Tweet
2022 Royal Ascot: Selections for Saturday
Kellie Reilly
Saturday’s grand finale at Royal Ascot showcases prohibitive favorites in two of the stakes events, but the marquee sprints could be ripe for big prices. Fifteen were declared for the Jersey (G3), and a 27-horse cavalry charge is lining up for the Platinum Jubilee (G1).
Race 1 (9:30 a.m.) – Chesham S.
#1 Alfred Munnings (1-1) offers no value, but the Aidan O’Brien juvenile has tipped his hand as something potentially very special from the start. On pedigree, he shouldn’t have come to hand soon enough to crush a seven-furlong Leopardstown maiden in mid-May, boding extremely well for his prospects. A Dubawi half-brother to dual classic heroine Snowfall, he is out of a Group 3-winning full sister to Found, and therefore bred to excel in time. So highly regarded was he as a youngster that the Coolmore brain trust gave him an illustrious name kept in reserve, according to Racing Post. Alfred Munnings has had this race as his aim all along, confirmed before he’d even cooled out from his debut romp.
Perhaps the biggest danger is #3 Crypto Force (10-1), who has overturned one Ballydoyle hotpot already. Overlooked at 14-1 at the Curragh June 1, the Michael O’Callaghan pupil rolled from off the pace to beat odds-on Auguste Rodin. To be fair, Auguste Rodin had meaningful trouble, but even with a clean trip he would have had a fight on his hands. The crypto worth investing in these days, Crypto Force has plenty of upside as a Time Test colt from the family of globetrotting star Pilsudski. And he just sold for €900,000 at Monday’s Goffs London Sale.
#2 Alzahir (10-1) should have won in his unveiling at Yarmouth, but jockey Frankie Dettori was outridden by James Doyle aboard a Godolphin runner. Taking a slim lead, Alzahir appeared to idle when Dettori took it easy. He thought he had his rival’s measure, only to get nipped on the line. With more energetic handling, Alzahir most likely would arrive here with a win to his credit. Note that stablemate Reach for the Moon was runner-up in the same Yarmouth race last year before improving to place second in the Chesham. By Sea the Stars, and a half-brother to 2017 Shadwell Mile (G1) hero Suedois, Alzahir could be the best of the Gosdens' trio here, although #9 One World (15-1) is eligible to move forward as well off his hard-fought decision on soft at Haydock.
#13 The Foxes (12-1) was fourth to #4 Dark Thirty (15-1) in their mutual premiere at Newbury, a hot race whose second and third have both come back to win well. The Foxes’ trainer, Andrew Balding, has emphasized how much the well-bred juvenile has come on for that run, and he stands to reverse form in the rematch. The Churchill colt is a half-brother to major winners Bangkok and Matterhorn, from the immediate family of mile champ Ribchester. Not to be overlooked is the Johnstons’ duo of #6 Finn’s Charm (12-1) and the filly #14 Lakota Sioux (20-1), both of whom leapt forward once stepping up to this trip.
Race 2 (10:05 a.m.) – Jersey (G3)
One angle that has worked in this ferociously competitive race is to key in on horses dropping in class and distance from mile classics. Five fit that prerequisite, with #15 Star Girls Aalmal (8-1) arguably bringing the best form as the fourth in the Irish 1000 Guineas (G1).
Trained by Henry de Bromhead, better known for his exploits with the jumpers, Star Girls Aalmal was traveling nearly as well as eventual Guineas winner Homeless Songs when they cruised into contention. She didn’t see out the final furlong, but still wound up in a close finish for the minors with Tuesday — the next-out Oaks (G1) winner — and Concert Hall, the Oaks fourth who’d previously beaten Thursday’s Ribblesdale (G2) scorer Magical Lagoon. Although this is the quickest ground she’s encountered, Star Girls Aalmal is by a firm-turf lover in Australian-bred Elzaam. The lightly-raced filly, who actually debuted in a listed stakes last fall, is capable of further progress. Connections must rate her very highly; she was a
Kellie Reilly
Saturday’s grand finale at Royal Ascot showcases prohibitive favorites in two of the stakes events, but the marquee sprints could be ripe for big prices. Fifteen were declared for the Jersey (G3), and a 27-horse cavalry charge is lining up for the Platinum Jubilee (G1).
Race 1 (9:30 a.m.) – Chesham S.
#1 Alfred Munnings (1-1) offers no value, but the Aidan O’Brien juvenile has tipped his hand as something potentially very special from the start. On pedigree, he shouldn’t have come to hand soon enough to crush a seven-furlong Leopardstown maiden in mid-May, boding extremely well for his prospects. A Dubawi half-brother to dual classic heroine Snowfall, he is out of a Group 3-winning full sister to Found, and therefore bred to excel in time. So highly regarded was he as a youngster that the Coolmore brain trust gave him an illustrious name kept in reserve, according to Racing Post. Alfred Munnings has had this race as his aim all along, confirmed before he’d even cooled out from his debut romp.
Perhaps the biggest danger is #3 Crypto Force (10-1), who has overturned one Ballydoyle hotpot already. Overlooked at 14-1 at the Curragh June 1, the Michael O’Callaghan pupil rolled from off the pace to beat odds-on Auguste Rodin. To be fair, Auguste Rodin had meaningful trouble, but even with a clean trip he would have had a fight on his hands. The crypto worth investing in these days, Crypto Force has plenty of upside as a Time Test colt from the family of globetrotting star Pilsudski. And he just sold for €900,000 at Monday’s Goffs London Sale.
#2 Alzahir (10-1) should have won in his unveiling at Yarmouth, but jockey Frankie Dettori was outridden by James Doyle aboard a Godolphin runner. Taking a slim lead, Alzahir appeared to idle when Dettori took it easy. He thought he had his rival’s measure, only to get nipped on the line. With more energetic handling, Alzahir most likely would arrive here with a win to his credit. Note that stablemate Reach for the Moon was runner-up in the same Yarmouth race last year before improving to place second in the Chesham. By Sea the Stars, and a half-brother to 2017 Shadwell Mile (G1) hero Suedois, Alzahir could be the best of the Gosdens' trio here, although #9 One World (15-1) is eligible to move forward as well off his hard-fought decision on soft at Haydock.
#13 The Foxes (12-1) was fourth to #4 Dark Thirty (15-1) in their mutual premiere at Newbury, a hot race whose second and third have both come back to win well. The Foxes’ trainer, Andrew Balding, has emphasized how much the well-bred juvenile has come on for that run, and he stands to reverse form in the rematch. The Churchill colt is a half-brother to major winners Bangkok and Matterhorn, from the immediate family of mile champ Ribchester. Not to be overlooked is the Johnstons’ duo of #6 Finn’s Charm (12-1) and the filly #14 Lakota Sioux (20-1), both of whom leapt forward once stepping up to this trip.
Race 2 (10:05 a.m.) – Jersey (G3)
One angle that has worked in this ferociously competitive race is to key in on horses dropping in class and distance from mile classics. Five fit that prerequisite, with #15 Star Girls Aalmal (8-1) arguably bringing the best form as the fourth in the Irish 1000 Guineas (G1).
Trained by Henry de Bromhead, better known for his exploits with the jumpers, Star Girls Aalmal was traveling nearly as well as eventual Guineas winner Homeless Songs when they cruised into contention. She didn’t see out the final furlong, but still wound up in a close finish for the minors with Tuesday — the next-out Oaks (G1) winner — and Concert Hall, the Oaks fourth who’d previously beaten Thursday’s Ribblesdale (G2) scorer Magical Lagoon. Although this is the quickest ground she’s encountered, Star Girls Aalmal is by a firm-turf lover in Australian-bred Elzaam. The lightly-raced filly, who actually debuted in a listed stakes last fall, is capable of further progress. Connections must rate her very highly; she was a
Comment