MADID, who was only supplemented last week to the St James’s Palace Stakes (3.45), can maintain his unbeaten record by landing the highlight of the opening day at Royal Ascot.
Added to the field because of fears that Haafhd, also owned by Sheikh Hamdan al-Maktoum, would not make the line-up, Madid only made his debut last month but has looked potentially top-class in winning both starts. Much in need of the experience in his maiden over a mile at Newbury, he missed the break but showed a smart turn of speed to power past his rivals without being hard ridden.
Madid again quickened up in good style to beat the useful Pastoral Pursuits when stepped up to listed company over seven furlongs at Sandown last time, staying on strongly up the hill in a manner that suggested he would appreciate this return to a mile. He will need to improve again to see off three Guineas winners, but is an exciting prospect and rates value to do so at 10-1 with totesport.
Haafhd is the form choice. A five-length winner of the Craven Stakes on his reappearance at Newmarket, he followed up in good style in the 2,000 Guineas, beating Snow Ridge by 1¾ lengths with Azamour a further length back in third. He will be tough to beat if in the same shape here, but it is off-putting that his participation was in doubt until he put in a better piece of work at home on Saturday and he makes little appeal at around 7-4.
Bachelor Duke was only seventh behind Haafhd at Newmarket, but showed himself better than that when landing the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, beating Azamour by a length. He is still open to improvement after just five starts and is much respected.
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The Queen Anne Stakes (4.20) can go to the German raider, Martillo. A good third to Zafeen in the St James’s Palace Stakes on this card 12 months ago, Martillo has looked better than ever in two starts this term. On his reappearance, in the group one Dubai Duty Free over nine furlongs at Nad al Sheba, he just failed to last home when beaten under a length into fifth behind Paolini. He did not enjoy the best of luck in running in a group two contest at Saint-Cloud last month, in the circumstances doing well to win by a head, and he can gain a first victory in the highest grade. The 16-1 offered by Coral makes plenty of appeal.
Six Perfections is a worthy favourite. Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita last October, she shaped as though just in need of the run when beaten half a length by Prince Kirk in the Prix d’Ispahan on her reappearance at Longchamp. She is sure to be sharper now, but, with a lack of front-runners in this line-up, may not get the strong gallop that brings out her best.
The Tatling can gain a first success of the year in the King’s Stand Stakes (3.05). He has not had the strongly-run race that suits him in three starts so far this year, but will have no excuse on that score in this big field. He can see off the Hong Kong raider, Cape Of Good Hope, and the progressive three-year-old Majestic Missile.
The best bet of the day is Land ‘N Stars in the Ascot Handicap (4.55). He stayed on strongly to collar the front-running Got One Too over two miles here last month, winning by five lengths, and with the extra half-mile of this contest sure to suit, he should be capable of defying a 7lb rise in the weights.
TOMORROW
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Lydia Hislop examines why trainers sometimes adopt a policy of try, try and try again