Dubbed the 'Prince of Pain' Bahraini boxer Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa is ready to deliver a knockout blow at Royal Ascot today. The Sandhurst-educated military officer, who counts Conor McGregor as a close friend, has splashed millions on his racing operation KHK Racing, with a dream of rivalling the big players of Coolmore, Godolphin and Juddmonte.
He was rewarded last year when ELDAR ELDAROV, named after a world champion MMA fighter, delivered Classic glory in the St Leger at Doncaster. And the Roger Varian trained star looks the one to land a highly competitive Gold Cup (4.20pm)
Shaikh Khalid - whose family is said to be worth around £4.4billion - bought the horse for £550,000 last year and has already recouped that in prize money. Ascot's £340,260 showpiece could further swell those coffers further for a horse that looks perfectly bred for the staying 2m 4f trip on good ground.
John and Thady Gosden believe they've got a superstar in unbeaten Frankel filly AL ALSIFAH and with two commanding wins to her name, she should scorch rivals in the Ribblesdale Stakes (3.40pm), though short odds will make few people rich. LAND LEGEND – ridden by in-form Hollie Doyle - offers better value in the King George V Stakes (3.05pm) having narrowly lost to Chesspiece at York in his last start, form franked by the strongly-run third place for the latter in yesterday’s Queen’s Vase.
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It's seven years since American speedster Lady Aurelia produced a Royal Ascot performance for the ages to win the Queen Mary Stakes, following up with a King's Stand Stakes 12 months later. Her first foal, AMERICAN RASCAL, looked to have all his mother's explosive speed when winning his debut race at Keeneland in April and could follow her lead, in just their second start, in five furlong Norfolk Stakes (2.30pm).
The booking of top Kiwi jockey James McDonald for RACINGBREAKS RYDER in the Britannia Stakes (5.00pm) catches the eye, especially as he is coming into the race on the back of four straight wins, including over a slightly shorter seven-furlong trip here at Ascot in May.
Kingman colt TORITO won the Lester Piggot Handicap at Epsom on Derby Day in a performance that suggested he was a fair way off his mark - and should relish the step up in company in the Hampton Court Stakes (5.35pm).
It's interesting to note that Frankie Detorri is riding Epictetus in the owner's first choice silks, a horse dropping back in class after top five finishes in the Dante and French Derby.
And finally, with five places from ten races, CROUPIER will appreciate the slight drop back in trip to seven furlongs in the Buckingham Palace Stakes (6.10pm). He had a horror start to his season at Doncaster but rebounded to win with class at York and will relish rattling fast ground, with warm weather forecast to continue.
Selections:
2.30: American Rascal
3.05: Land Legend
3.40: Al Asifah
4.20: Eldar Eldarov
5.00: Racingbreaks Ryder
5.35: Torito
6.10: Croupier
