A midweek day out to Ascot this week to celebrate another birthday, been coming here for many years now on this particular meeting although numbers have sadly dwindled recently, but to celebrate my advancing years we decamp to Ascot races for their midweek fixture featuring the Ascot Gold Cup trial the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes. Renamed Royal Ascot Trials Day for 2019, Ascot's first Flat meeting focuses on some of the key prep races ahead of the Royal Meeting in June.
Today's race card is good quality for a midweek meeting albeit small fields as usual in the opening contests. The seven-race card will have an increased focus ahead of Royal Ascot with four specific trials on the card, led by the Group 3 Longines Sagaro Stakes, won in recent years both Colour Vision and Estimate on their way to Gold Cup glory at Royal Ascot. It also continues as part of the Wetherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million, won last year by Gold Cup champion Stradivarius. In addition to the Gold Cup trial we are delighted to have another Group three contest with the Pavilion Stakes (renamed as a Commenwealth Cup Trial) a 6f contest for 3yo's along with another listed event the Paradise Stakes over the mile (now a Queen Anne Stakes Trial).
In recent years the fields have been small and although the opening two races have only attracted just a few runners in each the rest of the card is on a par compared to previous renewals. We will end the card with a pair of handicaps now so hopefully there will be some added interest and larger fields for this event which I hope will remain on the Wednesday in future and not moved to the Saturday.
Here's a link to the days racecard;
https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/fast-cards/71237/2019-05-01/ascot
The forecast going is described as Good to firm, Good in places. There is a bit of a chill in the air and possible forecast for a drop of rain in the afternoon however we will have a fun day out come what may, it's the nearest local meeting to my birthday and always better than being at work.
Here are my selections for this afternoons meeting;
2.15 - 5f Conditions Stakes (2yo)
Our midweek event gets underway with a five furlong sprint for two year olds and we are disappointing by the small field of only 6 runners though not that surprised as this is regularly the case and often a short price favourite results, as I recall though last year the 1/7F [The Irish Rover] was last of four and we found the winner [Getchagetchagetcha] so will be nice if we can repeat that again.
Wesley Ward is sending raiders over from the States again and his entry here LADY PAULINE an odds on winner of her only start at Keeneland and might be hard to catch. Both Zulu Zander and Ventura Rebel have also won while newcomer to note from the Richard Hannon yard ENDOWED is usually worth taking a good interest in as this was a race the family used to win regularly with a nice 2yo.
Result -- 1st (VENTURA REBEL 20/1).
2.50 - 1m Conditions Stakes (3yo Fillies)
This race has a good turnout for a change with ten declared this time all 3yo fillies in the line up where Richard Hannon has three entries (Aim Power, Ajrar and Quick) the first of these ridden by Ryan Moore and looks overpriced at 20/1 here.
QUEEN POWER represents the powerful Sir Michael Stoute yard and his early runners should be noted, she won her only 2yo start at Newmarket and should prove a 3yo to follow.
Bottom one Model Guest has the most experience and possibly some of the better overall form but is still a maiden and exposed but should well for connections and not out of this, personally I'm with the Hannon trio.
Result -- 1st (MUCHLY 9/1).
3.25 - 2m Sagaro Stakes (Group 3)
For a Group 3 expected a few more runners for this our feature race, with just seven stayers being declared it's also not helping any each way or placepot entries. Headed by RAYMOND TUSK a winner in Italy and also ran a fair race in the St Leger last year, seems likely to stay but could find this a bit early.
Runner up in the St Leger was WEEKENDER and he'll be very popular with Frankie Dettori riding, should be staying on at the finish and is likely to find last years Derby runner up DEE EX BEE who might improve a bit more for the additional trip and with a yard that does very well with these stayers.
Result -- 1st (DEE EX BEE 11/8F).
3.55 - 6f Pavilion Stakes (3yo) (Group 3)
Another field of seven for our next Group 3 race and are headed by CALYX who seems likely to be a warm order for this and another for the John Gosden / Frankie Dettori team who have missed the 2000 Guineas for this instead so sprinting seems to be his route this season.
It's almost any price you like the rest and with only one other place available assuming the favourite wins limits our selection options, POCKET DYNAMO is a good sprinter and might able to spring a surprise with fitness assured.
Result -- 1st (CAYLX 1/3F).
4.25 - 1m Paradise Stakes (Listed)
At last a field of eight declared for the listed event over the mile, we hope they all stand their ground on the day, if BARNEY ROY comes back to anything like his 2017 form he's going to be hard to catch, but having a year off the track might make him vulnerable first time back, so am drawn to the first of two Al-Maktoum runners WADILSAFA a son of the mighty Frankel and winner at both York and Sandown last year. Their other runner TABARRAK is no slouch either and they should both be thereabouts but preference for the Owen Burrows runner.
Result -- 1st (ZAAKI 9/1).
5.00 - 5f Handicap
This year they have added in an additional handicap event to create a seven race card, it's a five furlong sprint with a field of thirteen declared and opening forecast is about 6/1 the field. Wide open as suggested by the betting but we take the pair of ICONIC KNIGHT and BURFORD BROWN against the field for the win bet as both raced well during the last season only fading towards the end of the year, the latter has had a race to blow away the cobwebs and they can be expected to run well this year. The consistent SOMETHING LUCKY would also have to enter calculations but looks a safer place bet.
Result -- 1st (BURFORD BROWN 10/1).
5.35 - 1m Apprentice Handicap
Easily the biggest field of the meeting as always and 20 here for the finale, all apprentices, often hard to know what form they will be in and not usually a race I make a point of betting in. Top weight ISOMER from Andrew Balding have had winners of this in the past and is a course and distance winner too, Joshua Bryan is a good apprentice too so 20/1 is an each way option.
MERCHANT OF VENICE seems to be the popular choice, but in a race of this nature looks too short for me, maybe just chance a big price one with light weight, that brings in the pair of AMBIENT and FIRST LINK but it's a race to just watch, enjoy, finish your drinks and head for the pub.
Result -- 1st (ENIGMATIC 14/1).
Good luck today.
Results will appear here during Wednesday evening, if I'm sober enough to update things then. Please check out the Pontefract blog too which is also taking place today.
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