Can Los Angeles prove himself a superstar at a mile and a quarter? All eyes on Ballydoyle star in big rematch with Anmaat

Nobody will have been surprised that he should turn out this good, but few might have guessed it would be at this trip.

Los Angeles has the tip-top middle-distance pedigree to be expected of a Ballydoyle colt, by Derby winner Camelot and from the family of Anabaa Blue, who won the French Derby when it was still a mile-and-a-half race. He finished third at Epsom himself and proved one of the very best three-year-olds at the distance, with game victories in the Irish Derby at the Curragh and in the Great Voltigeur at York – which is seen as a St Leger trial.

However, Aidan O’Brien didn’t get where he is today by seeing things the way they are usually seen. Rather than stepping Los Angeles up in trip, the trainer decided to bring him back to ten furlongs.

That looked a debatable move when Los Angeles finished a running-on fourth in the Irish Champion Stakes and ninth in the Champion Stakes at Ascot, especially as in between he was a fine third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe back at a mile and a half.

But O’Brien is right much more than he is wrong, and after a comfortable comeback win over the shorter trip at the Curragh, the colt landed the Tattersalls Gold Cup there last month, toughing it out to see off Group 1 rivals.

Is Los Angeles a superstar at a mile and a quarter? The word O'Brien opted for was "hardy", which suggests perhaps he is not out of the very top drawer.

"Los Angeles is a hardy customer. He's tough and loves a battle," he said. "We knew he would keep progressing from race to race and we think he will come forward again. We've been delighted with everything he is doing and his preparation has been very smooth. If nothing wants to go on Continuous will roll along. He stays well."

Anmaat, nearest, is running on fumes in the closing stages of the Tattersalls Gold Cup, won by Los Angeles.

Los Angeles and Anmaat battle at the CurraghCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Ready for the big rematch is Anmaat. He is now seven, a real veteran by the standards of Group 1 Flat racing. Indeed, he would be the oldest ever winner of this if he came out on top, but he has a serious chance of gaining his revenge on Tattersalls Gold Cup conqueror Los Angeles here.

He certainly shaped as though he would be better for the race when beaten just half a length at the Curragh, moving through smoothly to lead entering the final furlong only to allow the race-fit winner to regain the advantage as he fought back on the far rail.

Improving on what was virtually a career-best effort is only to be expected from Anmaat. He progressed throughout his first two seasons and hit a new high last year after finding form and fitness following a 15-month break, defying odds of 40-1 to land the Champion Stakes here in October.

That was on soft going, and trainer Owen Burrows said: "I hope the ground will be fine and we've been very happy with him since the Curragh. He's a seven-year-old and I'd like to think he'll take a step forward.

"Continuous is in again and it could be a similar race to Ireland. It was only in the last 50 yards that he tired there and was beaten by a race-fit rival. We hope he'll take a nice step forward and run well."

It could be another classic encounter.

Do you have a strong fancy for the Prince of Wales’s?

The Curragh exposes any stamina or fitness issues. Anmaat found that out to his cost behind Los Angeles in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on his seasonal debut, but the way he travelled under Jim Crowley suggests he can easily reverse that form on a track we know he enjoys. Owen Burrows doesn’t seem to miss much when he gets his hands on a good horse and, like his old boss Sir Michael Stoute, improving older horses is a speciality. He couldn’t hide his excitement after the Curragh at the prospect of a rematch at Royal Ascot, and I can see why.
Matt Williams, pro punter

Owen Burrows: trains AnmaatCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

What they say

Jerome Reynier, trainer of Facteur Cheval
We kept his choice of races at Royal Ascot open for quite some time but, looking at how slow they ran in the Queen Anne, I don't regret my choice at all. They ran more than two seconds over standard, and in those circumstances Facteur Cheval might easily have pulled too hard. As he gets older the time has come to step him up to 2,000 metres [a mile and a quarter]. He likes to get his toe in a bit, but you have to remember that his greatest day was winning over 1,800 metres on fast ground in 1m45s. I think there will be pace on and that's what he needs above all else. We'll ride him for a place and hopefully he can get on the back of a horse like Los Angeles who can take him deep into the race.

Francis Graffard, trainer of Map Of Stars
We decided to give him time after the Ganay and miss the Prix d’Ispahan in order to focus on the Prince of Wales’s. The horse has been training really nicely and he's spot on for the race. It’s a very strong field and I hope he can be very competitive. I think he has the quality but he’s not an easy horse to ride, you need to time it properly. His dam Bateel was very difficult mentally, she was a bit of a madame. He's a strong horse, is always ready to get on with the job and is hungry for it. He has ability and a lot of strength.

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Ombudsman
He ran a great race to be second under a penalty on his comeback in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown. That has brought him forward nicely at home and he enjoys top of the ground. It's a tough race, but he should enjoy the track and trip.

Karl Burke, trainer of Royal Champion
It's a tough race and he's going to have to run way above his best to take a hand in the finish. But he's in great form, he'll love the track and if he beats three or four, which he's well capable of, he can pick up some good prize-money.

Andrew Balding, trainer of See The Fire
She’s a filly we think a lot of and was hugely impressive in the Middleton last time, which suggested that she’s capable of another level. Her work ever since has been excellent, so given the prospect of fast ground we just felt it was a risk worth taking to supplement her. Hopefully she’ll prove worth it by running a big race.

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3.05 Royal Ascot: 'We think this trip will bring out the best in him' - Shackleton leads Aidan O'Brien's charge for a ninth Queen's Vase

3.40 Royal Ascot: 'The one to beat' - can Cinderella's Dream deny Running Lion a history-making success in the Duke of Cambridge?

5.00 Royal Ascot: 'His work suggests he’s on a very competitive mark' - what do the trainers and our experts make of a Hunt Cup conundrum?

5.35 Royal Ascot: Can Rainbows Edge provide the King and Queen a winner in the Kensington Palace Stakes?

6.10 Royal Ascot: 'You'd have to be delighted with everything he's done' - analysis and trainer quotes for the Windsor Castle Stakes