-This Saturday afternoon, Ascot racecourse will host three graded (grouped) mile races, with strong Breeders' Cup implications.
The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes could possibly produce the deepest, and most accomplished field of the season. Fourteen horses are pre-entered to race the eight furlongs. Of the fourteen, seven have finished first or second in their last race. All being at the grouped level.
The two expected to take most of the action will be Makfi, and Canford Cliffs. Makfi is a three year old son of Dubawi who has won four of five lifetime. Included in his wins are the 2000 Guineas in May, as well as his latest triumph, the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville. Behind him that day was two time BC Mile winner Goldikova.
His last may have been his best yet as he was able to settle in behind Goldie who in turn, was drafting behind two pace making stable mates. When both were asked for their best, Makfi was able to out kick the million dollar mare to win very impressively.
Makfi should get his sternest test from three consecutive group 1 winner Canford Cliffs. When last seen, C.C. was running down multiple group 1 winner Rip Van Winkle in July's Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. Canford Cliffs is a five time winner, and been in the money in all eight lifetime starts.
He has faced Makfi two times before. One being the aforementioned 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. A race where Canford Cliffs finished two lengths in arrears to his three year old counterpart. A loss he would later avenge while winning the St. James's Palace Stakes in Makfi's only defeat to date.
Among the other contenders with a great chance to knock off the top two, is multiple Group 1 winning superstar Rip Van Winkle. Ballydoyle's best contender, is a three time group 1 winner in his own right. His lack of early betting support may only be a result of who he's against, in lieu of what he's done.
In looking through his past performances, you see the names of arguably two, if not three legendary, and all time greats of our generation. He faced See The Stars three times, including a second place finish in last year's Eclipse Stakes, Zenyatta in America's Breeders' Cup Classic, and this year against Goldie in the Queen Anne Stakes. That's Racing's equivalent of Zeus, Venus, and Aphrodite over a fifteen month span. Not too bad.
If Cape Blanco decides to run this weekend, he will be another O'Brien contender to upset the top two, but it appears Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore boys may bypass the race and wait until next month's Arc De Triomphe. The twelve furlong distance of the Arc will probably be more suitable for the son of Galileo.
-Another feature Saturday at the suburban London racecourse will be the group 1 Fillies' mile. A Breeders' Cup "win and you're in" race for the Juvenile Fillies' Turf. It promises to renew the Coolmore, Goldolphin rivalry, as they have the two decided favorites in the race.
Goldolphin has the undefeated two year old filly White Moonstone. The Dynaformer filly is three for three winning a group 3 two back, and putting in a devastating performance to win the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last out.
Coolmore will send out a two year old filly by Galileo named Misty For Me. Fresh off a win in the group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, she is now two of four lifetime.
Both fillies seem to be up and coming, and should run a fine race. The Goldolphin runner, already being a winner at the distance, may hold a slight edge. Even so, the Coolmore runner does have a Group 1 win under her belt, so both fillies should give a good account of themselves, and produce an entertaining spectacle.
Given both teams' propensity to bring their runners over to the Breeders' Cup, it should heighten the interest for the North American audience.
-The other Group race of the day is the two year old colt equivalent. The group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes. A "win and you're in" race as well.
An interesting runner is the Galileo colt Frankel. Named after the late Hall Of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, he's an impressive winner of an allowance race at Doncaster earlier this month. Owned by long time Frankel owner Juddmonte Farms, the undefeated runner is two for two and looks to step up and become a stakes winner for the first time.
All three races will be shown in America on HRTV with the first of the stakes, the Royal Lodge set to go off at 9:30 ET in America. The Filly mile set for 10:05 ET, and the big one, the Q.E. II set for an 11:15 ET post time.
The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes could possibly produce the deepest, and most accomplished field of the season. Fourteen horses are pre-entered to race the eight furlongs. Of the fourteen, seven have finished first or second in their last race. All being at the grouped level.
The two expected to take most of the action will be Makfi, and Canford Cliffs. Makfi is a three year old son of Dubawi who has won four of five lifetime. Included in his wins are the 2000 Guineas in May, as well as his latest triumph, the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville. Behind him that day was two time BC Mile winner Goldikova.
His last may have been his best yet as he was able to settle in behind Goldie who in turn, was drafting behind two pace making stable mates. When both were asked for their best, Makfi was able to out kick the million dollar mare to win very impressively.
Makfi should get his sternest test from three consecutive group 1 winner Canford Cliffs. When last seen, C.C. was running down multiple group 1 winner Rip Van Winkle in July's Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. Canford Cliffs is a five time winner, and been in the money in all eight lifetime starts.
He has faced Makfi two times before. One being the aforementioned 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. A race where Canford Cliffs finished two lengths in arrears to his three year old counterpart. A loss he would later avenge while winning the St. James's Palace Stakes in Makfi's only defeat to date.
Among the other contenders with a great chance to knock off the top two, is multiple Group 1 winning superstar Rip Van Winkle. Ballydoyle's best contender, is a three time group 1 winner in his own right. His lack of early betting support may only be a result of who he's against, in lieu of what he's done.
In looking through his past performances, you see the names of arguably two, if not three legendary, and all time greats of our generation. He faced See The Stars three times, including a second place finish in last year's Eclipse Stakes, Zenyatta in America's Breeders' Cup Classic, and this year against Goldie in the Queen Anne Stakes. That's Racing's equivalent of Zeus, Venus, and Aphrodite over a fifteen month span. Not too bad.
If Cape Blanco decides to run this weekend, he will be another O'Brien contender to upset the top two, but it appears Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore boys may bypass the race and wait until next month's Arc De Triomphe. The twelve furlong distance of the Arc will probably be more suitable for the son of Galileo.
-Another feature Saturday at the suburban London racecourse will be the group 1 Fillies' mile. A Breeders' Cup "win and you're in" race for the Juvenile Fillies' Turf. It promises to renew the Coolmore, Goldolphin rivalry, as they have the two decided favorites in the race.
Goldolphin has the undefeated two year old filly White Moonstone. The Dynaformer filly is three for three winning a group 3 two back, and putting in a devastating performance to win the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last out.
Coolmore will send out a two year old filly by Galileo named Misty For Me. Fresh off a win in the group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, she is now two of four lifetime.
Both fillies seem to be up and coming, and should run a fine race. The Goldolphin runner, already being a winner at the distance, may hold a slight edge. Even so, the Coolmore runner does have a Group 1 win under her belt, so both fillies should give a good account of themselves, and produce an entertaining spectacle.
Given both teams' propensity to bring their runners over to the Breeders' Cup, it should heighten the interest for the North American audience.
-The other Group race of the day is the two year old colt equivalent. The group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes. A "win and you're in" race as well.
An interesting runner is the Galileo colt Frankel. Named after the late Hall Of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, he's an impressive winner of an allowance race at Doncaster earlier this month. Owned by long time Frankel owner Juddmonte Farms, the undefeated runner is two for two and looks to step up and become a stakes winner for the first time.
All three races will be shown in America on HRTV with the first of the stakes, the Royal Lodge set to go off at 9:30 ET in America. The Filly mile set for 10:05 ET, and the big one, the Q.E. II set for an 11:15 ET post time.
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