PRINCE OF WALES’S STAKES
Wednesday 19th June, 4:25pm
Auguste Rodin @ 11/8
Inspiral @ 5/2
Horizon Dore @ 13/2
Alflaila @ 17/2
Blue Rose Cen @ 10/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
RACE
The Prince of Wales’s Stakes, named after the subsequent King Edward VII in the mid-19th century, is one of Ascot’s two £1m races, for runners aged four and upwards, staged as the day-two feature over a mile and a quarter (4-25).
THE MARKET
What a pity there’s no White Birch in the line-up; he was a big fancy based on that emphatic defeat of Auguste Rodin at The Curragh. Auguste Rodin was on a going-day there though, as everyone knows, is inclined to throw in the odd stinker but when he’s good he’s more often than not outstanding.
Inspiral, most recently some way behind stablemate Audience in fourth in the Lockinge, was winner of the 2022 Coronation Stakes (as here, on the round course) and is now back up to ten furlongs, the distance over which she excelled at the Breeders’ Cup in Santa Anita.
Horizon Dore leads a powerful challenge from across the Channel, and, after a number of just solid performances, looked to be blooming when only nailed close home by an in-form rival in the Prix D’Ispahan at ParisLongchamp last time, with the filly Blue Rose Cen fairly luckless in fifth place. Blue Rose Cen, now the mount of Christophe Soumillon, was a brilliant dual Classic winner in 2023, and that was an encouraging return.
Alflaila has always won first-time-out after a break, and though this is a different kettle of fish to other seasonal debuts, the horse earned his place at this level with a creditable fifth behind Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes.
Royal Rhyme has produced all of his best runs on a soft surface, and the venerable Lord North is now aged eight and seems up against it.
THE WINNER
With the fillies’ allowance, Soumillon and a good effort at Longchamp, it’s Blue Rose Cen for me – what about you?
CORN’S QUARTET
Almost invariably, a middle to high draw is preferable in the Queen Mary (2-30) which is a pity for fillies liked Englemere (1), which I fancied to progress from lower-profile races, Beverley second Maw Lam (4) and striking Nottingham winner Leovanni (10); jumping from stall 25 is the National Stakes winner Enchanting Empress which may have the answers.
Exciting and unbeaten Birdman is a gelding which restricts his targets, so the Queen’s Vase (3-05), represents something of a summer ‘classic’ for him; in the same race, the Lingfield form of Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly gets a good test.
Things are quieter these days for Godolphin trainer Saaed bin Suroor who’s been prominent in the operation in Britain for nearly as long as anyone can remember – since 1995 to be precise, and including four championships – but his only two Ascot runners Wild Tiger (5-05) and Summer Of Love (5-40) could easily both roar noisily.
In the Windsor Castle (6-15), Wesley Ward’s Honorary American will prove tempting based on the trainer’s record in Ascot juvenile races, but Shadow Army‘s winning debut at York looked very smart.
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