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What we learned from day one of Royal Ascot

Could Palace Pier be even more of a force to be reckoned with over a mile and a quarter?
Could Palace Pier be even more of a force to be reckoned with over a mile and a quarter?Credit: Edward Whitaker

Palace Pier 'an intriguing prospect' if moving up in distance

Palace Pier may not have thrilled everyone with his win in the Queen Anne, but he confirmed his place at the top of the older brigade of milers on the quickest going he's encountered.

Frankie Dettori's revelation that his partner was not that keen to let himself down on the ground should act as a warning in terms of where the strapping son of Kingman goes this summer and autumn.

In particular anyone hoping to see him get on a plane bound for the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar or Hong Kong might be disappointed.

Palace Pier's relaxed way of racing makes the prospect of John and Thady Gosden stepping him up in trip to a mile and a quarter an intriguing prospect. It would give him the chance to mix it in what is probably a deeper talent pool and could give him the chance to really post a career-defining performance.


Palace Pier v Poetic Flare: which camp are you in for the Sussex?


Poetic Flare will be tough to beat on favoured fast ground

Fans will hope that doesn't happen before Palace Pier and St James's Palace hero Poetic Flare meet in the Qatar Sussex Stakes or Deauville's Prix Jacques le Marois.

Goodwood and Deauville are speed-favouring tracks, and without some juice in the ground the evidence of Tuesday's two races would suggest that Poetic Flare may just have the legs of his older rival.

Poetic Flare and Kevin Manning dominate the St James's Palace Stakes on day one of Royal Ascot
Poetic Flare and Kevin Manning dominate the St James's Palace Stakes on day one of Royal AscotCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Kevin Manning said at Longchamp that soft going might be an explanation for his partner not picking up in the straight, and back on quick summer ground he looked a different horse, surging clear of Lucky Vega and company.

Supporters of Palace Pier will point out that the early fractions in the Queen Anne were slow, but the fact remains that Poetic Flare ran more than a second and a half quicker, despite being on the round course rather than the straight.

The Gosden team will not go out of their way to avoid Jim Bolger's star, but whether the optimum conditions to take him on present themselves is another matter.

Manning deserves all the praise going for his ride on Poetic Flare. Drawn outside a block of three Ballydoyle horses, he knew the value of beating Battleground and Wembley early on to avoid being trapped wide.

As a jockey who has to ride in such situations week in, week out, Manning knew exactly what the penalty for not doing so would be.


Connections look to Goodwood with Battaash after 'leg-weary' Royal Ascot fourth


Oxted pays huge compliment to Starman with King's Stand strike

A lot of water has flowed under the bridge for Roger Teal and his team between last summer's July Cup win with Oxted and his late charge to success in the King's Stand.

Surgery last summer and then a winter trip to Saudi Arabia both meant that it has taken a little while for Oxted to hit top gear this spring.

Oxted's win in the King's Stand could be a major pointer to Starman's chances in the Diamond Jubilee if the weather holds
Oxted's win in the King's Stand could be a major pointer to Starman's chances in the Diamond Jubilee if the weather holdsCredit: Getty Images

Nevertheless, for anyone harbouring doubts that his York conqueror Starman posseses Group 1 class, those thoughts must fast be running out of hiding places.

In particular Teal's observation that the ground went a little easy on Oxted at York could be vital, given that Starman would have also been inconvenienced by such conditions.

How Ed Walker will be praying that any rain is well out of the way by Saturday. Should Starman land the Diamond Jubilee, a rematch with a match-fit Oxted at Newmarket would be something to savour.


Coventry star Berkshire Shadow shows the benefit of patience

The Coventry has produced a couple of Guineas winners this century in Henrythenavigator and Dawn Approach and, while Berkshire Shadow has a way to go to prove he can match those two colts, he certainly looks to be more in the mould of a future miler, rather than a sprinting type such as Caravaggio or Calyx.

The way the race was run arguably suited the long-striding son of Dark Angel, but it was also a reminder that at this early stage of the year there's a big difference between five and six furlongs for these juveniles.

Berkshire Shadow and Oisin Murphy win the Coventry Stakes
Berkshire Shadow and Oisin Murphy win the Coventry StakesCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

When looking at contenders for the Albany Stakes on Friday it could be worth paying extra attention to those who look to have that extra scope to improve over the trip.

The daughter of a dual Group 1-winning miler in Alice Springs, Prettiest toughed it out well over a stiff uphill five and a half furlongs at Navan, while Epsom winner Oscula was deemed ready to start life out at six furlongs at Kempton and has already won twice at the trip.

After all, Berkshire Shadow is a granddaughter of that oh-so-classy racemare Islington.


'He would have gone close with a better draw and is one to take out the race'


Talented Wolferton winner could still fulfil early promise

Juan Elcano may seem to have been around a while, but the four-year-old was securing Listed success on only his ninth career start.

Kevin Ryan has always had a lot of faith in him and the way he ran down Patrick Sarsfield spoke of a horse who is now ready to head back into Group company and make an impact.

Juan Elcano could be booked for better things after success under Andrea Atzeni in the Wolferton Stakes
Juan Elcano could be booked for better things after success under Andrea Atzeni in the Wolferton StakesCredit: Mark Cranham

With so few miles on the clock there has to be a good chance that, following gelding and wind operations, the son of Frankel could have a lot more to offer.

Andrea Atzeni also offered a timely reminder that, especially on quick ground, staying close the rail on the round course is a cardinal rule. You will rarely see Ryan Moore or James Doyle abandon it under anything other than the worst circumstances and Atzeni is another rider who can be relied on not to give up crucial ground out wide.


Read more from Royal Ascot Tuesday:

Queen Anne: Palace Pier is one of the best horses in the world says Frankie Dettori

Coventry: 'special' Berkshire Shadow lands long-running gamble for ecstatic connections

King's Stand: late plunge pays off as Cieren Fallon and Oxted lower colours of Battaash

St James's Palace: 'Exactly what I was expecting' – Bolger delight as Poetic Flare runs riot

Copper Horse: Second royal winner for Hollie Doyle on 33-1 chance Amtiyaz


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Scott BurtonFrance correspondent

Published on 15 June 2021inNews

Last updated 12:26, 16 June 2021

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