Royal Ascot Meeting 2016: Day Five Preview

Like the King’s Stand Stakes on Tuesday, the Diamond Jubilee Stakes has become a truly international affair and a key part of the Global Sprint Challenge which encompasses 10 Group 1 races across the world. Last year’s renewal saw an Australian pipped to the post by an American, and the winner, Undrafted, returns to defend his crown. Trained by multiple Royal Ascot winner Wesley Ward, Undrafted showed that he retains all of his speed when winning a Grade 2 over five and a half furlongs at Keeneland last time and he should get the strong pace that he requires in his follow-up bid. He produced a high-class level of form to get the better of Australian speedball Brazen Beau 12 months ago and is very much respected.

Australian sprinter Holler won the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick in March, before a short-head defeat in the Group 1 William Read Stakes later that month. He is hugely respected, as is the Hong Kong-trained Gold-Fun who comes into this race on the back of a smart effort behind Chautauqua in last month's Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin, a race he won in 2015.

Whilst the international challenge is typically strong, this year’s crop of domestic sprinters looks above its normal level. Magical Memory won the Stewards’ Cup last year and has returned better than ever this campaign, producing a career-best to deny Suedois in a warm renewal of the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes last time.

Twilight Son could only manage fifth in the Duke of York on his return from seven months off the track, but he had beaten Magical Memory in all three of their previous encounters on the track and was forced to carry a penalty for his victory in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock last September (Magical Memory third). He should prove much sharper with that outing under his belt.

James Fanshawe’s The Tin Man was also very progressive last season, with wins at Doncaster (twice) and here at Ascot. He improved again when a three and three-quarter lengths fourth in the British Champions Sprint Stakes on his final start in 2015 and created a tremendous impression when winning a listed race at Windsor on his seasonal reappearance.

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The Diamond Jubilee is preceded by the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes, a race Sir Michael Stoute has dominated in recent years, landing four of the last six renewals. He has a nap hand with Dartmouth, and Exosphere. The last-named gets the vote, having impressed with the manner of his win in the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket last time (Simple Verse second), albeit taking into account the no-show from Jack Hobbs. The Queen’s Dartmouth is chasing a hat-trick after winning the John Porter Stakes at Chelmsford in April and then following up in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester last time by a neck from Wicklow Brave. Aidan O'Brien's Highland Reel is respected, having won the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, Secretariat Stakes at Arlington and Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in 2015, while last year's runner-up Eagle Top is another to consider.

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The Wokingham, with 31 runners, is as difficult a puzzle as you’d expect, however Toofi caught the eye for his new trainer Robert Cowell at York last time out. Racing over five furlongs for the first time, he was a little outpaced before running into trouble and wasn’t given a hard time once defeat was inevitable. This extra furlong will suit and a big handicap looks within his grasp.

The final day of Royal Ascot gets underway with the listed Chesham Stakes which includes two sons of Frankel – Cunco and Frankuus – in its line-up. Day Five also features the Wolferton Handicap, where Maleficent Queen will bid for a six-timer, and finishes with the Queen Alexandra Stakes, won last year by Oriental Fox who is back to defend his crown.