Keeping up the international theme this week, sprinters from Australia, New Zealand, France and Ireland do battle against the home side in today's Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. But the knockout blow may be delivered by a speedster from South Africa, in the shape of War Artist.
The five-year-old, a four-times winner in his native country, has found his way to Newmarket, where he has been brought steadily to peak form by trainer James Eustace. A close-second finish in last month's Duke of York Stakes was proof that War Artist (3.45) is ready to take on the best.
Shouldering 9st 12lb, which included a 5lb penalty, War Artist took the credit, if not the main prize, when beaten a neck by Assertive at York. He meets Richard Hannon's winner on level terms today and can improve again, as this has been War Artist's target all season.
The draw will play its part in today's six furlongs sprint, but from the evidence this week stall one is certainly no disadvantage. At York, a high draw proved a disadvantage for US Ranger, who fared best of the stands-side runners in fourth behind Assertive and War Artist. Against that, he is also 5lb worse off with the selection, but US Ranger could go close to capping a great week for trainer Aidan O'Brien.
Such is the strength of the Ballydoyle team, Astronomer Royal, who won a decent race at The Curragh last time, with Snaefell and Myboycharlie behind, is the O'Brien second-string.
Tough Australian sprinter Takeover Target, who has been placed in the last two runnings of this race, will be on the premises again, judging by his gallant second to Spain's Equiano in the King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday.
That result, though, is as much a pointer to the chance of French raider Marchand D'Or, who beat Equiano at Chantilly over five furlongs. Sir Gerry was three lengths third, finishing well, and will be suited by the return to six furlongs but so, too, will Freddie Head's gelding.
Marchand D'Or may well have improved since he was beaten into fourth place by Sakhee's Secret in last year's July Cup. But Hughie Morrison's colt spearheads the home team and he looked set for another good season when finishing second behind Captain Gerrard at Newmarket.
Morrison is concerned about over-watered ground or heavy rain for Sakhee's Secret, but all ground seems to come alike for New Zealand's Seachange. This mare has won over a mile but has also clocked fast times when successful at six furlongs. Given the quality of antipodean sprinters, Seachange should not be underestimated.
The powerful O'Brien stable is regularly a force in Royal Ascot Group races, less so in handicaps, so it is interesting that Abraham Lincoln makes a quick reappearance in the Wokingham. He failed to land a blow at Equiano on Tuesday, but had previously run stablemate Astronomer Royal close over six furlongs at The Curragh.
Abraham Lincoln rates one of the dangers to Tombi (4.25), whose trainer Howard Johnson was on target with speedy juvenile South Central on Thursday. Tombi looked an improved performer when running away with a York handicap on his reappearance.
Macarthur is a strong contender to net Aidan O'Brien another big-race win this week in the Hardwicke Stakes, though he could be flattered by his third in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, where he was well placed to make a bid for glory before being run down close home by Soldier Of Fortune and Youmzain.
This is the day we find out how good Spanish Moon (3.05) might be. Having just his third outing, Sir Michael Stoute's colt performed miracles to win a Listed race here after getting badly hampered half a mile from home. Rated a Derby prospect last year until he met with a setback, Spanish Moon has considerable potential.
Ron Cox's tip of the day
Proponent 5.00 Royal Ascot
Regarded as a possible Derby horse last season, which he began by contesting the Dante Stakes, Proponent fell a long way short of that class but he has found his level as a smart handicapper. A gelding now, Proponent saw his race out well to win over nine furlongs at Newmarket last month. He is bred to be even better at a mile and a half and could still be well treated.
Ron Cox on today's other TV races
Having endured a few near-misses with their Royal Ascot runners, Michael Jarvis and Philip Robinson lower their sights at Newmarket today, and they should hit the target with Befortyfour (4.00) in the featured sprint handicap on the card.
With rain forecast, this progressive gelding should get the chance to extend his winning run to four. He simply outclassed his opponents at Leicester last Saturday and it is unlikely a 7lb pull in the weights will be enough for the runner-up, Little Pete, to take his revenge.
Chartist has bags of early speed but has looked a bit of a short-runner. He will have his work cut out to fend off Befortyfour when Robinson says go.
Newmarket 2.15 Fifth behind Yaddree and Masaalek over a mile here last month, Noble Citizen can show the benefit of a drop in distance. The form was upheld when the first two were placed in this week's Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot. Dubai Meydan has gone up 5lb for his good run at Epsom but should be prominent.
Ayr 2.35 With 12 winners and 12 placed horses from 35 runners at this course in the past 10 years, Sir Mark Prescott picks his targets well. He runs Points Of View rather than the recent hat-trick scorer, Master Of Arts, here and a bold showing is expected from the three-year-old, who has been gelded since last year.
Newmarket 2.50 Willie Musson's Brother Barry is one to note on his handicap debut but the stable could be in better form. Tilly's Dream is a more reliable proposition after her good second to Our Faye.
Ayr 3.10 Victory in a conditions race at Beverley showed that Look Busy was still on the upgrade. She finished half a length in front of Eastern Romance when third in York's Rockingham Stakes last year and should confirm that form with Kevin Ryan's filly, who was beaten a head in a Group 3 at Leopardstown recently.
Newmarket 3.25 There are potential improvers among the three-year-olds, notably Henry Cecil's Portodora. But Oat Cuisine has solid claims after getting up close home to beat the subsequent winner, Princess Taylor, over the Rowley Mile.
Redcar 3.40 The handicapper has probably caught up with Silver Seeker, who beat Hi Dancer (now 10lb better) here last month, whereas Let It Be is down to a good mark again. She shaped well when fourth behind Sendali at Newcastle a fortnight ago.
Horse sense
Lucarno flying and just needs a bit of rain
Connections of Lucarno (3.05) hope the ground eases at Ascot today to enable the St Leger winner to take his chance in the Hardwicke Stakes. Lucarno actually found conditions too soft at Sandown last time, but he wasn't knocked about and John Gosden's classy colt has been in red-hot form at home since then.
His two-year-old stablemate Seaway (2.30) did a good piece of work at Newmarket this week, suggesting he can get off the mark in the Chesham Stakes.
Sir Gerry (3.45) is in great shape for the Golden Jubilee - he was far too strong for stablemate Zidane in a recent workout - and James Fanshawe's colt should run well from a good draw. Our strongest news for the Wokingham concerns Lipocco (4.25), but at a big price don't discount Vitznau, whose recent form figures bely his ability.
Like Gosden, Marcus Tregoning is looking for rain to aid his Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap hope, Ezdiyaad (5.00). This progressive four-year-old is the sort to go on defying the handicapper. Judging by his excellent home work, Jadalee could run well at generous odds.
A spell hurdling has done Metaphoric (5.35) no harm. He is owned by the Royal Ascot Racing Club and it comes as no surprise that the Michael Bell-trained gelding has been specially prepared for the Queen Alexandra Stakes.
At Ayr, the Mick Channon team are hopeful of landing a double with Summon Up Theblood (2.35) and Daanaat (4.20).
Seen and heard
Trainers can be a superstitious lot. We hear of one, a leading figure in Newmarket, who has written to racing channels Racing UK and At The Races to say that neither he nor his stable jockey will give an interview before a race. When they do, he reckons, his horse never wins!
Racecards, already chock-a-block with information, will have an added dimension if British thoroughbred breeders get their way. Foreign-bred runners have the country of origin after their name - 'IRE' for Irish-breds, for example - and there is a move afoot to include 'UK' for every British-bred runner.
One vital piece of information which remains unavailable to the majority of punters is the matter of mares in foal. Lady Grace, at Sandown last Saturday, was the latest mother-to-be to win, but most of us found out only after the event. Enforce and Fairfield Princess, who won after an absence of 105 days at Kempton, are just two other recent examples. It is high time punters were put in the picture. We are happy to pass on 'inside' information regarding Aphorism. James Fanshawe's mare is in foal and went close to winning at Pontefract the other day. She returns to the Yorkshire course tomorrow.
The Pheasant has always been No 1 in the racing pub stakes in Lambourn, but that venue may have to start looking to its laurels as The Queens Arms at East Garston, which has always attracted a racing crowd, is undergoing a major refurbishment under the watchful eye of new manager Miriam Francome.
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