Duntle can bag the Sandringham for Wachman and the Niarchos family
IRISH trainers have tasted plenty of success at Royal Ascot in recent years, particularly Aidan O’Brien, but David Wachman has a solid record too and DUNTLE can give him another winner in today’s finale, the Sandringham Stakes at 5.35pm. She broke her maiden tag at Dundalk in April, beating her rivals by an incredible 18 lengths, and form on the all-weather often counts for plenty at Ascot.
The daughter of Danehill Dancer then stepped up in class for the Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial, but Wayne Lee took up the running too early in the straight and eventually finished fourth. That wasn’t a bad effort at all and the drop back to Listed level this afternoon should see her go very close indeed. At 7/1 with Star Sports, she represents solid each-way value.
Electrelane is the class horse in the race and her presence means eight of the 18 runners start from out of the handicap. She won the German 1,000 Guineas on her last start and prior to that she finished second to the progressive Laugh At Loud at York. The ground is likely to be much quicker by the end of today and that isn’t certain to suit Ralph Beckett’s filly whose best form has been with plenty of cut.
Godolphin have some decent fillies and I’d favour Pimpernel over Falls Of Lora. She was disappointing in the Nell Gwyn, but she had some solid form as a juvenile and is rated the main danger to the selection.
The Queen Mary Stakes (5.00pm) features some of the fastest fillies in Europe and with 27 runners it’s going to be another cavalry charge. Michael Owen was in floods of tears when Brown Panther won at this meeting last year and he could be reaching for his hanky again if Manor House’s UPWARD SPIRAL can follow up her debut win at Sandown.
I was very taken by that performance and so were Qatar Racing Limited who paid a tidy sum for her. She beat Jubilee Diamond from the Richard Hannon stable and that rival reopposes today, but I would be very surprised if she can reverse the form. Johnny Murtagh is an interesting jockey booking and the 6/1 available with Coral should be snapped up.
Mironica also comes into this race with one victory from one start and I’ve already talked up the chances of her stablemate Duntle in the finale. Wachman has done well in the Queen Mary in the past so this filly is much respected. Mick Channon is another trainer with a strong record in the race and Graphic Guest is another who should go close.
Frankie Dettori has been booked by James Given to ride the unbeaten Jadanna and she has won on both soft and firm, so the ground shouldn’t matter too much to her. I can see her finishing in the first three, but I’m happy to stick with Upward Spiral as my sole selection.
Pointers…
MABAIT e/w 4.25pm Royal Ascot
CAPTAIN BERTIE e/w 4.25pm Royal Ascot
UPWARD SPIRAL e/w 5.00pm Royal Ascot
DUNTLE e/w 5.35pm Royal Ascot