Graeme Rodway on a Royal Lodge Stakes packed full of quality

1.50 Newmarket
Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) | 1m | 2yo | ITV/RTV

It’s ten years since Frankel won the last running of this race at Ascot and the quality has returned in recent years. Roaring Lion was victorious three years ago before going on to win four Group 1s at three and 2,000 Guineas hero Kameko finished second last season.

Aidan O’Brien has won the race seven times, including the last two renewals, but there hasn’t been a superstar among his winners. Dual Canadian International scorer Joshua Tree, who won in 2009, rates just about the best of them, but all seven achieved career-high RPRs between 110 and 120. That suggests Ontario is smart but unlikely to be a worldbeater.

He is one of three who hold entries in the Investec Derby next year along with Gear Up and Pleasant Man. Mark Johnston has run some of his best in this race, winning it in 1993 with subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner Mister Baileys and in 2008 with stable legend Jukebox Jury.

His 2012 winner Steeler was placed in Group 1 company after landing this race and that suggests big things can be expected from Johnston’s recent Acomb winner Gear Up.

Gear Up didn’t look likely to win that race for most of the journey and touched a high of 18 in running on Betfair before rocketing home to get on top near the finish. It looked weak renewal of the Acomb and the form also hasn’t worked out, so he probably needs to improve significantly for the step up to a mile. However, he certainly shapes like he will do.

Clive Cox is enjoying a super season with his juveniles and has given Cobh a Dewhurst entry. He travels well and might be the class horse in the race, while New Mandate looked all stamina when winning over seven furlongs at Doncaster last time and should improve over a mile.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Clive Cox, trainer of Cobh
He was impressive and Salisbury and clearly showed he got the mile. He's kept building and maturing throughout the year and I'm looking forward to him stepping up to Group 2 level.

Roger Charlton, trainer of Pleasant Man
You never know what you've beaten when you've only run in an novice. The options were to run back in a novice where if you place you win a few hundred pounds, or to run in this £100,000 race with five runners. He's the least experienced and needs to step forward and we'll be thrilled if he's in the mix.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Ontario
Ontario was a good third in the Futurity and he has been in good form since.
Reporting by Tom Ward

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