Welcome all to the first of five days of racing at Royal Ascot! As usual, a spectacular series of top-level stakes races have been prepared for the most prestigious race meet in England, and while this year may not have quite the same star power as 2012 -- what with the retirements of Frankel and Black Caviar -- American racing fans will have much to celebrate if 2011 Kentucky Derby hero Animal Kingdom can add the group I Queen Anne Stakes to his impressive set of credentials.
The Queen Anne, which is the first race to be run at Royal Ascot this year, can definitely start the meet off with a bang. A top-notch field of thirteen has been assembled, which -- along with Animal Kingdom -- includes the fine filly Elusive Kate and Aiden O'Brien's promising Declaration of War. That said, Animal Kingdom is the horse that everyone will have their eyes on. Not only is he coming off of a spectacular triumph in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), he is also attempting to become only the third American-based horse to win a top-level race in Europe. The last horse to accomplish the feat was Fourstar Allstar in 1991, when he won the Irish 2,000 Guineas. As a result, victory by Animal Kingdom will establish him as a legend in the sport, not just because of the rarity of the accomplishment, but because he also has the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup on his resume. A triple like that, which would includes wins on dirt, turf, and synthetic, is simply unprecedented.
As a fan of horse racing first and a handicapper second, I will be cheering for Animal Kingdom to complete the sweep. But the handicapper side of me says he might be vulnerable, having never before raced on a straight course and encountering turf considerably softer than what he has found in the United States. Another concern is that he has drawn gate thirteen. Due to the straight nature of the course, he's certainly not in danger of losing ground of the nonexistent turns. But without any horses to his outside, it's conceivable that Animal Kingdom could lose his focus and get to wandering around a bit. I'm hopeful that jockey John Velazquez will be able to drop him inside a bit, get him in the pack, and then let Animal Kingdom do the rest.
His primary opposition, as mentioned above, is expected to include Elusive Kate and Declaration of War. The former is a highly talented filly that won the group I Prix Rothschild at Deauville last summer, in addition to placing in the Falmouth Stakes (Eng-I), the Prix Jacques le Marios (Fr-I), the Sun Chariot Stakes (Eng-I), and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Eng-I). Although a very talented miler, the uphill nature of the Queen Anne could prove very challenging to her stamina, as it tends to play more like a nine-furlong race than a solid mile.
The four-year-old colt Declaration of War caught eyes late last season when winning the group III Diamond Stakes over the synthetic track at Dundalk. He opened his 2013 campaign with a dominant victory in the ungraded Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown, but subsequently never threatened when finishing a distant fifth to Farhh in the group I Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. Perhaps Declaration of War simply lacks the requisite class to contend at the highest levels of the sport, but he is certainly deserving of another chance in a race of this caliber.
Six of the other Queen Anne entrants also ran in the Lockinge, those being Sovereign Debt (who finished 2nd), Aljamaaheer (3rd), Chil the Kite (4th), Penitent (7th), Trumpet Major (10th), and Libranno (11th). While they are certainly a talented group, it's also difficult to envision any of them trumping an at-her-best Elusive Kate, let alone Animal Kingdom if he takes to the course.
Rounding out the field are Gregorian, who bested Penitent in the group III Diomed Stakes last time out; Gabriel, third to Gregorian in the Diomed; Monsieur Chevalier, sixth in the group III Jury Stakes at Haydock just ten days ago; and Trade Storm, who won a pair of races in Dubai over the winter, including the group II Zabeel Mile, before finishing fourth in the group I Dubai Duty Free.
There are two other group I races on the opening day at Royal Ascot, those being the five-furlong King's Stand Stakes and the one-mile St. James's Palace Stakes for three-year-olds. The latter race could end up being the most exciting of the meet, what with English 2,000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach taking on a terrific field that includes Irish 2,000 Guineas victory Magician, Champagne Stakes (Eng-II) winner Toronado, and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. I) winner George Vancouver. The latter was soundly beaten in both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas, but looms an intriguing contender if the turf comes up firmer than expected.
The King's Stand Stakes always draws a large and deep field, with this year being no exception -- nineteen horses have been entered. Shea Shea looms as a solid favorite, having won the Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-I) in terrific fashion over this distance in Dubai. However, he will be encountering considerably softer turf today, and there are plenty of runners ready to take advantage if he fails to produce his usual top effort. First and foremost is the three-year-old Reckless Abandon, who swept through his juvenile season unbeaten in five starts -- including two group Is -- before finishing a very close third in his seasonal debut against older horses in the group II Temple Stakes at Haydock. His two conquerors that day, Kingsgate Native and Swiss Spirit, are also entered in the King's Stand, which adds even more intrigue to the race. And let's not forget Sole Power, who beat Kingsgate Native by a length in the group III Palace House Stakes before winding up fourth in the Temple.
The last three races on the card, in order of post time, are the group II Coventry Stakes for two-year-olds; a Class 2 Handicap for four-year-olds and upward; and the listed Windsor Castle Stakes for two-year-olds. American racing fans will have a rooting interest in Ogermeister, a Wesley Ward-trainee that broke his maiden by six lengths at Belmont Park in May. Joel Rosario, fresh off of a graded stakes double on Saturday at Churchill Downs, has the mount in his first-ever ride at Royal Ascot. However, he'll have to be sharp to top Anticipated, an unbeaten colt trained by Richard Hannon. Wilshire Boulevard, from the barn of Aiden O'Brien, also looms a major contender.
The Class 2 Handicap, which will be run over a distance of 2 1/2 miles, has drawn a large and wide-open field of twenty. However, all eyes will likely be on Tiger Cliff, who is trained by Lady Cecil, wife of the late Sir Henry Cecil. It would be an emotional day at Royal Ascot if Tiger Cliff makes it to the winner's circle.
The Coventry Stakes does not include any American hopefuls, but it does include Stubbs, Sir John Hawkins, and War Command, a trio of promising colts from the stable of Aidan O'Brien. Richard Hannon also has three in the race, those being Championship, Thunder Strike, and Wahaab. Between them, they are unbeaten in five starts, three of which came from Thunder Strike. All told, it should be a terrific showdown!
-Keelerman
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