Ratings Update: Royal Ascot Group 1s

Queen Anne Stakes

For the second year in succession, the Queen Anne Stakes confirmed the impression that the current bunch of older miles are much of a muchness, especially with impressive Lockinge winner Mustashry (down 2 lb to 125) failing to back that effort up in seventh here.

Ultimately, it was the pair who finished second and sixth, respectively, 12 months ago who fought out the finish, with Lord Glitters (up 2 lb to 123) proving better than ever in a race run to suit his hold-up style to gain a first top-level success, improving further upon his fine record at Ascot in the process (form figures read 212261). He holds entries in the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes, suggesting that a return to a trip over which he won in his younger days may well be in the offing before long, though the competition in that division will be tougher.

Beat The Bank (up 1 lb to 121) ran as well as he ever has in second, while the third One Master (up 4 lb to 119) and fourth Romanised (up 1 lb to 119) both shaped better than the bare result, the former forced to make her move away from the other principals and Romanised being forced to delay his challenge longer than ideal after a troubled passage.

King’s Stand Stakes/Diamond Jubilee Stakes

Bar the nose by which Mabs Cross (down 2 lb to 121) failed to get up for third, the first three in the King’s Stand Stakes would have been the exact same as in 2018, with Blue Point (up 2 lb to 131) again possessing more strength at the finish than old rival Battaash (remains on 133).

It is worth noting that things again didn’t fall perfectly for the runner-up – the plan to follow the trailblazing Australian mare Houtzen (remains on 116) was scuppered somewhat after she had stumbled badly at the start – and he will set the standard by some margin in whichever five-furlong races he contests in the second half of 2019, especially as Blue Point will no longer be on the scene.

Indeed, the announcement that Blue Point had been retired came less than 48 hours after he had completed a historic double in Saturday’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes, where he didn’t need to match his King’s Stand form to hold off the late thrust of the thriving Dream of Dreams (up 7 lb to 127) and emulate the feat last achieved by Choisir in 2003.

Connections were rightly lauded for the sporting decision to take in two races at the meeting, which makes the decision to retire Blue Point when fit and healthy half way through the season all the more disappointing – races like the July Cup and Champions Sprint will be all the weaker for his absence.

🔵 Blue Point wins the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and completes a double at #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/xcX2KRQ5WI

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 22, 2019

St James’s Palace Stakes

Back to Tuesday, and the race designed to settle the pecking order amongst the three-year-old milers provided an unusually inconclusive result, with Derby also-ran Circus Maximus (up 8 lb to 122) justifying the decision to supplement him with a battling success in first-time blinkers. That represented a career-best effort from him by some way, and he’s likely to prove as effective back over further, with the Eclipse appealing as a potential target.

It’s difficult to escape the conclusion that he was a fortunate winner on the day, however, with runner-up King of Comedy (up 8 lb to 126p) looking unlucky not to run out a decisive winner, delivering his challenge from further back than ideal and doing extremely well under the circumstances to go down by just a neck. He rates as the likeliest winner of the Sussex Stakes on the back of this, boasting form comparable to anything he'll meet there and open to further improvement.

As for stablemate Too Darn Hot (120+ from 124), he ran as well as he has this year in third, without having any obvious excuses, and the suspicion grows that his lack of stature means that he hasn't made the progress required over the winter to maintain leadership of his generation.

Prince of Wales’s Stakes

Wednesday’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes looked a strong renewal on paper, and it was one that lived up to its billing despite being run in foul conditions, the first two well established at the highest level, with Crystal Ocean (up 2 lb to 131) proving better than ever in seeing off the strong challenge of the favourite Magical (remains on 128).

Having produced the best performance in this race since Rewilding in 2011, Crystal Ocean will surely be back at Ascot for the King George next month, bidding to go one better than when narrowly beaten by stablemate Poet’s Word last year, and a rematch with Magical – not to mention Enable and the pick of the classic generation – will be one to savour, the crown of the summer promising to be the race it should be.

Sea of Class (remains on 129) should not be underestimated with this run under her belt, either. She shaped very well after eight months off in fifth, faced with much the softest ground she's encountered (connections considered withdrawing her) and over a trip short of her optimum – it would be no surprise if she proved more of a match for the first two here in the King George.

It was billed as one of the highlights of the week - and the Prince of Wales's Stakes didn't disappoint 🍿

And after getting first run thanks to a canny ride from @FrankieDettori, it was Crystal Ocean who landed the prize 👏#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/HBpt74SPPE

— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 19, 2019

Gold Cup

There were a few new faces for last year’s leading stayer Stradivarius (remains on 127) to contend with in Thursday’s Gold Cup, but, in the event, Dee Ex Bee (124 from 123p) and Cross Counter (remains on 124) went the same way as every other rival over the last few seasons in having to settle for a minor role.

Stradivarius was always well positioned the way the race developed, and having briefly found himself short of room, he typically settled the issue with a turn of speed once getting a gap, seeming to do just enough in front thereafter. In terms of form, this performance didn’t match the one he posted in 2018, but that is a mere side note – he really is a cracking racehorse, in every regard, and there's no reason why he won't continue to be the one to beat in this division for the rest of the season.

Dee Ex Bee predictably had no trouble with the still longer trip, rallying close home to regain second from the much-improved Master of Reality (up 5 lb to 124) and leaving the impression that setting a stronger gallop might have seen him in a better light still, something that would also have played into the hands of Cross Counter.

Indeed, he was value for a bit extra over the result in faring best of those that were held up in a steadily-run race, and is well-established now as a very smart stayer, for all that he's going to have find further improvement from somewhere if he's to start beating Stradivarius.

Incredible. Simply the best.

Stradivarius and @FrankieDettori win the 2019 Gold Cup at @Ascot 🏆#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/oZAUaLQjbJ

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 20, 2019

Commonwealth Cup

With Calyx and the ill-fated Lady Kaya notable absentees, Friday’s Commonwealth Cup attracted the smallest field in its five-year existence, with only nine going to post compared to the 22 who contested the 2018 renewal.

It is worth remembering, though, that last year’s race proved to be a substandard affair, despite the huge field, and this may just offer quality over quantity, with the first four pulling well clear of their rivals in a good time, the winner Advertise (up 7 lb to 123) bouncing back from a poor run in the Guineas and producing a very smart performance to beat the progressive Forever In Dreams (up 9 lb to 114) and Sandy Lane winner Hello Youmzain (117 from 116+) decisively in first-time blinkers.

Martyn Meade’s charge has clearly trained on well and should make an impact against the older sprinters later in the summer, but whether Ten Sovereigns (118 from 120p) – sent off the evens favourite but beaten two and a quarter lengths in fourth here – can do the same is now open to some debate, especially as Jash (down 2 lb to 116) didn't do much for the Middle Park form here, either.

Coronation Stakes

The Coronation Stakes – the championship decider for three-year-old miling fillies before they take on their elders – attracted a representative field, with the winners of four Guineas on the continent amongst them, though it was ultimately the horse who finished sixth in the French equivalent who came out on top.

Watch Me (120 from 107+) had shaped better than the result in the Pouliches (encountered trouble in-running), though it was still a surprise how much better she proved to be, impressing with the way she went through the race here and seeing things out well to beat hot favourite Hermosa (119 from 120p) by a length and a half. There didn’t appear to be any fluke about it, her performance on a par with an average winner of this race, and she will continue to be a leading player in this division.

English and Irish Guineas winner Hermosa was a bit below her best in second, with her appearance beforehand (looked light and on her toes) suggesting that she may be in need of a break; she is likely to bounce back soon enough and is well worth trying over further at some stage. Jubiloso (114p from 111P) ran a huge race for one so inexperienced in third and is likely to find a good race coming her way at some point, with the physique to go on progressing for the rest of the year and beyond.