Royal Ascot 2017: The North American runners

Tuesday

American Patriot – Todd Pletcher (Queen Anne)

Unbeaten in two starts this year, including when making his breakthrough at the top level in the Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland last time, beating the consistent Heart To Heart by a neck. That wasn’t the strongest race, however, and he will need to step up again if he is to follow in Tepin’s footsteps and take this for North America.

Miss Temple City – Graham Motion (Queen Anne)

A three-time Grade 1 winner, this will be her third visit to Royal Ascot having finished fourth on both previous attempts (Duke Of Cambridge last year and Coronation Stakes in 2015). Thrives on fast ground and is no forlorn hope at a big price.

Arawak – Wesley Ward (Coventry)

Created a good impression when winning a four-runner dirt maiden over five furlongs on a muddy Belmont track last month. Not bred to be an out-and-out sprinter, he could well appreciate stepping up from five furlongs to six, although his pedigree is much more dirt-oriented rather than turf.

Lady Aurelia – Wesley Ward (King’s Stand)

The star of the show from an American perspective when romping away with last year’s Queen Mary Stakes in a time that was off the scale, Lady Aurelia returns to take her on her elders in the King’s Stand Stakes. Shaping as though as good as ever when winning her seasonal debut at Keeneland in April, she should take all the beating over this five-furlong distance.

Elizabeth Darcy – Wesley Ward (Windsor Castle)

One of two Wesley Ward entries in the Windsor Castle, and a filly with very much a European pedigree, Elizabeth Darcy was deeply impressive when storming away with a turf maiden at Indiana Grand last month, beating C J S Suzie Byu by nearly eight lengths. A powerful-looking filly open to more improvement.

Nootka Sound – Wesley Ward (Windsor Castle)

Wesley Ward’s second Windsor Castle entry, she also beat C J S Suzie Byu on debut, this time on the Keeneland dirt by just over five lengths. By excellent turf sire Lonhro, there seems no reason why she won’t be equally effective switching surfaces, and reportedly out-worked Elizabeth Darcy in their final gallop together.

Wednesday

Happy Like A Fool – Wesley Ward (Queen Mary)

Happy Like A Fool will represent one of America’s strongest chances of the week when she lines up in the Queen Mary – the race her stable companion Lady Aurelia ran away with last year. A winner of a Keeneland dirt maiden in early April, the speedy Happy Like A Fool recorded an exceptional TimeformUS speed figure there and should take all the beating.

Con Te Partiro – Wesley Ward (Sandringham Handicap)

A rare runner outside of sprint races at Royal Ascot for her trainer, Con Te Partiro was a winner of a maiden at Keeneland and a minor stakes race at Saratoga in 2016. A good fourth of seven to Morticia in a listed race at Belmont on reappearance, Con Te Partiro stays seven furlongs but needs to prove she can be just as effective at a mile.

Thursday

McErin – Wesley Ward (Norfolk)

McErin will attempt to become Wesley Ward’s second Norfolk Stakes winner, following on from No Nay Never’s triumph in 2013. Although he has very much a dirt pedigree, McErin has an action that is “all turf” according to his trainer, and he comes here the winner of a Keeneland dirt maiden and most recently finished third in a non-graded stakes contest on the Churchill Downs main track.

Friday

Fairyland – Wesley Ward (Albany)

Fairyland didn’t fly over with the bulk of her trainer’s team as she was treated found to have warts in her mouth, but is still expected to take her place in the Albany Stakes following treatment. Another of Ward’s two-year-olds to make a winning debut at Keeneland, Fairyland should put up a strong showing but needs to improve a little to challenge the standard-setting Alpha Centauri.

Princess Peggy – Wesley Ward (Albany)

Also set to represent Ward in the Albany, Princess Peggy was the winner of her sole start in a maiden at Belmont, beating Girl’s Night by just over five lengths on a sloppy track. She should improve, but needs to considerably if she is to take a hand in the finish.

Bound For Nowhere – Wesley Ward (Commonwealth Cup)

While Caravaggio will be most people’s idea of a banker in this contest, it would be unwise to underestimate Bound For Nowhere, who is open to considerable improvement. With two starts and two wins to his name, he is light on experience but not on potential, and has the physique to make up into an exciting sprinter.

La Coronel – Mark Casse (Coronation)

Following Tepin’s Queen Anne win last year, her trainer Mark Casse has been tempted over once more, this time with La Coronel in the Coronation Stakes. A winner of Grade 3 contests on her last two starts, La Coronel needs to improve a good deal on that form to challenge the principals in this contest.

Saturday

Long On Value – Bill Mott (Diamond Jubilee)

Produced a career best when second to The Right Man in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Dubai World Cup day, and was possibly unlucky not to win. He is relatively unexposed as a sprinter and would have a big chance if able to build on that performance. Although fully effective on fast ground, he did seem to enjoy the easier surface at Meydan, so any rain wouldn’t necessarily be a negative.

Read about Mark's top 5 North American Royal Ascot winners here