Royal Ascot 2022: Albany Stakes Stats Guide

Last year’s race

Winner: Sandrine

Jockey: David Probert

Trainer: A M Balding

Owner: Miss K Rausing

Age: 2 Weight: 9st 0lbs

Starting Price: 16/1

Season Form Figures: 1

Previous Best: 1st – Class 5 2yo Fillies’ Maiden, Newcastle (AW) (June 2020)

By Paul Jones

Introduced into the Royal Meeting 19 years ago, this Group 3 6f race restricted to two-year-old fillies may not be as prestigious as the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes in terms of its official status but it has looked the classier of the two races in recent seasons.

Strong trends are thin on the ground but it is of note that all but two of the 19 winners contested a maiden/novice last time out with 12 winning (Cuis Ghaire is the only winner to have won a Group race beforehand) and ten winners were having just their second career start here. Three winners had won at Sandown also appreciating that stiff finish.

Team Hannon have secured three victories and all three entered the Albany Stakes off the back of winning a maiden on their sole previous start. As with all two-year-old races at Royal Ascot, Mick Channon's contenders need to be viewed closely and he has also won three runnings including a 1-2 in 2003. Take note that two of his winners have also been upsets striking at 40/1 and 16/1 plus five of his other 12 runners have all run creditably finishing in the first six in what is well-contested event. Different League was a very rare French-trained two-year-old winner at Royal Ascot when causing a 20/1 surprise three years ago.

At a glance summary:

POSITIVES

Won a maiden/Novice last time out

Had just one career start

Trained by Richard Hannon or Mick Channon

Won at Sandown

NEGATIVES

Failed to contest a maiden/novice last time out