Connections of Kachy may well claim to be unlucky losers, but the ability to run straight is just as important as the ability to run fast and Quiet Reflection was the best horse on the day. It was heart in mouth stuff for supporters of the favourite, but she got the job done and that is the main thing. It is some achievement for the Ontoawinner Syndicate and it proves that you don't have to be a billionaire to have a chance of being involved in a Group 1 winner at Royal Ascot.
Unfortunately Jet Setting ran a flat race in the Coronation and in my opinion the ground had likely become a little bit too lively for her. When you see a daughter of War Front winning (Brave Anna in the Albany) the ground couldn't have been that soft, and Jet Setting needs plenty of cut to be seen at her very best. An Autumn campaign on proper soft ground beckons and a long break will do her good. Below are my thoughts on the final day of what has been a thrilling week of racing.
RACE 1
I was down in Gowran Park the day that Justice Frederick won Joseph O Brien's first official race as a trainer and I was hugely impressed by this strapping son of Lawman. He was sold earlier this week for the princely sum of £200k and he could prove to be a shrewd purchase. He looked really promising on his debut run over 5f on good to yielding ground at Tipperary, slowly away and keeping on eyecatchingly under tender handling by Donnacha O'Brien. The winner of that race, Pedestal, ran a cracker during the week in the Windsor Castle so it looks like decent form.
He really shaped as though a step up to 7f would suit and he duly obliged at Gowran (7f gd), travelling wide and kicking on a furlong from home. The second home was trained by Aidan O'Brien and Leo Minor is a horse to look out for next time out. Justice Frederick is now in the care of Paul D'Arcy and Donnacha has been retained for the ride. He is bred to be a smart horse and his half sister Manieriee was a Group 2 winner and loved to get her toe in.
The 6/5 favourite Churchill did look very promising on debut and the step up to 7f is sure to suit him. However, at odds of 25/1 I think Justice Frederick is overpriced and I am not sure he would be that big if he was still being trained by Joseph or Aidan. He is the each way suggestion in a competitive looking listed race.
STEVOS' SELECTION: JUSTICE FREDERICK E/W 25/1
RACE 2
I think Battalion is a hugely interesting contender here for William Haggas off a mark of 107. He hasn't fired on his two turf runs this season but he has yet to encounter his favoured soft ground. The current conditions of good to soft will be ideal, though he won't mind if there is rain before racing. His career form figures when there has been soft in the ground description read 1335111.
He has been held up on his last couple of starts but he is usually most effective when racing prominently. Pat Dobbs held him up out the back at Goodwood and never left the inside rail. He was pulling hard early on and he evidently wanted to go much faster than Dobbs would allow. He travelled strongly up until around 1f from home but it was no surprise that he didn't find much when ridden given how hard he pulled early doors.
There will be plenty of pace on here so hopefully he can break well and get a nice position up with the pace. Noble Gift will likely try and lead so Battalion should be able to settle and travel in behind him. I can see Cosgrave making his move a couple of furlongs out and fingers crossed Battalion can last home and hold off the finishers. Any more rain would increase confidence and he is the each way selection at 22/1.
STEVOS' SELECTION: BATTALION E/W 22/1
RACE 3
This Group 2 looks a very competitive contest and it is a race that Michael Stoute has farmed in recent years. He has won 6 of the last 10 and he is looking to win it for the third time in a row today. He fires two bullets in Dartmouth and Exosphere, and with juice in the ground the latter is preferred. However, Exosphere is just 5/2 and at much bigger odds I think Astronereus is worth a second glance.
This son of Sea The Stars is bred to be a pattern level horse and he proved that with a commanding win on his first try in group company when taking a Group 3 on his seasonal return at Newbury (12f gd). He improved a stone last season, starting off in handicaps off 93 and ending up off a mark of 107. His only moderate run came in the Ebor at York (14f), but that wasn't his true running and he is a better horse than he showed that day.
He is entitled to strip fitter for that comeback run at Newbury and as he has won on ground ranging from soft to good to firm the ground conditions won't bother him. However, he has been at his very best with a bit of juice so it will be perfect for him tomorrow. He should get a strong pace to aim at which will suit him well and as a 14f winner he won't lack stamina. His half brother Le Harve won a French Derby and Astronereus could be set take another step forward upped in class again. Pat Dobbs knows him well and keeps the ride. He will be hoping to give Amanda Perrett a first Group 2 win since Tungsten Strike won the Henry II at Sandown back in 2006.
STEVOS' SELECTION: ASTRONEREUS E/W 20/1
RACE 4
This is my featured race of the day for Bettingtools and you can read my thoughts on the Diamond Jubilee by clicking here.
RACE 5
I really like the chances of Jack Dexter in this big 6f heritage handicap that sees 29 runners go to post. He has yet to show anything like his best form so far this season but the return to Ascot and the good to soft ground are reasons for optimism, as is his declining mark. He gets to race off just 102 tomorrow, and he was beaten just over 3L off 6lb higher in the Ayr Gold Cup last September. He went on to win a 6f listed heat at Doncaster on heavy on his final run of the season before heading on his winter break.
He has often run well at Ascot and he wasn't beaten far in the King's Stand last season on ground plenty quick enough for him. He has been poor on his first three runs this season, and he admittedly needs to show a lot more to get involved here. However, I think that Fran Berry is a shrewd jockey booking and his quiet and patient style should suit Jack Dexter, who needs to be held up and produced late. He has rarely run a poor race at Ascot and with the easy ground in his favour and off a much reduced mark he is the each way suggestion at odds of 25/1 with Paddy Power, who are paying out on the first 6 places each way.
STEVOS' SELECTION: JACK DEXTER E/W 25/1 (6 Places Powers)
RACE 6
No bet for me here just one to watch and enjoy.
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