Racehorse TALK

Welcome to day four of Royal Ascot 2007. The highlight this afternoon is undoubtedly the high class renewal of the Coronation Stakes. A quality bunch of fillies engaged making it a superior race to any Guineas seen so far this year. The two good things got home yesterday so let's see if we can find another few winners. Overnight rain again - ground reported as "definitely easier than yesterday". More thunderstorms are close to the course.

Albany Stakes

The 2yo races have been pretty kind to me so far this meeting. The more I look at this race the further in front You'resothrilling appears to be. The sister to Giant's Causeway has the runs on the board and the form is holding well at this meeting. She's a clear top selection here with some space to the rest. Janina is the obvious second pick with the form from her York victory looking ok for a Gr3 contest like this. Gate one looks a horror draw though unless the heavy traffic and overnight rain is beginning to have an effect. Alizadora should improve on her last run when reportedly underdone because Sir Mark ( by his own admission on ATR ) underestimated the quality of the Jamies Osborne runner ( winner of the Windsor Castle ). You'resothrilling by three.

King Edward V11 Stakes

Lucarno and Salford Mill rate clearly on top here with the interesting runner being Harland. Lucarno and Salford Mill both ran well enough in the Derby to have this lot covered. Most of the others have beaten good handicappers but not much more. Aga Khan colt Ashkazar would need to improve considerably to get past the leading pair. The two Derby runners had a tough race though and similar types have always been vulnerable in this event. There are others besides Harland who are relatively unexposed but something about this colt stands out. Plenty of holes can be found in the form of the afore mentioned "others" - especially when looking at some of the handicaps run at this meeting already. Harland could easily have contested a handicap himself off a decent mark. That opportunity has been bypassed for something better. The stable managed the Ribblesdale yesterday for the same connections with a similar type. A win here would not surprise.

Coronation Stakes

A quality renewal with some high class fillies engaged. Finsceal Beo and Darjina are easy enough to line up but My Emma puts a spanner in the works. No telling how good she is. The form around My Emma is stacking up pretty well too. I think the overnight rain ( with the propect of more ) and heavy traffic will take its toll on the favourite here. I find myself drawn away from Finsceal Beo and think she's vulnerable. A tough campaign so far and the other pair are much fresher animals. Rahiyah can't be dismissed either and she's another that arrives fresh on the scene. Her family produced another Coronation winner in 1989. Darjina fans are pretty vocal about the merits of her efforts so far. She's done well through the draw and is the narrow top pick.

Wolferton Handicap

Another open handicap with many chances. Narrowed it down to Imperial Star, Emirates Skyline, Lake Poet and to a lesser extent Heaven Sent. I wont be trading this race but will work my placepot around that quartet.

Queen's Vase

I've been waiting for this race with one horse in mind for some time. That horse is Eastern Anthem. The rain and any more that falls before the race is a bonus. If there's two things that seem to suit this colt when I see him move they are soft ground and a two mile trip. Consulate looks like a dour stayer but his class level could be questionable. Darestan presents the same question with his French form looking ok but of questionable standard. Mark Johnston has an excellent record in races like this so his team is not easily dismissed. Of the pair I prefer Serengetti but I don't think it will be Johnston's year. The filly Brisk Breeze could be a remote chance for Henry Cecil especially if more rain falls. The biggest danger to Eastern Anthem could be Mahler for mine. Looked a real stayer before the Derby when he really didn't have the pace to figure prominently. I think he has Consulate covered but Mahler doesn't put me off the Godolphin horse.

Buckingham Palace Stakes

A nightmare to finish the card. not really a betting race but I'll have Pride Of Nation, Wise Dennis and Uhoomagoo ( won this before ) in my placepot.



Best of luck to those having a nibble this afternoon.

Apologies folks. The bulk of the report is compiled the night before and Eastern Anthem is now a non runner.

Welcome to the final day of Royal Ascot 2007. The weather remains iffy but the track has dried reasonably well. Damien Oliver insists the going is as good as it was on Tuesday. Showers continue to fall. Quite heavily right now. Let's get on with the show!

Chesham Stakes
Not the greatest looking field I've ever seen for this race but a few of the usual suspects have runners engaged. I was far from impressed with The Bogberry in Ireland and he looks fairly vulnerable conceding weight to the rest. Feared In Flight did the job in style at York and the form looks ok since. Probably a fairly even bunch behind him there but he gave them a start and a beating. The ground had ease that day and being by Hawk Wing you'd expect Feared In Flight to be ok with the going he's likely to encounter this afternoon. The stable is on a little downer and may have peaked before this meeting though. Golan Knight won well at Leicester but he probably beat walkers there. Will need to find a fair bit more here. Double Attack must be respected. hard to say what she beat last time but did it with style and the stable has a good record in this race. Maze is right in the mix here. Conceded 10lbs to the runner up at his first appearance and that filly has won easily since. An odds on chance from the Johnston camp was also in his wake there. Maze is another from a stable that has done well with 2yo's at this meeting over the last few years. His dam is a sister to Derby winner Quest For Fame so there's some quality in the family. Of the rest Azeer may not have been suited by the trip or course at Windsor first time out. From a family full of winners and should improve a fair bit for the experience.

Hardwicke Stakes
History doesn't auger well for Scorpion here with no horse carrying a Gr1 peanalty winning since 1990. He faces an ok bunch of Gr2 horses this afternoon and has no pacemaker employed to carve them up like last time. The others need to step up though and Scorpion can break the seventeen year trend. Linas Selection looks interesting given the stable's recent record in this event. They have also won with a horse making his seasonal reappearance. He needs to have improved again though since breaking his knee and I'm prepared to bypass Linas Selection this afternoon. Maraahel looks the obvious selection but he may be a little vulnerable if the ground is too soft. Not the most inspired ride from Richard Hills last time and he can turn the tables on Scorpion if the ground is ok. Akarem and Admiral's Cruise have some soft ground form but both look to be tested at this level. Scorpion or Maraahel to outclass the rest.

Golden Jubilee
Miss Andretti clearly on top on the bare form but will she back up? Looks to be drawn well enough again but will the bias level out like it often does at the end of a long meeting? Slightly vulnerable for mine and not great value at all around 7/4. The stable insists she's thrived since last time. Magnus ran a tad fresh in the King's Stand and he is proven when backing up quickly. Looks a decent chance today but the high draw may go against him. Takeover Target may well be the leading Aussie at the end of this but he looks to be slowing down while others are still on the upgrade. Amadeus Wolf is the obvious selection among the locals. Did the job in style at York against many he faces again this afternoon. The ground looks to have gone his way and the son of Mozart could now have the best of the draw. Plenty of support about for Al Qasi but he has to find a bit to reach Gr1 level. His trainer did almost steal this last year with a similar type though. Definitely appreciates some give in the ground. Soldier's Tale in one that has somewhat proven himself at this level and he warrants thought. Ease in the ground will suit this injury prone galloper more than the surface he faced last time. Never looked comfortable there and his current price represents fair value. Would be a real worry for this fellow if Damien Oliver is correct about the going.

Wokingham
A quality handicap usually full of chances. This year is no exception. I really like Knot In Wood here and he firmly fits the profile of Richard Fahey horses who perform well in races like this. Fahey's a trainer who knows how to make the most out of a handicapper and the addition of blinkers today could extract the extra required. Sharpened up over five furlongs last time, Knot On Wood should be spot on today. The owners have some 40's and 33/1 about their charge and those prices are long gone. Those on 9st6lb or above have a fair record in this event. Of that bracket Balthazaar's Gift is the obvious selection based on his fine performance in a Gr1 at this meeting last year. Change of stable now and a few recent runs at unsuitable trips/courses have smartened him up for a big run this afternoon. I prefer the draw of Knot On Wood though. The favourite Zidane could be capable of winning classier races but he gets beaten often enough and represents poor value today.

Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes
Beautifully bred type Scriptwriter ( Sadler's Wells out of sister to Darshaan ) picks himself here and he has form on good or soft ground. Won nicely first up and should be further improved here but will need to be. Three down in the weights have caught my eye and all receive considerable poundage from Scriptwriter. Ogee showed he's going the right way last time and his peak form may be good enough off this handicap. Drawn pretty well and this engagement looks more suitable than the two miles he faced here last year. Cedar Mountain has been brought along slowly by the Gosden camp and he appears to me to be one looking for a longer trip than he's faced so far. Jimmy Fortune in the saddle in great form and another drawn ok. Pevensey took a good course and distance handicap on rain soaked ground last year and he's been the medium on very strong support this morning. Draw not the greatest for mine but he looks a top chance.

Queen Alexandra Stakes
Golden Quest looks to be ready to win again after a period of being under an injury cloud. Made a decent return first up this season and should be a lot fitter here. Vinando can run a big race fresh after facing some top grade jumps opposition. He meets Baddam 5lbs better for a narrow defeat in this last year. Baddam was well looked after when no chance the other day but he has to back up quickly here and it could be too soon. He had more time to recover when in good form last year. Secret Ploy has never really been tested on the flat but his stable is more than capable of taking a race like this and should have a good line on where this horse stands through stablemate Odiham who ran well the other day.


Good luck to those having a nibble. Let's see if we can finish the meeting on a good winning note.

Thanks Hilly , i don't think Miss A will have any issues backing up , but i feel her biggest danger will come from a fellow Aussie in Takeover Target.

So i am going to stick with him, mostly because Miss A isn't the greatest value, and that is probably the only reason i am not going for her, along with the fact i wasn't on her in her first win in the King Stand

Cheers

Manduro Ascot Win Rated Best-In-World For 2007

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www.breedingracing.com

Baron George von Ullman's German-bred 5YO entire Manduro (Monsun-Mandellicht, by Be My Guest) "put up the best performance on turf anywhere in the world this year when taking the UK Gr1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes (10 furlongs) at Royal Ascot last Wednesday", according to the team who compile the UK's prestigious Racing Post Ratings.

Manduro's victory (over multiple Gr1-winning Irish-bred 4YO entire Dylan Thomas & multiple Gr1-winning fellow 5YO entire Notnowcato) "earned him a rating of 131 and, with Invasor (US 2006 Horse-Of-The-Year & the world's current highest-rated racehorse according to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities list of the World's Top 50 Racehorses) now retired due to injury, Manduro ranks higher than any horse on the planet, regardless of age, distance or surface, so far in 2007".

Racing Post handicapper Paul Curtis commented: "Manduro was rated 128 going into the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, his best previous figure having been registered in the Ascot race in 2006, but he improved on that last week. We've got him on a mark of 131 after Royal Ascot and the performance rates the best on turf in 2007.