Mohaafeth did not disappoint as the odds-on favorite in the Group 2 Hampton Court Stakes, rolling to a two-length victory in the 1 1/4-mile race for 3-year-olds after making a sustained run from well off a solid pace. Wesley Ward's disappointing meeting continued as his two runners finished unplaced in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes.
Declan Schuster's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, June 20, 2021 at Sha Tin.
Brought back to open the meeting last year after its services were not required when a race had to make way to incorporate the Commonwealth Cup into the meeting in 2015, this 7f all-aged handicap is now run as the final race in Thursday for its 15th running.
A handicap for 3yos over 1m4f, Aidan O’Brien saddled the 1-2-3 in 2019 which was a nice way for him to break his duck in the race. However, it is Mark Johnston that leads the way with six successes and he has also supplied six close-up placed runners, the latest being last year with his big Ascot Gold Cup hope, Subjectivist.
Usually featuring approximately 30 three-year-olds (22 last year to assist with social distancing), the majority of which are unexposed and from top yards, for my money the Britannia Stakes is the most competitive (though not impossible) three-year-old handicap of the season.
Stradivarius is set to start favourite to emulate Yeats and win his fourth Gold Cup. There have been 18 dual Gold Cup winners but only Sagaro, Yeats and Stradivarius have won it more than twice.
Back to normal for the Ribblesdale this season as last year it was an Oaks trial with Epsom put back a month due to Covid. It is a Group 2 where Oaks runners have a pretty good record given how few fillies contested both prizes turning out again relatively quickly (seven wins since 1997).
Back to normal this season taking place before the Derby so last year’s race turned into a trial for Epsom. Prior to last year’s contest, two of the previous three winners contested a Derby as Hunting Horn finished sixth in the Prix du Jockey Club and Benbatl ran fifth in the Derby at Epsom. The 2011 winner, Pisco Sour, also contested the Derby.
There are signs Pearlman's losing streak could end, perhaps as soon as on Friday in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Geelong Racecourse outside of Melbourne.
After the Coventry, the Norfolk Stakes is the best two-year-old race at Royal Ascot for punters to get really stuck into with nine of the last 18 runnings going the way of the favourite or second-favourite.
