G1 Diamond Jubilee S.

Thursday to Friday at Royal Ascot was like chalk and cheese and now that the meeting has become chopped in two by the unprecedented rainstorm there is only need for mudlarks to apply for Saturday's finale. Just as David Ward's Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) was pulled out of the G1 Coronation S. on Friday, so there must be a major doubt as to whether his Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) will be allowed to take part in Saturday's G1 Diamond Jubilee S. Looking the one to beat before the...

Group 1 winner Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who won the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. to give regular jockey Hollie Doyle her first Group 1, is being aimed at the June 19 G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot. The 7-year-old gelding, who is trained by Archie Watson for Hambleton Racing Xxxvi & Partner most recently ran fourth in the G2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands S. at The Curragh on May 22. Hambleton Racing Head Racing Manager Cosmo Charlton said,  "We were happy enough with that for his first...

DARRS Inc.'s Extravagant Kid (Kiss the Kid), winner of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint  Mar. 27, turned in his third work at Keeneland Saturday since his Dubai performance, covering five furlongs in 1:02.20 in company with stakes-placed winner Lontano (Street Boss) over a fast dirt track. Keeneland clockers caught him in fractions of :11.80, :24, ;36, :49.60 and 1:02.20. "He worked great. He's doing good," said trainer Brendan Walsh. "Looks like he came out of the race in Dubai good and got back in good shape." The 8-year-old is being...

Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead), the winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland last November, will head straight to Royal Ascot for her 2021 debut, the G2 Temple S. at Haydock having been ruled out. Both the G1 King's Stand S. and the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. are options for the 2020 G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five S. heroine. "We're skipping the Temple S.," trainer Kevin Ryan said. "We'll go straight to Ascot, or at least that's the plan. She's in both races and we'll decide a...

   After the quintet of thrilling Group 1 contests this week at Royal Ascot, Saturday sees a triple treat as the G1 St James's Palace S., G1 Coronation S. and G1 Diamond Jubilee S. provide the ultimate closing act. It is the St James's Palace which entices the most, with the May 6 G1 2,000 Guineas second and third Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) re-enacting their Classic encounter as TDN Rising Star Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) joining in for good measure. On last year's form,...

Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) will bypass Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. in favour of the G1 Diamond Jubilee on the final day of Royal Ascot. The winner of four of five career races, the Hilltop Racing representative posted a three-length tally most recently in the Listed Woodlands S. at Naas June 8. Trainer Denis Hogan tweeted: "After discussing with @RacingHilltop +jockeys, weighing up all options, we have decided in the best interest and welfare of the horse--and considering long season ahead--to skip the King's Stand in favour of...

Roger Teal is leaning towards making the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday week the next target for his progressive sprinter Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}). The Lambourn handler favours keeping his new stable star at six furlongs for his first venture into Group 1 company rather than dropping him back to the minimum trip for the G1 King's Stand S. earlier in the meeting. Having signed off last season with victory in the Portland H. at Doncaster, the 4-year-old made a winning return with an impressive victory...