By Tom Frary
Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot will see a field of 14 sprinters line up in an open-looking renewal which includes last year's surprise winner Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Jamie Spencer, who partnered that Charles Hills-trained 80-1 shot 12 months ago, will instead be on Fitri Hay's other runner Mitbaahy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) from the same stable following his success in The Curragh's G2 Greenlands Stakes last month. Peter Harris's G2 1895 Duke of York Stakes winner Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) represents the Jane Chapple-Hyam stable, while Marc Chan's 2022 G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint Stakes-winning TDN Rising Star Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is back at Ascot with Ralph Beckett handing Rossa Ryan the ride in the absence of Frankie Dettori.
Wathnan Racing's acquisition Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) drops back from seven furlongs for the Archie Watson stable, while Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's filly Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is backed up by George Boughey having finished fourth in Tuesday's G1 King Charles III Stakes. In the G2 Hardwicke Stakes, Ballydoyle's St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) begins his 4-year-old campaign taking on Qatar Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher's Doncaster Classic also-ran and subsequent G3 Aston Park Stakes winner Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion) from Clarehaven and The King and The Queen's William Haggas-trained Leger third Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
Aidan O'Brien saddles another big gun in the 20-runner G3 Jersey Stakes in the G2 Coventry S.-winning TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last time. He renews rivalry with that Curragh Classic's runner-up Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), who is another of Wathnan Racing's recent purchases and who bids to add to Richard Hannon's big week.
Others to note in the seven-furlong contest are Clipper Logistics' Karl Burke-trained TDN Rising Star Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who is back in trip having failed to stay the mile of the 2,000 Guineas, and another TDN Rising Star who trailed in the Newmarket Classic in Juddmonte's Ralph Beckett-trained Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
The Listed Chesham Stakes sees the Rosegreen stable represented by this month's Leopardstown maiden-winning TDN Rising Star Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). She encounters 17 juveniles, including Godolphin's impressive Yarmouth novice scorer Age Of Gold (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) from the Charlie Appleby stable.
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