Will Frankie Be Able To Perform His Flying Jump?
It looks like the tale of seven horsemen with Frankie on the favourite
Cracksman, in the most valuable race of Royal Ascot.
Very few were prepared to savor defeat at the hands of the top rated son of Frankel. So many looked for their treasure elsewhere. And then there were seven.
I would like to say that life can very poetic at this stage for John Godsen, when defeat is hard to imagine. But we don’t have to look far to find Sir Michael Stoute-trained
Poet's Word on the race card standing stout. The four-year-old chased the Godsen trainee home when second in the Champion Stakes. He was recently seen winning the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown.
And of course just like in the Gulf War, the master of Clarehaven Stables needs to look to the skies too. For there is competition from up-above as well, with Godolphin’s
Hawkbill swooping in for the prestige. The dual Gr.1 winning son of Kitten’s Joy is trained like the svelte colt he is, by the Derby-winning trainer Charlie Appleby for exactly this kind of a challenging field.
Martyn Meade believes he can crack the champion son of Frankel with his half-brother
Eminent. The four-year-old ran abysmally at Chester and afterwards he was diagnosed with a heart problem. But trainer Meade believes his charge is in top condition to beat the top rated stars in this one.
Ballydoyle’s master brings in mighty cliffs to keep safe what the highlander claimed last year. The Irish
Cliffs Of Moher are famous not just as a tourist attraction but also as a champion in the O’Brien stable. With a father like Galileo and a Damsire like Dansili who would not be a teensy bit afraid of what this four year old can do. He was second behind Lancaster Bomber in the Gr.1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at Curragh recently. The Bomber will be bombing elsewhere during the Royal meeting, giving the son of Galileo every chance to prove his mettle against finest in class.
We shall see who lifts the prestigious £750,000 trophy. Personally it would be great to see Frankie fly of his horse at end of the race.even if it means I am more than a little biased towards Cracksman winning this contest.
Full Runner List:
1.Cliffs Of Moher (A. O'Brien,R. Moore), 2.Cracksman (J. Gosden,F. Dettori), 3.Desert Encounter (D. Simcock,J. Spencer), 4.Eminent (M. Meade,O. Murphy), 5.Hawkbill (C. Appleby,W. Buick), 6.Poet's Word (S. Stoute,J. Doyle), 7.Royal Julius (J. Reynier,G. Mosse)
Full Winner List 2017:
1st Highland Reel (A. O'Brien,R. Moore), 2nd Decorated Knight (R.Charlton,A. Atzeni), 3rd Ulysses (S. Stoute,J. Crowley), 4th Queen's Trust (S. Stoute,O. Peslier), 5th Scottish (C. Appleby,J. Doyle), 6th Mekhtaal (J. Rouget,G. Benoist), 7th Johannes Vermeer (A.O'Brien,D. O'Brien), 8th Jack Hobbs (J. Gosden,W. Buick)
Race Type & Conditon:
Distance:1m 1f 212yd (2,004 metres), Surface:Turf, Track:Right-handed, Qualification:Four-years-old and up, Weight:9 st 0 lb,Allowances,3 lb for fillies and mares,3 lb for S. Hemisphere 4yo, Purse:£750,000 (2017),1st: £425,325