Views from connections ahead of Friday’s feature races at Royal Ascot.
JUNE 18, 2020
2.50pm Albany Stakes (Fillies’ Group 3)
Wesley Ward – Flying Aletha
“I see she’s favourite on the books and she is a filly with true quality – she’s not just a fast filly, which is why we think she can stretch out a little further. She did some eye-opening breezes prior to her first run. She ended up running on the dirt because the turf races were cancelled and still won really well, even though she’s a turf horse rather than a dirt horse.
“She isn’t a big, robust filly. She’s quite light and frail, which is keeping me a little grounded about her chances, but I’m still hopeful she’ll run a big race. If the race was in the States, I’d be a lot more confident.”
William Haggas – Golden Melody
“We’re all in the dark with the two-year-olds really, because we don’t really know how good they are. We think she’s a nice filly, and a bit of cut in the ground will suit her.”
Karl Burke – Dandalla
“She looks fantastic. It was a toss up between five and six (furlongs). On pedigree she’ll stay a mile – so with Aidan (O’Brien) having what looks a speedball (More Beautiful) in the Queen Mary, we decided to duck that one.
“She goes to the Albany with some sort of chance. It was a good run at Newcastle.
“I declared her for the Queen Mary as well just in case the ground went very heavy and we might switch, but as long as it’s no worse than good to soft we”ll stick to six for the Albany.”
3.25pm Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)
Wesley Ward – Golden Pal
“We tried our best to persuade Frankie to ride. I know he really likes Mark Johnston’s colt, but in my opinion Golden Pal gives us our best chance of a winner at Royal Ascot this year. If all my horses running at Royal Ascot this year were to run against each other over five eighths of a mile, this guy would beat them all – he’s unbelievably fast.
“We had to run him on the dirt first time, because there were no turf races to run in. The jockey gave him a slap down the shoulder early in the race, and he just took off and ended up eight or 10 lengths clear. He was game when the other horse came to him- but the pace he went early on, no horse in America would have been able to keep that up, let alone a two-year-old.
“Ever since then I’ve been preparing him for the Norfolk – and here we are. I really think he is one of the best horses I’ve ever brought to Royal Ascot – believe me, this horse is the real deal.”
4pm Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)
Charlie Johnston – Elarqam
“(Owner) Sheikh Hamdan (Al Maktoum) left it in our hands to make the decision (this race or Prince of Wales’s) – and we felt it was the right race. We’re not ruling out going back to a mile and a quarter, and his big midsummer target will be the Juddmonte at York – a track at which he goes so well.
“In the short-term, though, we’re interested to try a mile and a half because there are signs he could improve for it – and if he does it opens up a lot more doors going forwards. He will improve a little for Haydock. He was built up in March and then again in May, so he’d done plenty of home work before Haydock.
“But like in that race, he’s not exuberant – he only does what he has to do, he’s quite laid back.”
William Haggas – Hamish
“It’s the first run of the year for him, but he is in cracking form. It’s a tough place to start. But we have to start somewhere, and opportunities are limited, so we thought it was worth giving it a go.”
4.35pm Commonwealth Cup (Group 1)
Wesley Ward – Kimari
“She might have won at Royal Ascot last year but for Frankie – if you can’t beat ’em join ’em! Not all my horses do well from two to three, but she really has, which is why we’re bringing her back.
“My team tell me she is in really good form. Kieren Fallon has been riding my horses in Newmarket, and out of them all she is his pick for the week. It would be fantastic if she can go one better than last year.”
Roger Varian – Pierre Lapin
“We felt it was a bit tight running in the Pavilion at Newcastle (on June 4) beforehand and liked the idea of getting him to Ascot as a fresh horse. We’d have loved to have got a prep run into him in May, but he’s not a horse I wanted to go ‘bang-bang’ with, and so we took the decision to try and get him cherry-ripe for Ascot.
“He’s probably got to overcome a little bit of inexperience, but he is a very natural horse and he won in Group company after a four-month lay-off on only his second start. Hopefully, his ability will shine through and he will be streetwise enough for the big day. He’s got to prove himself at the top level but he’s got the gears, definitely, and I think he now has the strength.”
Clive Cox – Golden Horde
“He has done very well over the winter after a terrific two-year-old campaign. He carries a real level of form into the race, and I believe he’s done as well as any horse possibly could from two to three.
“With the sprinting brigade, in particular, it’s all about maturity and strength. Once you’ve got that natural speed and ability, maturity is the curve you hope and pray continues upwards – and for me, he has matured as much as he possibly could since last year. I’m hoping we go there with a good chance.”
Karl Burke – Dubai Station
“He would probably cope with a bit of juice in the ground, but I wouldn’t want it deep. I think they are underestimating his run at Newcastle. He travels very strongly and has a good turn of foot. I’m very happy with his condition. He looks fantastic.”
5.10pm Queen’s Vase (Group 2)
William Haggas – Born With Pride
“We just felt the ground might not be soft enough in the Ribblesdale and we thought we’d wait until later in the week with some rain forecast. Her debut form looks very good now, obviously, but that was a long time ago.
“I think she’ll get the trip all right – she might even want it.” – Sportinglife.com
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