Gulf Eyes Turn To Ascot's Saturday Showdown
Wathnan New Pair Lead A Loaded Finale
Royal Ascot finale brings seven races to a close on Saturday, but for readers following the meeting from the Gulf, the clearest story sits in the Golden Gates Stakes. Wathnan Racing has moved for Lost Boys and Sahara King since the pair finished first and second in the London Gold Cup, and Saturday brings their first start together since the takeover. A placed finish from either confirms the trial form held up under new silks. A defeat raises the more interesting question of whether the form was sound to begin with.
The afternoon does not lack for star power elsewhere. The Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes brings together a 19-runner sprint field built around international class, headlined by Australian raider Joliestar and Japanese challenger Satono Reve, while the Gr.2 Hardwicke Stakes and the Wokingham Stakes, Royal Ascot’s most notoriously difficult handicap, round out a card that builds toward the week’s richest prize.
Golden Gates Stakes Headlines Royal Ascot Day Five
The Class 2 handicap for three-year-olds rated 0-105 drew 16 runners over one mile and one furlong, and it is Lost Boys, trained by David Menuisier and ridden by James McDonald, who carries the weight of Wathnan’s recent investment. Stablemate Sahara King, trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by James Doyle, lines up on the same London Gold Cup form that persuaded the operation to buy into the pair. The yard’s confidence will be tested by Perisher, the highest rated runner in the field for Joseph Patrick O’Brien and William Buick, who arrives off a workmanlike recent third.
Stamina Takes Centre Stage In Queen Alexandra Stakes
Royal Ascot’s longest race, run over two miles and five furlongs, brings a smaller 13-runner field built for stayers. Le Destrier and Columbus, both trained by W P Mullins, give the champion jumps trainer two chances at a race that rewards stamina over speed, with William Buick and Colin Keane sharing the riding arrangements between them. Illinois, the highest rated runner in the field for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, offers the form alternative to the Mullins pair in a contest where temperament matters as much as pace.
Rivals Renew Battle In Norfolk Stakes
The week’s biggest juvenile field, 21 strong, assembles for the Gr.2 sprint over five furlongs, headlined by a rematch between two of the form picks from the Curragh. Carry The Flag, trained by Aidan O’Brien for Ryan Moore, takes on the horse that beat him on that occasion, Star Prospect, trained by Joseph Patrick O’Brien for Dylan Browne McMonagle. American raider Wesley Ward sends a three-strong team, including Ez Tina and Fanshell Beach, adding a transatlantic dimension to a race that already carries the meeting’s deepest two-year-old form.
Unbeaten Saber Strike Defends Record In Jersey Stakes
William Haggas and Tom Marquand’s unbeaten three-year-old, Saber Strike, heads a 17-runner field over seven furlongs that includes Catullus, trained by Charlie Appleby for William Buick, who arrives on the back of a wide margin handicap success. The Gr.3 sprint regularly previews Group company for its leading three-year-olds, and with The Prettiest Star also holding solid form for Ed Walker, the home form looks deep enough to withstand the step up in grade.
Ascot’s Toughest Puzzle Returns In Wokingham Stakes
28 runners go to post in the meeting’s most notoriously unpredictable handicap over six furlongs, run for horses rated 0-110. Realign, trained by William Haggas for James Doyle, arrives off a recent Carlisle win, while Double Rush, trained by Andrew Balding for Shane Foley, and Ten Pounds for Joey Ramsden and Jamie Spencer also draw strong support among the form students. The size of the field alone makes the Wokingham one of the week’s hardest puzzles to solve, regardless of what the formbook says.
Kalpana Leads Hardwicke Stakes Field
The Gr.2 contest over one mile and four furlongs draws 12 runners, with Kalpana, trained by Andrew Balding for Colin Keane, sharing the top of the weights with Jan Brueghel for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. Best Secret, trained by S Wattel in France for James Doyle, gives connections a Continental alternative to the home contingent, while German bred Goliath, trained by F-H Graffard and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, adds further depth to a race with form lines stretching across Europe.
Joliestar Eyes Glory In Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
Royal Ascot’s richest race of the week closes the card with a 19-runner sprint field over six furlongs, restricted to horses rated 80 or higher. Joliestar, trained in Australia by Chris Waller for James McDonald, arrives off two Group One wins this spring and heads the principal challenge from Satono Reve, trained in Japan by Noriyuki Hori for Ryan Moore. Overpass and Sajir also hold solid form, but the closing Group One looks set to come down to the clash between the Australian and Japanese raiders at the top of the weights.
Gulf Runners To Watch Saturday
Two runners carry the clearest Gulf interest into Saturday’s finale. Lost Boys (Golden Gates Stakes) makes his first start since Wathnan Racing’s takeover, and what he does in defeat or victory will say as much about the form he is carrying as anything else on the card. Sahara King (Golden Gates Stakes) runs in the same colours and the same test, giving connections two distinct looks at the same question inside one race. Beyond the Golden Gates pair, Saturday’s card carries no other runner with a confirmed Gulf connection.