Royal Ascot Day 4 Preview
Day 4 is headlined by a magnificent dual Group 1 menu featuring the Commonwealth Cup and the Coronation Stakes, alongside the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes and the Group 3 Albany Stakes. Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien sends a formidable contingent to tackle the afternoon's features, including English 1,000 Guineas heroine True Love and her Irish 1,000 Guineas-winning stablemate, Precise.
Race 4: Coronation Stakes (Group 1)
Distance: 1 mile (1603m) | Conditions: 3yoF | Post Time: 1:20am AEST
Classy milers and stablemates Precise and True Love clash for a third time in what promises to be a thrilling tie-breaker. First time around, it was True Love who prevailed, landing the Betfred 1,000 Guineas in deeply impressive fashion. She seemed to glide over the Newmarket turf, cruising up to the leaders before putting the race to bed with ease. While Precise failed to deliver as the pre-race favourite, finishing seventh without ever threatening her stablemate.
However, the script was flipped in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. True Love found the lead but was quickly run down by Precise. The daughter of Starspangledbanner sustained a devastating turn of foot from well off the pace to exact revenge by 2.5 lengths. The defining factor on Friday could be course experience, True Love is already a proven Royal Ascot winner, whereas Precise makes her debut at the venue. It remains incredibly difficult to separate the pair.
The market views the Coronation Stakes as a strict match race, giving nothing outside the big two an honest glance. The remainder of the field have compiled form lines heavily beaten by the O’Brien pair in either the English or Irish Classics.
Selections:
#9. True Love
#4. Precise
#2. Black Caviar Gold
#1. Balantina
Race 2: Commonwealth Cup (Group 1)
Distance: 6 furlongs (1207m) | Conditions: 3yo | Post Time: 12:05am AEST
The standout three-year-old sprinter of the season has undoubtedly been the lightning-fast Venetian Sun. A winner of five races from seven career starts, her CV includes a brilliant victory in France's Group 1 Prix Morny, where she defeated Gstaad. Though subsequent experiments over 1,400m and a mile in the 1,000 Guineas exposed her stamina limitations, a return to a true sprint trip makes her lethal. She proved as much when capturing the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes over this 1,207m trip, dismissing Division and Spicy Marg, both of whom reoppose here. Her barrier position is key as well. After three days of heavy traffic, the inside lanes are bound to be chewed up, meaning a middle-to-wide barrier will be highly advantageous to find fresh, superior ground.
The primary threats emerge from Ballydoyle via a pair of immensely talented Aidan O’Brien colts, Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin. Both were highly touted juveniles who have yet to fully hit the ground running in their three-year-old campaigns. Albert Einstein failed to fire over 1,400m in his first two starts this term, but a drop back to six furlongs sparked a return to form last time out, finishing a close second to Song of the Clyde in the Carnarvon Stakes.
Meanwhile, Charles Darwin returns to the scene of his finest hour, having captured the Norfolk Stakes here as a two-year-old by an impressive two lengths over Wise Approach. Since that day, the son of No Nay Never has lined up just twice—winning the EBF Committed Stakes at Navan before finishing a distant eight lengths behind Havana Anna in the Lacken Stakes. Both colts will need to scale career-best peaks to lower the colors of Venetian Sun.
Selections:
#21. Venetian Sun
#1. Albert Einstein
#6. Division
#12. Samangan
Elsewhere on Friday's glittering programme, Aidan O’Brien’s exciting two-year-old filly Sun Goddess kicks off proceedings in the Group 3 Albany Stakes. She rates as a clear-cut favorite to handle a massive field of 25 runners.
The Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes over 2,405m shapes up as one of the most fascinating tactical battles of the day. In a select six-runner field, the John and Thady Gosden-trained, undefeated Water To Win holds market visual dominance, closely shadowed by Causeway, who is hunting a fifth consecutive victory. After finishing eighth in the Epsom Derby, Ancient Egypt looks to bounce back to form on softer terms in the same race.
James McDonald is the sole Aussie hoop in action on Day 4, he’ll partner with Richard and Peter Fahey to ride Hidden Gift in the first race, followed by outside Fitzella in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup. His third and final ride of the day is in Race 3 aboard Opportunity for William Haggas.
