By James Flaherty
As we look forward to the Olympics of flat racing, my advice to punters ahead of Royal Ascot is not to allow the International flavour and other entertainment sideshows fool you. While it may be a kaleidoscope of colour, Royal Ascot is devilishly difficult as a betting medium.
Tom Wood
R1: 2-1-8-7
R2: 2-7-4-5
R3: 4-7-3-5
R4: 3-2-5-10
R5: 5-6-7-8
R6: 8-2-3-5
R7: 10-3-7-8
R8: 8-4-12-1
R9: 1-6-11-2
BEST: R6 N8 LIVE WIRE (WIN)
VALUE: R3 N4 WORD OF KINDNESS (EW)
PLAY: R6 QQP 2,3,8
Paul Lally
R1: 2-1-3-7
R2: 1-7-4-2
R3: 3-10-11-1
R4: 9-1-10-8
R5: 5-1-7-12
R6: 8-2-5-3
R7: 11-3-8-4
R8: 8-4-1-3
R9: 12-6-11-5
By Declan Schuster
Tycoon Resources (122lb) has burst onto the scene as a horse packed with ability, and on Wednesday night (10 June) at Happy Valley, the up-and-comer is aiming to extend his unbeaten sequence.
The three-year-old son of Written Tycoon joined a select band of 22 horses since the 1999/00 season to secure debut victory in Class 4 over 1000m at Happy Valley. Following that effort was a brave win from an awkward position last month, rallying under Angus Chung for two-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer (1999/00 & 2004/05) Tony Cruz.
In his sixth attempt, the veteran Japanese older horse Sixpence won a Grade 1 race with an ideal trip in Sunday’s $2.16 million Yasuda Kinen for turf milers at Tokyo Racecourse.
Ridden by Yutaka Take, 57, Sixpence stalked pacesetter World’s End for the first seven furlongs, moved alongside the leader in the final strides and won by a neck. World’s End finished in a dead-heat for second with a fast-closing Gaia Force, who closed strongly in the field of 17.
Sixpence was 20-1 in Japanese pools, while World’s End was the 9-5 favorite.
For the second consecutive year, Trovatore starts in the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen for turf milers in Japan on a two-race winning streak in Grade 3 races at Tokyo Racecourse
Last year, Trovatore had a rough outing in the Yasuda Kinen, failing to settle and finishing 17th of 18.
This year, the outlook is more optimistic. Trovatore is rated as one of the primary contenders in the $2.16 million race at Tokyo Racecourse. Trovatore won the Grade 3 Shimbun Hai at a mile in February, and the Grade 3 Epsom Cup at 1 1/8 miles on May 9.
Aidan O’Brien a year ago became the first trainer in modern history to win the Derby three years in a row. Saturday at Epsom Downs, he has four horses, including the early favorite, to make it four.
British bookmakers Thursday offered Benvenuto Cellini at about 2-1, a solid but far from an overwhelming favorite among a group of 14 entered in the 1 1/2-mile classic over Epsom’s unique, challenging course.
The course itself and course conditions, which figure no better than soft, will play a major role, perhaps particularly for the favorite.
Panova, the Australian-bred 3-year-old filly, had a rough start to 2026, losing three consecutive Group 1 or Group 2 races at tracks in the Sydney area.
A move to leading venues at other states has changed her season. Panova won the first Group 1 race of her career in the $714,800 Australasian Oaks at 1 1/4 miles at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide on April 25 in a 10-1 upset.
She will be favored to win another Group 1 in Saturday’s $499,000 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm Racecourse near Brisbane. Trained by Chris Waller, Panova is part of a field of 18.
