Godolphin's Masar and Cross Counter lead our horses to watch at Royal Ascot

David Cooper - Writer 07:20 19/06/2019
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  • Eighty two days after the world came together at Meydan Racecourse for Dubai World Cup Day, international racing’s collective gaze shifts to England’s Ascot Racecourse, where the globe’s top grass horses convene for the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting.

    After the success of the opening day on Tuesday, we look at the Dubai-connected horses that will be in action across the week.

    WEDNESDAY

    Horse to watch: Final Song 

    Wednesday’s card features six horses who raced during the Dubai World Cup Carnival, as well as four runners from Dubai World Cup night.

    Japanese Group 1 winner Deirdre, fourth and third in the last two editions of the Dubai Turf, lines up alongside Dubai Sheema Classic runners Hunting Horn (fourth) and Desert Encounter (eighth) in the week’s richest race, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes over 2000m at 18.40.

    However, the best chance with Dubai connections is Zabeel Prince, who clinched a superb victory in the Prix d’Ispahan (G1) for trainer Roger Varian on May 26.

    Five Dubai World Cup Carnival runners have declared for the Royal Hunt Cup at 20:00, a handicap over 1600m, including David Marnane-trained defending winner Settle for Bay, who is owned by McGettigan’s Management of the popular Dubai chain of Irish restaurants.

    Godolphin’s Key Victory, The Queen’s Seniority, 2018 Doomben Cup (G1) winner Comin’ Through and Joseph O’Brien-trained King’s Field also carry 2019 Meydan form into the popular race.

    Godolphin holds a hot two-year-old filly hand with four declared from three different trainers in the Queen Mary (G2), topped by Saeed bin Suroor-trained Final Song and Willie McCreery’s intriguing Ickworth, at 17:30.

    The Blue Battalion also has the Appleby-conditioned pair of Jalmoud and Moonlight Spirit declared for the Queen’s Vase (G2) at 18:05, while Symbolize has claims in the Wednesday nightcap, the Windsor Castle Stakes for two-year-olds at 20:35.

    Final Song.

    Final Song.

    THURSDAY
    Horse to watch: Cross Counter

    Thursday is all about one horse, Godolphin’s Melbourne Cup and Dubai Gold Cup winner Cross Counter, who looks to dethrone the world’s top-ranked stayer, Stradivarius, in the Gold Cup over a testing 4000m at 19.20.

    Trainer Appleby said: “The Gold Cup is the number one staying race of the entire calendar and we are delighted to have a runner this year who we are confident can be competitive. It would be a huge thrill if he were to win it.

    “It looks a particularly strong Gold Cup this year, but Cross Counter’s preparation has gone very well and we are hopeful. His Dubai Gold Cup win qualified him for the Weatherbys Hamilton bonus, and if he wins we’ll definitely be going on to Goodwood and York to see if we can win it.”

    Another with a serious chance is Dee Ex Bee, runner-up last year in The Derby (G1) behind Masar for Mark Johnston and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

    Cross Counter.

    FRIDAY
    Horse to watch: Desert Fire 

    Friday’s card features a pair of Group 1s in which Dubai owners should factor heavily, topped by Jaber Abdullah’s Hello Youmzain, Shadwell’s Jash and Khaadem, as well as Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ Advertise in the Commonwealth Cup for three-year-old sprinters.

    Three-year-old fillies take the top-level stage in the Coronation Stakes one race later, including Godolphin’s French 1,000 Guineas winner Castle Lady, as well as Saif Ali’s Mark Johnston-trained German 1,000 Guineas winner Main Edition.

    Later in the card, Godolphin’s UAE Oaks (G3) runner-up Swift Rose is entered in the Listed Sandringham Stakes over 1600m and Dubai World Cup Carnival winner Desert Fire is in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes over 2400m – both horses trained by Saeed Bin Suroor.

    Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor.

    SATURDAY
    Horses to watch: Ghaiyyath and Masar

    Saturday’s entries are topped by Dubai Sheema Classic winner Old Persian in the Hardwicke Stakes (G2) at 18:40, but he is unlikely to run at this juncture.

    Still, Godolphin and Appleby will be well-represented by last year’s Epsom Derby winner Masar and the long-well-regarded Ghaiyyath – with the latter entering the race as surprise favourite.

    Appleby explained he and the owners made the final call on Masar’s Ascot target after the colt galloped on Saturday.

    He said: “We were very pleased with Masar’s work, and we thought the right option for him is the Hardwicke.

    “It’s his first start since the Derby – and with the rest of the season ahead of us, we just felt it would be a tough assignment in the Prince of Wales’s, with the way that race is shaping up.

    “The Hardwicke is a lovely race, and we know the conditions should suit him. It looks the right option to start his four-year-old career.”

    Godolphin’s Andre Fabre-trained Inns of Court looms large, as does Saeed Manana’s favoured Invincible Army, the star horse in a race that could also feature the likes of Dream of Dreams, Yafta and Emblazoned.

    The Wokingham Stakes, an often-popular heritage handicap contested over 1200m, has attracted a slew of entries from Dubai World Cup Carnival alumni, including Freescape, Glenamoy Lad, Gifted Master, Intisaab, Cape Byron, Marnie James and Polybius.

    Masar

    Masar

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