeaten in three starts, including over course and distance, when jockey James Doyle was motionless, he remains a sprinter of huge potential.

The final race of the 30 at Royal Ascot this week is the extended 2m5f Queen Alexandra Stakes. Willie Mullins has already struck this week and has a big chance with Thomas Hobson, but he has not run since November and favourites have a poor record in recent years, with just two obliging.

Fun Mac (5.35pm), fifth in this last year, is a sporting each-way choice. Hughie Morrison’s seven-year-old invariably runs well here and produced a fine runner-up effort in the Chester Cup last month off a 1lb lower mark.

Friday’s Selections:

ROYAL ASCOT: 2.30 Beyond Reason, 3.05 Crystal Queen, 3.40 Van Beethoven, 4.20 Redkirk Warrior, 5.00 DREAMFIELD (NAP), 5.35 Fun Mac

REDCAR: 1.35 Absolute Dream, 2.05 Midnight Warrior, 2.40 The Resdev Way, 3.15 Qeyaadah, 3.50 Eeh Bah Gum, 4.35 God Willing, 5.15 Boundary Lane, 5.50 Laith Alareen

AYR: 1.45 Ramesses, 2.20 Regulator, 2.55 Mordin, 3.30 Mutarakez, 4.10 Sandra’s Secret, 4.50 Euchen Glen, 5.25 Equitant

PERTH: 2.00 Court Dreaming, 2.35 Xpo Universal, 3.10 Make It Happen, 3.45 Minella Scamp, 4.25 Impulsive American, 5.05 Tanarpino, 5.40 Costa Percy, 6.10 Johnny Pedlar

NEWMARKET: 2.10 Good Fortune, 2.45 Hatsaway, 3.20 Any Little Rhyme, 4.00 Auxerre, 4.40 Embour, 5.20 Kodiline (nb), 5.55 Point Hope

LINGFIELD PARK: 6.00 Brexitmeansbrexit, 6.30 Solveig’s Song, 7.00 Bamako Du Chatelet, 7.30 Colonel Frank, 8.00 Dr Smolder, 8.30 La Isla Bonita, 9.00 Soumei

HAYDOCK PARK: 6.15 Broken Force, 6.45 Bellevarde, 7.15 More Than This, 7.45 De Medici, 8.15 Lamloom, 8.45 Strategist

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