Best bets for the horse racing this weekend around the globe
It is all about Ascot Saturday and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. It’s a cracking card at Ascot Saturday afternoon and I am concentrating solely on the big meeting....... .....
One of the Dirty Dozen, my twelve horses to follow for the Turf season, is also due to run on Sunday and should be backed out at Saratoga in New York.
Best bets for the horse racing at Ascot
They get underway at 1.14 with a two-year-old maiden the 6f 6f British EBF Crocker Bulteel 'Confined' Maiden Stakes (Not Run More Than Once) (Colts & Geldings) in which there are actually only two lines of form across the entire field! That said there is one that is certainly bred for the job. Charlie Appleby saddles Al Misbar. By multiple G.1 winning sprinter Blue Point (also won the 6f G.2 Gimcrack Stakes as a juvenile) he is out of Anna Law. She never troubled the starter in four career starts but comes from a family that has produced some very good sprinters in recent years and she herself foaled Group winning sprinter The Antarctic and multiple G.1 winner Battaash; both sired by Dark Angel. Everything on paper tells you this one should be fast and capable of winning first time out. This is the sort of race I'd normally take a watching brief but I have to back this one and I am on at 4-5.
The Group Three mile Longines Valiant Stakes on the round course is due off at 2.25. Devoted Queen has an entry at Goodwood next week in the 7f Oak Tree Stakes but comes here rather than run there. She arrives from Moulton paddocks with three 1’s next to her name, her last victory being what looks an above average Listed heat at York over a mile in May; the second franked the form winning the Listed Coral Distaff at Sandown after and the fourth has subsequently won at Listed level at Chantilly. As one of the least experienced in the field the daughter of Kingman may have more to offer yet. I have 5-2. Speaking on the Godolphin website Charlie Appleby said “Devoted Queen has had a nice break since York and we feel that she is ready to step up into Group company. She goes into this on the back of a nice preparation and we are looking forward to seeing how she gets on.”
The big one is due off at 3.40 I said in my piece at the start of the week that I hoped we’d have a few big names on the Group One 1m4f King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and it’s a pretty good renewal due off at 3.40. Back in the day the Derby the King George and the Arc were the main events and I think it is a real shame the Ascot showpiece appears to have lost some of its lustre in recent years. Sadly, from the Classic generation City Of Troy and Ambiente Friendly, first and second in the Derby, were taken out of the race on Monday and are instead heading for next month's G.1 Juddmonte International, while Irish Derby winner Los Angeles also has other targets, in fact we have just one three-year-old lining-up which is a little surprising given the big weight advantage they receive at this time of year. That said we have some top-class older horses on show which is to be applauded with Auguste Rodin and Rebels Romance heading the market with eleven G.1 victories between them across the world. Auguste Rodin has been doing what he does this year which is either winning or getting beat half the track! He was of course tailed-off in this last year so is back to try and put the record straight. He was also out the back in the 1m4f G.1 Sheema Classic won by Rebels Romance, I tipped the winner, at Meydan earlier this year before finishing second in the 1m2½f G.1 Tattersalls Gold Cup then winning the 1m2f G.1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes at the Royal Meeting. I did back him at Ascot but for me he aint one to be trusted, as good as he can be, and I can’t back him at the price he is for this against the rivals he faces here. I am a big fan of Rebels Romance and the six-year-old has won me a fair few quid down the years. Last seen winning the 1m4f G.1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup this is actually quite a rare run for him in the UK and surprisingly his first at the top-level, but a little stat for you, he is unbeaten in the British Isles in five starts. Charlie Appleby said this week “It’s great to be part of such a historic race. There looks to be plenty of strength in depth in this year’s renewal but we are very happy with Rebel’s Romance. He has earned his reputation on the international stage, and the only real omission on his CV is a G1 win in England. This looks a decent opportunity to fill that gap and he has come out of Hong Kong in great shape. Rebel’s Romance is a very uncomplicated horse these days and a true professional. It has been a faultless campaign so far and we feel he is a big player here.” Following impressive wins in Qatar’s G.3 H H The Amir Trophy, the G.1 Dubai Sheema Classic and the G.1 Champions & Chater Cup in Hong Kong this season I am on the gelding to claim his first Group One victory in the UK at 4-1. The sunshine we have been enjoying drying the ground won't hurt his chances either. All being well we will get a proper clash between two thoroughbred heavyweights with the Godolphin owned gelding coming out on top. If the big two falter the filly Bluestocking can pick-up the pieces off the back of her G.1 Polly Stakes victory at the Curragh last month (tipped on here).
At 4.15 it was the Listed 7f Flexjet Pat Eddery Stakes, the third two-year-old heat on the card. We have another from Moulton Paddocks taking up an engagement here rather than at Goodwood next week in the shape of Al Qudra, entered in the 7f G.2 Vintage Stakes next week. Fifth in the G.2 Coventry Stakes last month here at the Royal meeting the step-up in trip and down in class both look likely to benefit him. Charlie Appleby told the Godolphin website this week “Al Qudra brings experience into the Pat Eddery Stakes and I think the step up to seven furlongs can hopefully produce more improvement. It was a solid effort in the Coventry Stakes and he looks a leading contender with this step up in distance.” I have some of the 5-2 early.
I am all about Charlie Appleby and William Buick but I think they could be on for a very good day so no apologies are made.
Best bets for the horse racing at Saratoga Sunday 28th July 2024
Silver Knott, yes trained by Charlie Appleby again, looks to grab some more Graded success in North America when he tackles the Group Two Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga, USA, at 10.45 our time on Sunday. The four-year-old has scored on both his starts so far this year with impressive wins in the G.2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland’s Spring Meet and the G.2 Man o’War Stakes at Aqueduct in May. Having been denied by a nose in the 2022 G.1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, Silver Knott spent the most of last season in the United States and placed in Graded company at Belmont Park, Colonial Downs, Santa Anita and Del Mar. Charlie Appleby said this week “Silver Knott is two from two since stepping up to middle distances this year. He has been training well at Saratoga and this looks a good opportunity to win another Graded Stakes. He has to give weight all round but goes into this in great order and looks the one to beat.” Grab the best price you can when the Bookies price-up.
Be lucky