Thu, 06/15/2023 - 16:46

Royal Ascot: Americans trying to partake of a traditional racing feast

Coady Photography

American Rascal, the most impressive 2-year-old at the April Keeneland meeting, runs Thursday in the Norfolk Stakes.

Nine American runners, including four from perennial participant Wesley Ward, are slated to start during the five-day Royal Ascot meeting that begins Tuesday. And there is more America to the world’s most famous racing meeting than just the horses that recently shipped overseas.

Thu, 06/15/2023 - 16:16

Stats Guide: Royal Hunt Cup

By At The Races

Last year's race

Winner: Dark Shift

Jockey: James McDonald

Trainer: Charlie Hills

Owner: Mr H Frost

Age: 4

Weight: 9st 1lbs

Starting Price: 13/2

Season Form Figures: 01

Previous Best: 1st - Class 2 Handicap, Nottingham (May 2022)

By Paul Jones

Thu, 06/15/2023 - 14:29

Stats Guide: Prince Of Wales's Stakes

By At The Races

Last year's race

Winner: State Of Rest

Jockey: Shane M Crosse

Trainer: Joseph P O'Brien

Owner: State Of Rest Partnership

Age: 4

Weight: 9st 2lbs

Starting Price: 5/1

Season Form Figures: 13

Previous Best: 1st - Prix Ganay Stakes (Group 1), ParisLongchamp (May 2022)

By Paul Jones

Thu, 06/15/2023 - 14:12

Stats Guide: Duke Of Cambridge Stakes

By At The Races

Last year's race

Winner: Saffron Beach

Jockey: William Buick

Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Owner: Mrs B V Sangster, J Wigan & O Sangst

Age: 4

Weight: 9st 7lbs

Starting Price: 5/2

Season Form Figures: 4

Previous Best: 1st - Sun Chariot Stakes (Group 1), Newmarket (October 2021)

By Paul Jones

Thu, 06/15/2023 - 13:59

Ante-Post Focus: Royal Ascot

By At The Races

Royal Hunt Cup

DAWN OF LIBERATION shaped encouragingly in the circumstances on second run back from wind surgery last month and may be peaking at the right time for the Royal Hunt Cup.

Richard Hannon’s four-year-old made the cardinal sin of missing the break round Chester’s tight turns but stayed on well from rear under top-weight to finish fourth over the extended seven furlongs.

That was a big improvement on his reappearance effort at Newmarket’s Guineas Festival where he looked badly in need of the run after a ten-month absence.

Thu, 06/15/2023 - 13:58

Australia: Numerian favored to end losing streak in Ipswich Cup

By Steve Andersen

Wins have been scarce for the Irish-bred gelding Numerian since a victory in the Group 2 Q22 Stakes in Australia in June 2022.

Numerian is winless in his last nine starts, including a narrow loss by slightly less than a half-length in the Group 1 Doomben Cup on May 20. More recently, Numerian was fifth in the Q22 Stakes on June 10.

Those losses against tough company have left the 7-year-old favored to end his losing streak in the $137,480 Ipswich Cup at about 1 5/16 miles at Ipswich Racecourse near Brisbane on Friday evening.