Well the big English double of the day came in – England scraped home against Wales, whilst Order Of St George did exactly what we thought he would do. Elsewhere, Prince Of Lir (to whom we gave a huge mention but ultimately didn’t select) won nicely in the Norfolk, Hawkbill and Prize Money gave us a 1-2 in the Tercentenary Stakes, Even Song was very impressive in the Ribblesdale against our Hugo Palmer pair before Order Of St George won by 3 lengths as a 4yo. Could he match or even surpass the great Yeats? Defrocked continued his progress in the Britannia, whilst Primitivo won nicely in the King George V with Harrison only taking third for us.
Onto day four we go, although quite frankly I’m already excited at the prospect of two Frankels taking on each other on Saturday. Cunco or Frankuus – who’s your money on?!
2:30, Albany Stakes, 6f, 2yo fillies.
These 16 fillies have just 31 starts between them, of which 17 have been victories. I’m afraid we’re going to be very unoriginal in our selections in this race. First up will be CREATE A DREAM, who has raced just once but remarkably for a Wesley Ward filly she made her debut at Ascot in April, beating The Last Lion into third. That colt franked the form yesterday and although she clearly won’t be in the class of the fantastic Lady Aurelia, at 6/1 I’m happy to take a chance.
Elsewhere Bletchley, Grizzel and Cuff look very tempting, particularly Cuff for Coolmore, but here’s the danger with Derek Potter. I’m an old romantic at heart, and if you think I’m not going to select a Franklet, then I apologise. QUEEN KINDLY didn’t beat much on her debut but she did it beautifully, and if she’s progressed from that she can beat Cunco and Frankuus (who compete on Saturday) to be the first Royal winner for the greatest horse I have ever seen.
Selection: CREATE A DREAM
Alternative: QUEEN KINDLY
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3:05, King Edward VII Stakes, 1m4f, 3yo.
For reasons of Architecture’s laboured performance yesterday, I’m happy to pass over both Across The Stars and Humphrey Bogart. The Derby was a tough race less than two weeks ago, and although the claims of Beacon Rock are obvious, we’re going with just CARNTOP. He finished between our two aforementioned rivals in his Lingfield trial and unlike the other two has been kept back for this race. Prince Charles can make his mum very proud with a win here. Choreographer looks the best of the rest.
Selection: CARNTOP
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3:40, Commonwealth Cup, 6f, 3yo.
QUIET REFLECTION is the hot favourite here and deservedly so. Her last start in the Sandy Lane at Haydock was very impressive, and that form combined with her 3lb sex allowance should prove vital.
Cheikeljack seems to be popular in the market, but at a big price I like BURATINO. Before Air Force Blue’s flop this year, Buratino was the only horse to beat him and at Royal Ascot too, proving he likes the track. Buratino didn’t stay the distance in the Guineas, but at 8 times the price of Quiet Reflection I think he’s better than that and can run a big race here.
Selection: QUIET REFLECTION
Alternative: BURATINO each way
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4:20, Coronation Stakes, 1m, 3yo fillies.
The absence of Ballydoyle is a disappointment for those of us who love a good race, although Nemoralia is good enough in her own right to lay down a challenge to the favourite. That favourite is JET SETTING, and I haven’t changed my mind about that filly since I wrote this before the Oaks:
“The fact that Minding got beaten in the Irish 1000 Guineas doesn’t concern me; she and Jet Setting finished a long way clear of the rest and it was simply a brilliant performance from Jet Setting that won the day, not a poor run from Minding.”
Nothing I saw from Minding in the Oaks suggests I was wrong, and this ground, combined with a nice break for Jet Setting, means I think she is the nap of the day. Her new owners, the China Horse Club, spent over £1m purchasing this filly on Monday and I’d be surprised if they didn’t get a good start for their cash.
Selection: JET SETTING
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5:00, Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes, 1m4f, 3yo+.
Elite Army is the favourite here, and he’s won me plenty in the past partly because as a 5yo he remains so unexposed, this being just his 7th career start. Indeed, his latest start at Ascot in May saw him post his highest RPR to date but that puts him at the top of the weights for this and reluctantly I’ll pass him over.
The form of the boys in blue may lead me to regret that but instead we’ll look at the bottom of the market and staying with Godolphin in RARE RHYTHM for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. This lightly raced colt has got what Derek Potter loves – a rapidly improving RPR. He’s gone from 57 to 84 to 87 to 101 and whilst being his first start of the season is not easy, he looks likely to enjoy the ground and Godolphin must have kept him in training as a 4yo for a reason.
FABRICATE off the same weight can also go well for Michael Bell and Pat Smullen, and possibly give the Queen her first winner of the meeting. His comeback race giving almost a stone to Sir Chauvelin in defeat looks a good prep for this and once again he is proven on the ground.
Selection: RARE RHYTHM
Alternative: FABRICATE each way
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5:35, Queen’s Vase, 2m, 3yo.
This is a seriously tough test for 3yos so early in their careers and so it pays to look at breeding rather than experience. It’s hard to look past the favourite, Ebediyin, for the Derby winning trio of HH The Aga Khan, Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen, and once again I wouldn’t put you off backing him, but we’ll try a couple at bigger prices. Firstly we’ll try TWILIGHT PAYMENT for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning. This Teofilo colt only made his debut last month and is hugely unexposed, and has already raced over 1m5f. At a big price he could go well. At the opposite end of the scale we’ll try SOLDIER IN ACTION who has had 9 career starts and acts on all types of ground. His stamina is unproven but that is factored into his price and we’ll take an each way chance.
Selection: TWILIGHT PAYMENT each way
Alternative: SOLDIER IN ACTION each way
Back tomorrow for the final day of the festival,
Derek Potter
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