Tag Archive for: Ascot

Candy still sweet on big sprint prizes for evergreen Run To Freedom

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Henry Candy will target the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock and the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot with Run To Freedom, after his veteran sprinter proved he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level at Newmarket on Saturday.

Although a dual winner in Listed company, the seven-year-old has run his best races in defeat, most notably filling the runner-up spot as a 150-1 shot on Champions Day in 2022 and in the the July Cup the following summer.

However, having only made it to the track once last season and failed to make a major impact on his first two starts this term, Run To Freedom was 40-1 for his second tilt at July Cup glory – but outran his odds to finish third, beaten two lengths by the surprise winner No Half Measures.

Candy said: “I thought it was a great run. He’s got it in him, he just wants thing to go right.

“He’s done that in the Champions Sprint and he’s done it in the July Cup before. You always hope he’s going to do it again, but then you look at the strength of the field he’s up against and see what price he is and think ‘oh dear, I’ve made a mistake!’.

“But he keeps delivering, hopefully he’ll grab one one day and all being well we’ll go to Haydock and then we’ll go to Ascot. We won’t go to the Prix Maurice de Gheest (at Deauville), I don’t think he’s a horse that wants running too often.

“A little bit softer ground would definitely help him.”

Pontefract repeat could be next on Point Lynas’ agenda

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Ed Bethell is considering several big-race options with Point Lynas following his gallant front-running performance in Saturday’s Summer Mile at Ascot.

The six-year-old was a 22-1 shot for what looked a strong renewal of the Berkshire circuit’s Group Two highlight, but very nearly pulled off a surprise victory under an enterprising ride by Jamie Spencer.

Point Lynas was eventually run down by Never So Brave, but stuck to his task to pick up the silver medal in second, beaten just three-quarters of a length.

Bethell said: “I was really, really happy. It was an inspired Jamie Spencer ride and the horse ran his heart out, showing he’s still full of life as he’s getting older.

“He split two Royal Ascot winners and two proper racehorses (Never So Brave and Haatem). I appreciate we slipped the field, but you don’t do what he does and only be beaten three-quarters of a length if you’re not in good form, so it was a brilliant run.”

Considering future plans, the trainer added: “We’ll have a look at the Listed race he won at Pontefract last year (Pomfret Stakes) in a couple of weeks’ time I would imagine and then we’ll probably look towards the Celebration Mile at Goodwood or maybe the Strensall Stakes at York.”

Palmer can consider nice options for promising Laureate Crown

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Hugo Palmer’s Laureate Crown could be set for bigger things after a regal performance on debut at Ascot.

The Fitri Hay-owned son of Victor Ludorum made smooth progress under a typically patient Jamie Spencer ride to register a taking opening victory in what looked a useful novice event.

Connections are now eyeing a step into stakes company, with Goodwood’s Coral Vintage Stakes (July 29) that Palmer won with his Classic hero Galileo Gold in 2015 a possible option alongside a move up to a mile for Salisbury’s Stonehenge Stakes on August 13.

Palmer said: “He was only just ready to start so overcame greenness and I particularly thought Jamie Spencer’s default position suits a horse like that so nicely because the horse was allowed time to find his feet and relax into the race.

“He wasn’t put under any pressure and if it happened it happened and if it didn’t there would be another day, so I was delighted to see it all come together. The Vintage has to now come into consideration, (but) he’s quite a big horse, so I don’t know if Goodwood is necessarily the perfect spot for him and he might also be ready for a mile relatively soon.

“The Stonehenge at Salisbury might be more suitable, but we’ll just have to see.

“You would hope he is up to running in stakes company and being such a big horse I hope there’s much more to come from him.”

Seagulls Eleven has regained his consistency
Seagulls Eleven has regained his consistency (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)

Although Laureate Crown’s Qatar Goodwood Festival participation is still to be decided, one who will be in action on the Sussex Downs is his stablemate Seagulls Eleven.

Owned by the Two Plus Three Two Plus Four syndicate which includes Premier League footballers James Milner and Danny Welbeck, the three-year-old chased home Charlie Appleby’s Opera Bello in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket last week.

That second-place effort follows a respectable run in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, with the Manor House handler now pointing his charge towards the Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood (August 1).

“He seems to be back on track and he just met a good one on Thursday, I think, but I was delighted with the way he ran,” continued Palmer.

“I would have thought the Thoroughbred Stakes would be an obvious spot for him.”

Cinderella’s time for the spotlight

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Cinderella’s Dream can reverse Royal Ascot form and claim Group One glory in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

The Godolphin runner found the reopposing Crimson Advocate just under two lengths too good in last month’s Duke of Cambridge Stakes but there are valid reasons to think she can turn that verdict around.

Firstly, Charlie Appleby’s charge was conceding 3lb to the winner that day and they are off level weights this time, while jockey William Buick also felt a straight track is a better fit for this daughter of Shamardal.

Cinderella’s Dream had previously impressed over nine furlongs in the Dahlia Stakes on the Rowley Mile course and while she is at a weights disadvantage with the likes of January, it has been honours even between the older fillies and the three-year-olds over the last 20 years so perhaps that is not too much of an obstacle to overcome.

Appleby and Buick also have an eyecatching newcomer later on the card as €1.9million breeze-up buy Distant Storm makes his racecourse bow in the Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes.

Venetian Sun was very impressive in victory at Ascot and trainer Karl Burke follows a familiar route by now tackling the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes.

Burke successfully took this route with Dandalla in 2020 and while Venetian Sun did not match that filly’s six-length verdict in the Albany Stakes at the Royal meeting, her one-and-a-half-length win was more than good enough.

Having won on debut at Carlisle – beating Argentine Tango who tries her luck again – Burke headed to Ascot with plenty of confidence and Venetian Sun justified that faith with a comfortable verdict that hinted at much more to come.

Story Horse can gain compensation for the narrowest of defeats last time by landing the bet365 Trophy.

A short-head winner on the Rowley Mile at the Guineas meeting, he then clashed with French Master at Goodwood at the end of May, beaten just a neck.

The winner gave a huge boost to the form when landing the Copper Horse Stakes at Ascot and Story Horse should have every chance of adding his own flourish.

Nighteyes can emerge best in a really classy renewal of the William Hill Summer Stakes at York.

She outran her 100-1 odds to finish fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes last month, beaten just over four lengths by impressive winner Lazzat.

David O’Meara’s charge had plenty to find on the ratings that day and a similar effort should see her involved in the finish here.

Ghaiyya can bring up her hat-trick in the Investec Out Of The Ordinary EBF Fillies’ Handicap at Ascot.

Stepping up to a mile and a half has been the making of this Ghaiyyath filly, with victories at Thirsk and Chester in recent weeks, and a 4lb rise may not be enough to stop her.

SELECTIONS

ASCOT: 2.00 Lady Of Arabia, 2.35 Better And Better, 3.10 Sea Force, 3.45 Ghaiyya, 4.20 Ride The Thunder, 4.55 Fast Track Harry.

CHEPSTOW: 5.35 Happy Chandler, 6.10 Blooming Legend, 6.40 Miakoda, 7.10 Abundance, 7.40 Ajrad, 8.10 Darkened Edge, 8.40 Douglas Dc.

CHESTER: 5.55 Steel Drum, 6.25 Wicksey, 6.55 Annsar, 7.25 Brielle, 7.55 Love Beach, 8.25 Never Dark, 8.55 Petra Celera.

CORK: 5.12 Speakasyoufind, 5.45 Harry’s Legacy, 6.15 Prince Of Air, 6.45 Killinure Lass, 7.15 Empire Succes, 7.45 Tag Man, 8.15 Beir Bua.

KILBEGGAN: 4.25 Eye Of A Tiger, 5.00 Saint Peregrine, 5.30 Boston Rajj, 6.00 Freddie Robdal, 6.30 To The Wire, 7.00 County Champs, 7.30 Flash De Touzaine, 8.00 Luckinthecity.

NEWMARKET: 1.50 Marharba Ghaiyyath, 2.25 VENETIAN SUN (NAP), 3.00 Story Horse, 3.35 Cinderella’s Dream, 4.10 Distant Storm, 4.45 Leadman, 5.20 Nogo’s Dream.

YORK: 2.10 Sword, 2.45 Nighteyes, 3.20 Secret Echo, 3.55 Yokohama, 4.32 Perfidia, 5.07 Brazen Bolt, 5.40 Sir Edward Lear.

DOUBLE: Venetian Sun and Nighteyes.

Walker on weather watch for Almaqam target

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Ed Walker has a circle around the last weekend in July on his calendar, as his frustrating wait for suitable conditions with Almaqam continues.

The high-class colt beat subsequent Royal Ascot scorer Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard in May, but the Lambourn handler has had to settle for the role of keen observer during the continuing dry spell, with Almaqam bypassing both the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and last Saturday’s thrilling renewal of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown due to fast ground.

“I’m just waiting for soft ground really which is a bit frustrating,” said Walker.

“We would have loved to have been a part of the Eclipse, although to watch it was pretty messy and we’re kind of all dressed up with nowhere to go at the moment.”

Walker’s weather watch looks set to continue throughout July, but he is optimistically hoping the end of the month could signal Almaqam’s eagerly-awaited return, with the Sky Bet York Stakes on July 26 or the following day’s Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen in Munich both options at 10 furlongs.

The son of Lope De Vega has also been left in the same weekend’s feature King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, but his handler is inclined to wait until later in the season before stretching out in distance.

Walker added: “We’re looking at running him in the York Stakes which is a Group Two and all being well we could go there, he’s also in a Group One in Germany over 10 furlongs the same weekend and we’ve also left him in the King George, so we’re keeping the options open and tracking the weather.

“I think the King George may be the least likely and I’m not convinced I want to try him first time over a mile and a half at Ascot. I think I’d rather try it on a slightly more conventional flat, galloping track, but we’ll keep the options open.”

Almaqam plans on ice as quick ground scuppers Sandown run

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Almaqam could be rerouted to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes or given a midsummer break, after being ruled out of this weekend’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown due to unsuitable ground.

Connections were keen to have a crack at Saturday’s Group One feature, with the four-year-old having impressed over the course and distance when getting the better of the subsequent Prince of Wales’s Stakes victor and Eclipse favourite Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard in late May.

However, with the ground at the Esher circuit still on the quick side, trainer Ed Walker has elected to play it safe and with a line also put through next week’s Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket, Almaqam will either head to Ascot on July 26 or be saved for an autumn campaign.

“It is (frustrating to miss the Eclipse), but it’s out of our hands,” said Walker.

“He won’t go to Newmarket next week. I guess he could possibly go for the King George, but I need to speak to the team and work out whether we go there or give him a break now and keep him fresh for the autumn.

“Everything is on hold at the moment.”

O’Brien: Not out of the question Moore opts for Delacroix in the Eclipse

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Aidan O’Brien has kept the door open for Ryan Moore to ride Delacroix in the Coral-Eclipse, as he confirmed both the beaten Derby favourite and winner of the French equivalent, Camille Pissarro, would head to Sandown on Saturday.

Camille Pissarro is slightly shorter than his stablemate in the sponsor’s betting, with Coral going 13-2 about the Chantilly Classic winner and 8-1 Delacroix, who will bid to bounce back from Epsom disappointment.

Speaking at Tipperary on Wednesday evening, O’Brien suggested the Ballydoyle number one was yet to make the final call on who he will ride: “We are declaring in the morning, and it looks like Delacroix and Camille Pissarro are going to go. That’s what the lads are thinking.

Aidan O'Brien with Ryan Moore and Coolmore boss John Magnier
Aidan O’Brien with Ryan Moore and Coolmore boss John Magnier (Brian Lawless/PA)

“It is not written in stone, but there is a chance Ryan could ride Delacroix, we’ll see.”

O’Brien also provided updates on dual Derby hero Lambourn and Pretty Polly scorer Whirl after both excelled in the feature events at the Curragh last weekend.

Options remain fluid for Lambourn, who could set out on a path to add to his Classic haul at Doncaster in September, or take on his elders in Ascot’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Meanwhile, Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk could be left to replicate Lambourn by following up Epsom victory at the Curragh, meaning Whirl remains at 10 furlongs for the Nassau Stakes during the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Lambourn added the Irish Derby at the Curragh to his CV on Sunday
Lambourn added the Irish Derby at the Curragh to his CV on Sunday (Brian Lawless/PA)

“Lambourn hasn’t done anything since Sunday and probably won’t for seven to 10 days,” continued O’Brien.

“His options are to be trained for the King George or have a little rest and maybe go for a Voltigeur and a St Leger, but we’ll see what the lads want to do. He’s a hardy customer, a brave horse.

“We are thinking of the Nassau for Whirl and she’s a hardy lady too. She could go there, and Minnie Hauk will be trained for the Irish Oaks.

“(Ribblesdale Stakes winner) Garden Of Eden could also be trained for the Irish Oaks.”

Sandown not in Chapple-Hyam’s plans for Kon Tiki

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Kon Tiki will miss this Saturday’s Coral Distaff, with Jane Chapple-Hyam preferring to wait for Ascot’s Longines Valiant Stakes later this month.

Chapple-Hyam would like to give her filly longer to recover from her exertions in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, meaning she will not be seen in Listed action at Sandown this weekend or in Newmarket’s Group One Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes next Friday.

Chapple-Hyam said: “I’m not going to run Kon Tiki at Sandown, it is a little bit too soon after Royal Ascot so we’re just going to sit and wait.

“I think we’ll be looking at a Group Three for her next and something like the Valiant Stakes back at Ascot (July 26).”

The daughter of Night Of Thunder won her first three outings in great style, winning twice on the all-weather before transferring that form to turf when scooping Listed honours at York in the spring.

She was then given a chance in elite company after being supplemented for a red-hot Coronation Stakes at the Royal meeting, finishing a creditable seventh in a race won by Joseph Murphy’s Cercene.

Merchant camp planning to stick to Goodwood route

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Only a dramatic shake-up to the envisaged King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes line-up is likely to tempt connections of Merchant from the path already mapped out for the exciting colt.

William Haggas’ Royal Ascot winner saw the form of his King George V Stakes success enhanced when runner-up Serious Contender chased home Lambourn in the Irish Derby, but the Merchant team are at present resisting the temptation of a return to Ascot for their Group One feature on July 26.

“It’s really exciting and as we know it’s pretty stiff form,” said Harry Herbert of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

“I’m a great believer in you never say never and if you have the entry then you can consider all options, but I couldn’t envisage him running in the King George unless Calandagan suddenly couldn’t go and a couple more fell by the wayside.

“If you had Aidan O’Brien’s dual Derby winner leading the betting, then that’s something that might lead to another conversation but for right now the plan is to go to Goodwood.”

With King George thoughts on the back burner, Merchant’s route is likely to be as previously outlined, with the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on July 31 setting up a possible visit to York during the Ebor Festival.

Tom Marquand aboard Merchant after winning at Royal Ascot
Tom Marquand aboard Merchant after winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Herbert added: “The plan is to go for the Gordon Stakes and play it one race at a time and if he happens to win there and depending on how he comes out of it, we’ll probably then head to the Great Voltigeur (August 20) and take it from there.

“He’s a high-class colt and like all these horses, it will all depend on how they develop on during the season and fingers crossed he’s going to be a pretty important beast.”

Calandagan finally breaks Group One duck

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Calandagan claimed the elusive Group One success his connections craved with a decisive victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

Second four times at the highest level since striking at Royal Ascot last summer, Francis-Henri Graffard’s four-year-old has locked horns with some of the best around, performing admirably up against the likes of City Of Troy and most recently Jan Brueghel at Epsom.

However, returned to home soil he proved a cut above the opposition in what appeared a stacked contest on paper, storming three and a half lengths clear of Christophe Ferland’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up Aventure.

Calandagan is now 3-1 joint-favourite with his Epsom conqueror Jan Brueghel with Coral for a King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes rematch at Ascot on July 26.

Graffard said: “Well, he’s not ungenuine. The race went really well for him and I thought he was travelling much more into the rhythm of the race this time.

Mickael (Barzalona, jockey) said he still had to ask him to keep up sometimes during the race but then in the straight, when there is rhythm and he can follow the pace, he can really lengthen and quicken really strongly. I thought he was really impressive.

“After Epsom my first conclusion was that he needed the run probably against that horse on that ground that day. I thought he came on a lot for that and I think he’s gaining experience with his jockey knowing him better also.

“He’s never run a bad race and he’s either been beaten by a champion or circumstances. Today everything went his way and we saw how good he could be.

“I will obviously discuss the King George with connections, but he is entitled to go to Ascot, it is a place he has won before and I would like to take him there 100 per cent.”

Calandagan’s victory capped a fine afternoon for Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs team as they earlier watched Daryz remain unbeaten with an impressive display in the Prix Eugene Adam.

George Scott’s Bay City Roller can count himself unfortunate to bump into the exciting son of Sea The Stars, who after being shortened to just 14-1  for the Arc, could take a trip to York for the Juddmonte International Stakes later in the summer.

“We’ll take it step by step with Calandagan and the next race (at Ascot) is a big one. But if you want to talk about the Juddmonte International then that is a race I will put forwards for Daryz,” Graffard added to Sky Sports Racing.

“I will discuss with Princess Zahra where she would like to go, but I will probably make an entry for Daryz at York and he is a horse I like a lot. I need to make him tougher and give him experience and I think he will get that if he goes abroad.”

Eclipse supplement ruled out for Haatem

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There will be no Coral-Eclipse bid for dual Royal Ascot hero Haatem, with connections formulating a plan which could involve a return to a mile on his next outing.

The son of Phoenix Of Spain was one of Wathnan Racing’s Ascot heroes when winning the Jersey Stakes in 2024 and repeated the dose at this year’s Royal meeting, successfully stepping up to 10 furlongs to claim the Wolferton Stakes.

Trainer Richard Hannon mooted a tilt at Sandown’s feature Group One on Saturday week, but the Wathnan team have ruled out that option, instead considering both a return to a mile and his happy Ascot hunting ground for the Summer Mile on July 12 or a trip to York for the Sky Bet York Stakes (July 26) if deciding to continue campaigning over a mile and a quarter.

“I wouldn’t rule out going back to a mile with him as he’s a big, gross horse who takes a couple of runs to get fit and I wouldn’t even rule out that run will bring him on again,” explained Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown.

“We won’t be supplementing for the Eclipse and we might look at the Summer Mile back at Ascot or the mile and a quarter Group Two at York, we just have to talk about it as a team.

“I would imagine it would be one of those two races, but don’t be surprised to see him back at a mile, as I think he’s very versatile.”

Haatem was one of five winners at Royal Ascot for the Emir of Qatar’s racing operation who left the summer showpiece buoyant after another stellar week.

New Wathnan recruit Flora Of Bermuda has bounced out of Ascot
New Wathnan recruit Flora Of Bermuda has bounced out of Ascot (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The Wathnan team are now waiting on the performance of Ascot defector Kind Of Blue at Newcastle on Saturday before finalising future options for their crack team of sprinters which includes Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes one-three Lazzat and Flora Of Bermuda.

“I would say we haven’t completely decided on plans for the sprinters and the only thing we have decided on is Flora Of Bermuda seems to have bounced out of Ascot,” said Brown.

“Andrew (Balding) says she is very fresh and as long as she keeps on showing us signs she is in good shape she will head to the July Cup.

“We’ll watch Kind Of Blue run on Saturday and then have a chat and see where is going to suit him best and where is going to suit Lazzat, we might decide to keep them apart.”

Goodwood or Deauville options for Field Of Gold

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Goodwood’s Qatar Sussex Stakes and the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville are the two options under consideration for Field Of Gold following his sensational display at Royal Ascot.

John and Thady Gosden’s colt has followed an identical route to his brilliant sire Kingman so far this season by finishing second in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket before going one better in the Irish equivalent and then bolting up in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

With Kingman going on to land the Sussex and then the Marois on what proved to be the final start of his career, the Juddmonte team are hopeful Field Of Gold can at least match if not surpass his father’s achievements.

“He’s come out of Ascot in great form, as far as I know they are all happy with him,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“It was a great result, he’s obviously an exceptional horse and it was nice to see it all come together on a big day.

“I suppose his dad’s three-year-old season got cut short a little bit and hopefully this lad will be able to continue that run for the rest of the year.

“I think that seems to be the train of thought, sort of Sussex or Jacques le Marois next. He’ll tell us closer to the time whether he’s ready for Goodwood or he needs another week or two.”

Colin Keane and Field Of Gold following his Royal Ascot triumph
Colin Keane and Field Of Gold following his Royal Ascot triumph (John Walton/PA)

With the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday week seemingly coming too soon, if Field Of Gold is to test his powers over a mile and a quarter at some stage that will have to wait until later in the summer, with the Juddmonte International at York considered an “obvious” potential target.

Mahon added: “At the start of the season we were more bullish about going a mile and a quarter, but the more they keep winning at a mile you start questioning it.

“I’m sure we’ll try it at some stage and that (Juddmonte International) would be an obvious place to do it if we wanted to go that way.”

Pride Of Arras team ‘entitled to keep dreaming’ as second Derby date looms

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Pride Of Arras could continue David and Vimy Aykroyd’s brilliant summer when he bids for Classic redemption in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Yorkshire-based owner-breeders have been making their presence felt this term, with Pride Of Arras claiming the Dante to ignite Derby dreams in May, while Amiloc maintained his unbeaten record in style to give connections a day to remember at Royal Ascot.

Trained by Ralph Beckett, Pride Of Arras may have subsequently disappointed when sent off at 4-1 at Epsom following his Knavesmire heroics, but his team are refusing to be downbeat ahead of a trip to Ireland this weekend and a second shot at Classic glory for the talented son of New Bay.

Pride Of Arras was well held at Epsom
Pride Of Arras was well held at Epsom (Adam Morgan/PA)

“He’s come out of Epsom well, we’re just still scratching our heads why he ran so badly,” explained Patrick Cooper, the Akyroyd’s racing manager and also the nephew of David Aykroyd.

“It’s a bit of a mystery, he obviously didn’t handle the hill and Rossa (Ryan, jockey) was easy on him once he knew he couldn’t participate in the finish, but we still don’t know truly what went wrong, so we can go to the Curragh and hopefully find out more there.

“We have to take the defeat and the kicking when you get one and it is just one race, albeit perhaps the greatest race of them all, and you have to move on to the next one.

“Hopefully we get the horse back who showed us how good he was in the Dante, he was impressive that day and we’re entitled to keep dreaming.”

Connections also have further big days to look forward to with the exciting Amiloc after he took his unbeaten record to a perfect five out of five in last week’s King Edward VII Stakes.

Amiloc thrived once again at Royal Ascot
Amiloc thrived once again at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Rated just 1lb inferior to his stablemate in the owners’ pale blue and white quarters after his victory at the Royal meeting, the gelded son of Postponed is being lined up for a return to Ascot and a step into even deeper waters for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes on July 26.

“The handicapper only has a pound between them and he doesn’t have rose-tinted spectacles like the rest of us and that’s how he sees it,” continued Cooper.

“With Amiloc we just don’t know where his ceiling is and he just keeps pulling out more every time we run him.

“We’re sort of aiming at the King George which would be another step up and we’ll see closer to the time. It’s next door, the race is worth a fortune and he’s a course and distance winner, so it’s kind of obvious.

“He’s a gelding so he will lose his unbeaten record at some point. Hopefully it’s not King George day, but we’ll just try to go one step further and if we have to step back in grade afterwards then so be it.”

Connections looking to to see the real Falakeyah next time out

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Connections of Falakeyah are keen to put a line through her disappointing performance at Royal Ascot, with Goodwood’s Nassau Stakes identified as a potential stage for redemption.

Having bolted up on her Wolverhampton debut in November, the Owen Burrows-trained filly looked every inch a top-class performer in the making when running away with Newmarket’s Pretty Polly Stakes on her return to action in the spring.

After sidestepping the Oaks at Epsom and being ruled out of the French equivalent, Falakeyah dropped back to a mile for the Coronation Stakes, but ended up racing too enthusiastically for her own good on the front end before weakening in the home straight.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: “It was a pity, as I was very pleased with her before the race. She settled beforehand, I thought, she was good and calm in the ring and Jim (Crowley) said she went down brilliantly relaxed.

“I’ve only seen the replay once, but it looked to me like for the first 50 or 60 yards of the race she was OK and then when Hollie (Doyle, riding Duty First) came upsides her she just put her head in the air and took off basically. It just set her alight and that was it.

“On a hot day like that, she was never going to be able to keep going at that pace, so we’ll just give her a bit of time. We didn’t learn anything regarding distance or anything like that, all we learnt was she’s not going to win races if she races like that.”

He added: “We know she’s considerably better than that, her work at home is very high class and that run didn’t bare any resemblance to her work at home. We’ll obviously have to try to settle her next time and maybe we’ll have a look at something like the Nassau. We’ll just see how everyone feels nearer the time.

“At home she settles beautifully and is quite happy to take a lead and doesn’t fight the jockey, so we’ve just got to get her to do that on the racecourse if she’s going to have any chance of finishing off her races.”

My Cloud pencilled in for step up in Summer Mile

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My Cloud could step into Group company back at Ascot after his impressive Royal Hunt Cup triumph.

Trained by Roger Varian for KHK Racing, the Blue Point colt took the one-mile handicap by three-quarters of a length having won another contest over the same course and distance in April.

He has clearly taken a liking to the track at Ascot, and may now move out of handicap company in a third start at the Berkshire track – this time at Group Two level.

“We were very happy with his performance, it was an obvious target for him from back in the spring and we were very pleased that Roger and his team were able to execute the plan,” said Chris Wall, racing manager for Shaikh Khalid’s operation.

“We had the right horse at the right weight and the right draw, everything went according to plan.

“He’s a talented horse, we haven’t settled on a target as such but we’d like to test the water in stakes company.

“The first opportunity to do that would be in the Summer Mile at Ascot, where he’s now won two nice races.

“It would be on the round course, not the straight course, but nevertheless I think Ascot suits him well and we’ll map out the rest of his season from there.”

The KHK team also enjoyed another Royal Ascot winner, with Adrestia taking the five-furlong Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes in good style under Oisin Murphy.

She too could be due to set to graduate to more exalted company for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford.

“She won very nicely and was another horse we had Ascot in mind for from a long way back,” said Wall.

“She’s another one where you’re asking ‘do we stay in handicap company for another race or do we move her up to stakes company?’.

“She is probably a stakes filly, it’s just a case of finding the right opportunity to do it.

“We need to have a conversation, Simon, Ed, Shaikh Khalid and myself. We don’t have a firm plan for her at the moment, but we’ll work something out in the coming days.”

Staya brought home some money from the meeting, too, finishing fifth in the Group Two Queen Mary for trainer George Scott to leave connections pondering a step up in trip.

“She ran a nice race, we were very happy with that,” said Wall.

“On that day there was a strong bias towards horses drawn on the stand side and unfortunately we were drawn low on the far side.

“I don’t suppose that cost her a win, I think the O’Brien filly (True Love) won very nicely, but it probably cost her a place because we were only beaten a nose and a short head for third.

“We came away thinking she might stay six furlongs and so if everything is OK, we’ll be thinking of running her in the Duchess of Cambridge at the July meeting.

“If that comes a bit quick then something like the Princess Margaret might be on the agenda, or even the Prix Robert Papin out in France.”