Thursday’s Group 3 Chester Vase, a nominal trial for the Epsom Derby, drew a field of just five, with Nathaniel the most highly regarded derby hopeful among the quintet.
The Keeneland 2-year-old maiden winners Everyday Dave and Judy the Beauty won allowance races over five furlongs on turf at Chantilly, France, on Monday for American trainer Wesley Ward, giving Ward three winners in France in a little more than 48 hours.
Wonder of Wonders, who won a maiden race in her 2011 debut at Tipperary, Ireland, last Thursday, will make her a quick turnaround for her stakes debut in Wednesday’s Cheshire Oaks at Chester Racecourse in England.
Blue Bunting’s strong late rally carried her to a three-quarters length victory over Together in the Group 1 Quipco 1000 Guineas on Sunday at Newmarket, England. The performance made the Godolphin-owned Blue Bunting into one of the favorites for the English Oaks, and gave second-year trainer Mahmood al Zarooni his first victory in an English classic race.
Ambitious Dragon capped an ambitious and successful Hong Kong season with a comfortable victory Sunday at Sha Tin in the Group 1, $1.8 million Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup.
Saturday, trainer Wesley Ward saddled Tiz Terrific to win a maiden turf race for 2-year-olds over about five furlongs at Longchamp in Paris, the trainer’s first winner in France.
The brilliance, and long-term promise, of Frankel was fully displayed on Saturday when the undefeated colt easily won the English 2000 Guineas, his sixth career win.
Hours after Prince William married Kate Middleton in central London in a royal wedding that grabbed worldwide attention, a 9-year-old gelding named Royal Wedding won a handicap steeplechase at Fontwell Park in southern England.
Both River Jetez and Wigmore Hall rate a decent chance in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Sunday at Sha Tin in Hong Kong, but local talent Ambitious Dragon, flattered by the result of the Champions Mile last week at Sha Tin, might prove to be a handful.
Frankel may be the shortest-priced favorite in more than 35 years when he starts in Saturday’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, England.
