Royal Ascot

[DaTexans]

I was wondering if any of you guys follow international horse racing i was planing to make a couple of wager's during Tuesday race's. If any one has any thoughts on any horse's or info they would like to share please do. I like Goldikova in the queen Anne stakes. Also will be putting a tri together for the kingstand stakes this race is wide open.

[DaTexans]

1st 2:30 pm (Local) THE QUEEN ANNE STAKES (CLASS 1) (BRITISH CHAMPIONS' SERIES)(Group 1) ONE MILE (1600 metres)
# Horse ML Comments
1 CANFORD CLIFFS 6/5 Top-class colt is rated by veteran trainer Richard Hannon as the best horse he's ever had -- better than Paco Boy, who came close to beating Goldikova a few times, including last year's running of this race. Canford Cliffs is two-for-two at Ascot, with wins in the Coventry as a juvenile and the St James's Palace here last season, and promises to move forward off a professional comeback score in the Lockinge. Four-time Group 1-winning miler is training superbly by all accounts and has the right profile to upset the supermare.
7 GOLDIKOVA 3/2 Three-time Breeders' Cup Mile champion is undoubtedly the horse to beat, but will offer no value as she tries to become the first repeat winner of the Queen Anne in the modern era. Although she made a winning return as the defending champion in the Prix d'Ispahan, she was not as convincing as she was in that event a year ago. Remains to be seen whether the six-year-old mare is still up to her legendary standard, but she's entitled to silence any doubts.
2 CAPE BLANCO 5/1 Last year's Irish Derby winner is a wildcard on the cutback in trip. The Aidan O'Brien trainee has never raced at a mile, but captured a pair of seven-furlong Group stakes in front-running fashion at two. Also showed plenty of early foot when wiring the 1 1/4-mile Irish Champion last fall. Turned in a pair of sneaky-good fourth-place efforts this season in the Dubai World Cup and Prix Ganay; the third-placer in the Ganay came back to finish a near-miss second to Goldikova in the Ispahan. Wouldn't be a shock if he commits early and tries to open up an insurmountable lead on the specialist milers.
3 CITYSCAPE 20/1 Lightly-raced Juddmonte homebred was a serious improver at the end of 2010, and kicked off 2011 in a similar vein when a smart runner-up to Dick Turpin in the Sandown Mile. Cityscape has since been idle waiting for softer ground. Trainer Roger Charlton is hoping for rain, but if he lets the flashy chestnut take his chance, the ground will be "good" enough for him to garner a minor award.




2nd 3:05 pm (Local) THE KING'S STAND STAKES (CLASS 1) (British Champions' Series & Global Sprint Challenge)(Group 1) FIVE FURLONGS (1000 metres)
# Horse ML Comments
11 STAR WITNESS 4/1 Australian sprint form is always to be respected at Royal Ascot, and this two-time Group 1 winner Down Under has been chasing the unbeaten wonder Black Caviar. The closest he's gotten is four lengths, notably when second in a six-furlong Group 1 in November. Didn't run up to that level when a disappointing seventh to Black Caviar over the same course and distance last time in the Newmarket Handicap, but that's a toss-out -- he was upset by the noise from a nearby car rally. Already a hot stallion prospect, he is training sharply as he seeks to enhance his stud value.
16 SWEET SANETTE 12/1 Hong Kong speedster has been mixing it up versus quality males in a deep sprint division at home, and just upset the once-mighty Sacred Kingdom in her debut for the Tony Millard yard. She was getting a big pull at the weights, but she wasn't in peak condition either (won despite having bled), and Millard forecasts a fair amount of improvement. The five-furlong specialist will likely flash early speed and try to hang on.
10 SOLE POWER 6/1 Arguably the best of the European-based contenders. A true five-furlong performer, he was a shock winner of last year's Nunthorpe over Australian champ Starspangledbanner. Made no show in Dubai, but signaled that he's back in form with a rallying win in the Temple Stakes, a key prep race. Confirmed closer ought to get a fast pace to set up his kick.
5 KINGSGATE NATIVE 8/1 Beaten favorite in this race last year isn't the most consistent runner, but his back class as a dual Group 1 winner makes it tough to leave him out altogether. A fine runner-up to Sole Power as the defending champion in the Temple and working well for the ever-dangerous Sir Michael Stoute. Exotics player also factors as a legitimate win candidate at his best.




3rd 3:45 pm (Local)THE ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES (CLASS 1) (BRITISH CHAMPIONS' SERIES)(Group 1) ONE MILE (1600 metres)
# Horse ML Comments
4 FRANKEL 2/5 Unbeaten star turned the Two Thousand Guineas into a rout, rekindling memories of some of the game's all-time greats. Juddmonte homebred has yet to face a serious challenge in his six-race career so far, and posted a 10-length romp in the Royal Lodge last fall in his only prior appearance at this course and distance. The deserved odds-on choice is set to be the highlight of a memorable week for trainer Henry Cecil, who was just honored with a knighthood.
5 GRAND PRIX BOSS 15/1 Japanese champion is the most logical alternative to Frankel, and where the real wagering value lies. Commanding winner of the NHK Mile Cup received a big form boost when third-placer Real Impact, whom he has owned in all their prior meetings, came back to beat older horses in the prestigious Yasuda Kinen. Cost himself earlier in the season by being rank early, but gets along beautifully with the savvy Mirco Demuro. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi has big plans for his colt, saying, "We want him to beat the best in Europe so he can become a world-class sire."
2 DUBAWI GOLD 10/1 Best of the rest behind Frankel in the Guineas at Newmarket, but a little unlucky when runner-up next time in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas. Jockey Richard Hughes kept him too far back off the steady pace and didn't pull the trigger until it was too late. Expected to change tactics, and get better early positioning, here. Yet to finish out of the top two since joining the Richard Hannon yard.
9 ZOFFANY 15/1 Group 1 winner as a juvenile for Aidan O'Brien looms as an exotics threat at a price. A mild case of colic forced him out of the Irish Guineas, for which he was second favorite at the time, and he instead reappeared with a useful second in a Group 3. Like most of his trainer's runners, he stands to benefit from that tightener and is eligible to make his presence felt.




4th 4:25 pm (Local) THE COVENTRY STAKES (CLASS 1)(Group 2) SIX FURLONGS (1200 metres)
# Horse ML Comments
6 COMMISSAR 12/1 Purchased privately by Godolphin following his devastating Newmarket maiden win. Traveling comfortably throughout on the lead, he bolted clear right into the strong headwind, spread-eagled the field, and continued well ahead on the gallop-out. Should be just as effective on the step-up to six furlongs, based on his pedigree as well, and now picks up Frankie Dettori. Worth taking a stab in an open-looking race crammed with two-year-old prospects.
14 MEZMAAR 5/1 Vaulted to antepost favoritism for this race with a comfortable debut victory going six furlongs for Barry Hills. Though Hills isn't known for having first-out winners, the word was out on the well-bred colt, who was bet down to 7-4 favoritism and cruised from just off the pace without being asked a serious question. Potentially a high-class performer down the line, and maybe even now, for exciting freshman sire Teofilo, himself an unbeaten champion at two.
17 POWER 3/1 Undefeated colt might be overbet because he comes from the Aidan O'Brien yard, but he does bring strong credentials. Showed early speed to win at first asking over six furlongs, definitely a plus for an O'Brien juvenile, and then shortened up for the five-furlong Marble Hill Stakes, where he outdueled a rival who had previously won for fun. Much better suited to this six-furlong trip and ranks as a top contender.
22 ST BARTHS 15/1 Well-regarded colt was rallying between the leaders in a hot maiden at Newbury when he was shut off twice and struck in the head by another jockey's whip. But for the interference, he would have finished a lot closer than fourth. Bounced back to break his maiden as the prohibitive odds-on favorite at Leicester. The Brian Meehan trainee is still on the learning curve and has some appeal as a dark horse.

[DaTexans]

I posted some write ups the Royal Ascot brisnet daily selection