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| Punter's Diary by Malcolm Heyhoe |
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| Updated: 28th May 2009 - GG.com |
Swoons In June
June’s arrival signals a high point in the Flat turf season’s rolling caravan, and the month’s major destinations are the two-day Epsom Derby meeting followed close on its heels by the five days of extravagant and top-class racing at Royal Ascot.
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June 5 sees the opening salvoes fired in Epsom’s two-day Derby meeting and as ever pride of place will go to the Investec Oaks, the second fillies’ classic of the season and by all accounts, one of the more open renewals. Indeed the race should answer plenty of pressing questions including whether Rainbow View can recapture her brilliant two-year-old form and last out this longer distance on the Downs.
Will the smart trials successes of Sariska and Midday be good enough for glory at Epsom and can Beauty O’Gwan and July Jasmine step up on their undoubted brilliance and punch their weight in a classic? On the same day Ask and Doctor Fremantle hold strong claims in the Coronation Cup, a Group 1 over 1m 4f for older horses.
The Investec Derby takes special place on June 6 and this year’s renewal is entirely dominated by Aidan O’Brien’s mighty team of nine horses. Throw in the fact that Ireland’s John Oxx is also responsible for Sea The Stars, the 2,000 Guineas winner and you have the recipe for a right old scrap on the Downs. Preference is for O’Brien’s Fame And Glory, who has looked a top-class horse in winning his last two starts including the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial that has been used as a step towards Derby success by many of O’Brien’s Derby heroes.
On June 16 Royal Ascot rolls into town with its five-day extravaganza and on the opening day the highlights are the Group 1 Queen Anne and St James’s Palace Stakes over a mile. In the former contest Godolphin’s Gladiatorus could be hard to beat in a weak division amongst the older horses while Evasive can show that he was in need if the race when beaten off close home in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
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On June 17 Sir Michael Stoute is sure to have a big say in the outcome of the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes with either Conduit or Tartan Bearer but France’s Never On Sunday looks a major threat to the domestic challenge after his recent success in the D’Ispahan, a smooth victory that suggested he would be well up to winning here. In the Royal Hunt Cup it’s anyone’s guess as to the winner at this stage but Forgotten Voice, Riggins and Roaring Forte are three against the field.
The Ascot Gold Cup is the highlight on June18 and all eyes will be upon Yeats as he bids for an unprecedented fourth consecutive Gold Cup at the grand old age of eight. A disappointing first effort of the season at Navan has cast doubts upon his Ascot challenge and he will also face a tough duo in the shape of Patkai, a winner of the Queen’s Vase at this meeting a year ago and Bannaby, the rising star from Spain who beat Yeats at Longchamp last autumn.
Friday’s action features the Coronation Stakes, a Group 1 race over a mile for the fillies and the 1,000 Guineas heroine Ghanaati will be hard to beat here while either Sir Michael Stoute or Aidan O’Brien’s best representative should be sufficient to land the spoils in the Hardwicke Stakes. Handicap fans have the Wokingham to satisfy them and Clive Cox’s Jimmy Styles might be the one for the big 6f sprint.
Finally, June’s high-class action climaxes with the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on June 27, a race that can see Crystal Capella give Sir Michael Stoute back-to-back victories in the Group 1event against strong home opposition in the shape of Katiyra while over at Newcastle the Northumberland Plate occupies pride of place and on The Curragh the following day, June 28, the Irish Derby brings the curtain down on a great month’s action.
Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for GG.COM-Horse racing betting, information, news, results and free daily tips
Archive May 2009
