Introduced for the first time into The Racing Calendar (and Royal Ascot) last year for 4yo+ stayers rated 0-105, this contest over an extended 1m6f could be an insightful guide to Ebor Handicap. That certainly proved to be the case last year when the successful favourite, Fujaira Prince, then also justified favouritism at York on his next start.
This is the fourth year of the Wolferton being a Listed race (rather than a Listed handicap) over 1m2f on the round course. It usually features a double-figure field where they meet a bend after a furlong, so the draw can be important.
Unquestionably the most punter-friendly handicap at the meeting with 11 of the last 12 winners sent off at no bigger than 12/1 and, in the last 31 years, as a many as 21 winners could be found in the first six in the betting.
It usually pays to stick to the leading fancies for the St James’s Palace Stakes. Only the Aidan O’Brien-trained Circus Maximus (10/1), who had previously failed to stay in the Derby when finishing sixth, has won at double-figure odds since 1992 when Brief Truce floored Arazi and Rodrigo De Triano (both unplaced).
After only finding Blue Point too good in the 2018 and 2019 runnings, with his old rival packed off to stud, Battaash made it third time lucky in the King’s Stand when running out an easy winner last season.
Despite the 150/1 success of Nando Parrado last season (just two weeks into the turf season following the return to racing so a weakened renewal), the Coventry Stakes has been a very good race for punters since it was promoted to Group 2 status 17 years ago with as many as nine favourites or joint-favourites obliging in the last 15 years.
Possibly the strongest trends race of Royal Ascot kicks off the five-day extravaganza. By far the best guide of the Lockinge Stakes (featured 22 Queen Anne winners since 1980) was lost last year but it looks set to provide the odds-on favourite with Palace Pier on target to follow up his ready success at Newbury.
Hong Kong Selections for Sunday, June 13, 2021 at Sha Tin.
It has been several years since a truly exceptional European miler graced overseas racecourses, but Palace Pier might be special. He will start as the heavy favorite in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, the first race of the Royal Ascot meeting.
Stradivarius is chasing a remarkable fifth consecutive win at Royal Ascot next week – with a record-equalling fourth Gold Cup in his sights.
