Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. was something to behold and it is with great expectation that the Royal Ascot's crowds await the swift return of Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) as he bids to “do a Choisir” in Saturday's G1 Diamond Jubilee S. This will be a different test to the five-furlong one he faced on the opening day and there is a sense that he is seen to best effect in a fast-run race at the minimum trip, but his form over the six is better than anything his rivals can muster. Now fully mature, he is primed for such a monumental challenge and a double victory would put the seal on another magical week of action. “It's a very sporting decision by His Highness and we all think it is the right thing to do,” Charlie Appleby said. “He always seems to bring his A-game to Ascot and he broke the track record over six furlongs there a couple of years ago.
“We left Blue Point in the Diamond Jubilee at the start of the week and the race was in the back of our minds, depending on how he came out of the King's Stand S.,” Appleby added. “The only other opportunity we had was the G1 British Champions Sprint in October, when the ground conditions could potentially be very testing. The way it is drying out at Ascot, it will hopefully be lovely ground on Saturday afternoon.”
Before Blue Point was pitched back into the fray, Saeed Manana's Invincible Army (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was occupying favouritism having put up an improved performance when winning the May 15 G2 Duke of York S. Disappointing for no apparent reason when ninth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup here 12 months ago, he had previously beaten the winner of that prize, Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), in the G3 Pavilion S. over the course and distance last May so the track is not the issue. Taking on Blue Point is, however. “I'm just concentrating on my own horse and he seems in very good form,” trainer James Tate said. “I wasn't happy to see the rain falling for my horse in the Royal Hunt Cup on Wednesday, but I was pleased for Invincible Army. It looks like the ground will be on the slow side of good come Saturday, which will be perfect, and his preparation has gone perfectly.”
Danny Tudhope has had a Royal meeting to savour and has been booked by Sir Michael Stoute for the ride on the progressive Dream of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead). Saeed Suhail's 5-year-old looked to be treading water for a while but was built back up from last summer and finished runner-up in the G3 Bengough S. over this track and trip in October. Two fluent wins over this trip at Chelmsford on Apr. 25 and in the Listed Leisure S. at Windsor on May 20 may have boosted his confidence and as a Sir Michael Stoute-trained 5-year-old he warrants respect. “Dream of Dreams is a solid group-race performer,” his handler commented. “He didn't pick one up last year when he got beat in a few photos. I have been very pleased with his two runs this year.”
Another of that age from Freemason Lodge is Khalid Abdullah's Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who has been another slow-burner ahead of a real moment of truth in the G2 Hardwicke S. Last year's G3 Glorious S. winner was sent back to Goodwood to record a smooth success in the 12-furlong Listed Tapster S. last time on May 25 and is on course to provide Stoute with a 12th renewal and ninth since 2006. “Mirage Dancer is going very nicely. They have done fantastically well with him as he had an unhappy trip to and back from Hong Kong last December,” Juddmonte's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe commented. “It was no fault of Hong Kong, it was just unlucky the way things panned out but he has come back very nicely. He had a smooth run at Goodwood. He is stepping back up to Group 2 company again, but we have got Sir Michael's good history in the race on our side. Whether that counts for anything, I don't know, but he does know how to train a Hardwicke winner.”
Staging a welcome return is Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), with Charlie Appleby making the correct call when bypassing what would have proved a severe test in Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's S. While the homebred won over this trip on his last outing in the G1 Epsom Derby, he possesses speed for a mile and 10 furlongs and will be rusty. “I am delighted to be getting Masar back on the track and his preparation has gone very well,” Appleby said. “It is exciting to have the Derby winner back, but it goes without saying that he hasn't raced for more than a year and will come on for the run, mentally more than anything. Having said that, I can't fault the way his preparation has gone. He has ticked every box going into this race and looks great.”
Switched to the Saturday from the Wednesday this year, the G3 Jersey S. also features a leading Godolphin representative in 'TDN Rising Star' Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Gradually dropped back in trip by Charlie Appleby, the homebred son of the G2 Challenge S. winner Miss Lucifer (Fr) (Noverre) beat the re-opposing Urban Icon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) by a neck in the Listed Surrey S. over this seven-furlong distance at Epsom at the end of last month. “Space Blues has been very progressive since dropping back to seven furlongs,” his trainer commented. “He has come out of Epsom Downs in great order and I can't find any negatives going into this race. It's a step up in class, but he is showing all the right signs at home.”
King Power Racing's meeting has been a touch frustrating, but Happy Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) could put matters to rights as long as the ground does not dry out too significantly. Coming into this just eight days after beating some smart older rivals on soft ground in York's Listed Ganton S. over a mile, the grey sets the standard on that form.
In the opening Listed Chesham S., Ballydoyle put forward their TDN Rising Star Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who looked such a bright prospect when winning over this seven-furlong trip on debut at The Curragh 15 days ago. Aidan O'Brien has a clutch of potential improvers in the line-up, but there could be a fly in the ointment in Cheveley Park Stud's Heaven Forfend (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Out early for one from this stable, the homebred son of the top-level performer Heaven Sent (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) was an eye-catching runner-up in a six-furlong maiden at Newbury May 17 and the fourth-placed Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) was two-lengths fifth in Tuesday's G2 Coventry S.
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