CASSE, MOTT, PLETCHER & WARD AMONG STRONG US-TRAINED ROYAL ASCOT CHALLENGE
A very strong US-trained challenge is in prospect, with representation in five of the eight races in the Royal Ascot 2017. The 33 entries include leading A US-trained challenge could come from four-year-old War Front colt American Patriot (Todd Pletcher USA), who put up a career-best effort last time out when winning the G1 Maker’s 46 Mile on turf at Keeneland on April 14, and three-time G1 scorer Miss Temple City (Graham Motion USA).
There are three possible US-trained starters in the King’s Stand Stakes, headed by the mighty three-year-old Scat Daddy filly Lady Aurelia (Wesley Ward USA), who triumphed by a breath-taking seven lengths in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2016 prior to annexing the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville in France. Wesley Ward reported: “I am excited to get back over to Royal Ascot with her.”
Richard’s Boy (Peter Miller USA) and Why Two (Mike Machowsky USA) are the other possible starters from the USA. Richard’s Boy ran well in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint when fifth to The Right Man at Meydan, UAE, on March 25, while Why Two defeated Richard’s Boy in the Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar, USA last summer.
Unbeaten Irish raider Caravaggio (Aidan O’Brien IRE), successful in last year’s G2 Coventry Stakes, heads 60 entries for the Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs for three-year-olds. Lady Aurelia, Bound For Nowhere and once-raced Saratoga scorer Berks County (Carlos Martin USA) are the three US-trained entries for the £400,000 Commonwealth Cup.
US handler Mark Casse, who struck with star mare Tepin in last year’s G1 Queen Anne Stakes, is eyeing another G1 Royal Ascot success with La Coronel in the Coronation Stakes over a mile for three-year-old fillies.
The Right Man (Didier Guillemin FR) and US challenger Long On Value (Bill Mott USA) are on course for an exciting rematch in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (40 entries) over six furlongs on Saturday, June 24. The pair were separated by a nose in the six-furlong G1 Al Quoz Sprint on turf at Meydan, in the Dubai World Cup race meeting.
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Communications, Ascot Racecourse, commented: “We are pleased with the strong entries for the eight Group One contests at Royal Ascot this year including a high-quality US contingent. “Tepin’s win last year was a significant moment and has clearly opened up options for Mark Casse and other leading US trainers, some of whom have not had runners with us before.