Auguste Rodin and Inspiral Ready For Prince of Wales's Showdown

For many the centrepiece of the whole week, Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot may have lost a key ingredient in White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) but remains an utterly fascinating contest with arguably Europe's best male and female matched against each other for the first time. In Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), we have two genuine superstar racehorses who have proven their worth time and again, most notably on the clock in their finest hours.

For Ballydoyle's Derby hero, his defining moment came in the Blue Riband last June when he rattled to the line in :22.18 for his final quarter mile, a very high standard which stands up to the closest inspection. While they both triumphed at Santa Anita in November, Cheveley Park Stud's mare outshone him on that occasion when closing out the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in :21.98. Oh boy.

Ascot's stiff nature does not lend itself to those kind of fractions, but Inspiral was impressive here when outclassing smart fillies in the G1 Coronation S. two years ago and is faster than Auguste Rodin on all known evidence to date, so a lot will depend on her mood and Kieran Shoemark. This is a big, big day for the rider in the immediate post-Frankie era at Clarehaven and extra pressure will be heaped on due to her at-first-glance compromising draw widest of all in 10.

While that stall would be a problem for most, Inspiral is a true hold-up merchant with a tendency to break slowly–although let's hope not as slowly as in the 2022 QEII–and she loves to run at horses ahead of her. Her record around a turn on fast ground is three-for-three and the way the bends lit her fire at this meeting two years ago and at the Breeders' Cup, it is possible that she had simply got bored of straight tracks. Stamina isn't an issue either, with both sides of her pedigree suggesting it is a surprise that she has been such a high-class miler.

Is Moore's Mind Made Up?

Few riders navigate Ascot like Ryan Moore and while his unrivalled racing brain will probably have already mapped out the way this will unfold, he surely has only one option available. To not press on with Auguste Rodin, a colt that can churn out relentless sub-12 second fractions as he proved at Leopardstown in September, could prove disastrous with the mare locked and loaded in behind. Auguste Rodin looks for all the world like a fast mile-and-a-half performer and it is worth remembering that two years ago Aidan O'Brien revealed that he is also prone to waiting on rivals in front as was the tendency of his dam Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

With the useful Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in here, he should at least have a lead into the straight and then he may have to commit early to attempt to draw the sting from his main rival. Then it is a case of how much he has in the locker to repel a mare who hit almost 41mph at the end of the Filly & Mare Turf. What is certain is that he is a top-of-the-ground specialist and absolutely had to have that here. Luckily for connections, he has.

“We were hoping the weather would stay dry for him and it looks like doing so,” Moore said. He looks great at the moment and he is going very well. The ground probably wasn't ideal when White Birch beat him last time, but we'd like to think you will see improvement in him here.”

A Two-Horse Race?

With due respect to most of the contenders for the Prince of Wales's, this probably is a match-up given the elevated ability of the big two. The likes of Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) and Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) are smart, genuine Group 1 horses but there is a gulf for them to cross in this kind of company. The latter was outpaced on this kind of ground when last seen in the Irish Champion and needs rain out of the blue to have a serious impact, while the French contenders have yet to demonstrate that they can dig it out at the very top level.

Horizon Dore is perhaps the most interesting, given that he threw in a :10.53 split in last month's G1 Prix d'Ispahan staged on officially “soft” ground at ParisLoncghamp and broke 33 seconds for the final three furlongs. His underwhelming third behind King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G1 Champion S. suggests he isn't the easy-ground specialist that so many French runners are cast as and isn't ready to be pigeon-holed just yet. But then you think that he was narrowly denied by Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) last time and we all remember what Inspiral did to her in the Sun Chariot…

Rogue Two?

Springing a minor surprise in last year's G2 Duke of Cambridge S., Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was merely finding her metier as a miler for the first time having displayed telling speed over middle distances. Now with Joseph O'Brien, Scott Heider's 1.65million gns Tattersalls December plunge couldn't have shaped with more promise on her debut for her new stable when an unlucky third behind Ocean Jewel (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in The Curragh's G2 Lanwades Stud S. and is poised for her repeat bid.

Like Rogue Millennium, Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Laurel (GB) (Kingman {GB}) can boast impressive time figures, but she has not been seen since finishing down the field in the G1 Lockinge S. last May. With that in mind, it is a surprise that the Gosdens have opted to throw her back into the deep end and she has that all-important Polytrack prowess that is so influential here.

“It will be a big training performance from John and Thady and it is going to be a very big ask,” the operation's European racing manager Barry Mahon said. “To be fair, they are very happy with the filly, but it's difficult at the best of times and when you have been off the track for over 12 months and heading into Royal Ascot, it is a whole different ball game. We're hopeful of a good run, but under no illusions that she is definitely going to improve for the run.”

An Enchanting Prospect…

Aidan O'Brien has yet to win the G2 Queen Mary S., but it is surely only a matter of time and TDN Rising Star Truly Enchanting (Ire) (No Nay Never) is a fascinating contender following her visually taking Tipperary maiden win. Out of an Oaks third but blessed with the speed her dominant sire so generously imparts, she will have to go much harder than she did on debut to keep up with these but will be in all likelihood coming home strongly. Compatriot Make Haste (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), who has been purchased by LNJ, Gainesway, Chappell and the Eves Partnership since her impressive debut win at Naas, is more of a typical Queen Mary type and would be a fairytale result for the Diego Dias stable.

Course form is rare for 2-year-olds at this meeting and perhaps underestimated, so Paul and Oliver Cole's live contender Miss Rascal (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) must enter the reckoning after her track-and-trip win in a smart time last month. “She was a bit unlucky on debut and did it the hard way at Ascot,” Oliver Cole said. “She's definitely a horse we'd like to see tucked in, as she has a great turn of foot and is exciting.” Others to excite on the clock are Cheveley Park Stud's TDN Rising Star Spherical (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Wesley Ward's Ultima Grace (American Pharoah). While the Roger Varian-trained Spherical quickened dramatically off a slow pace to finish strongly at Yarmouth, Ultima Grace had to survive a furious early pace duel before asserting her superiority at Keeneland in April.

Chris Richardson said of Spherical, “I don't know what she beat first time out, but she couldn't have done it more easily and the plan is to find out a bit more about her. It makes sense to have a go, I think she's done well since the race and worked nicely last week.”

Take Your Pick…

Ryan Moore had a quartet to choose from in the G2 Queen's Vase and opted for Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as Ballydoyle begin their search for another St Leger winner. Time will tell whether that was the correct choice, with the wide-margin Leopardstown winner Highbury (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) there to tempt any jockey. “We have four in here and they are all similar types and with roughly the same form level coming into the race, though Highbury is probably more about potential at this stage.” Moore said. “I'd have happily got on any of these, as they all have something to recommend them but I ride Illinois. He shapes as though this greater test of stamina will suit, though this will probably be the quickest ground he has raced on.” This could be booked for Irish export again, with Anamoine's Listed Yeats S. winner Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) looking a typical Queen's Vase type for the Jessica Harrington yard.

Moore also had a dilemma choosing between the Ballydoyle duo Treasure Isle (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Celtic Chieftain (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the closing Listed Windsor Castle S., but he has sided with the former who captured Naas's Coolmore Stud Calyx Race on the Royal Ascot Trials Day. There is American interest here, but interestingly Moore is unmoved by the standard of the opposition. “I don't think this is a particularly deep contest form-wise, for all it is a very big field as usual and I think he will be well suited to the demands of this five-furlong contest,” he said. “The race he won at Naas last time is one we have used as a stepping stone with some very good 2-year-olds–the likes of River Tiber, who used it as a springboard to winning the Coventry last year–and he is a speedy sport with more to give. That said, our Celtic Chieftain is one of his serious rivals as I think he beat a fair sort in Red Evolution–I rode the fifth in that race–on his debut at Navan recently. I wouldn't underestimate him.”

Nine To Challenge Kyprios In The Cup…

Ten stayers will line up in Thursday's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, with the 2022 title-holder Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looking to regain his crown having missed out through injury 12 months ago. He will be Aidan O'Brien's sole runner, while John and Thady Gosden saddle a trio in Wathnan Racing's Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), Godolphin's Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) and Normandie Stud's Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Willie Mullins has booked Colin Keane for the ride on the Riccis' Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), while other notable are the Mariscottis' Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Clive Washbourn's Caius Chorister (Fr) (Golden Horn {GB}).

In the G2 Ribblesdale S., a field of 13 fillies will head to post including Godolphin's Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. winner Diamond Rain (GB) (Shamardal) and Valmont and Newsells Park Stud's Oaks fourth You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), while the G2 Norfolk S. hosts 14 super-charged 2-year-olds headed by Ballydoyle's First Flier S. scorer Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Fitri Hay's Saturday Flirt (Mendelssohn) representing Wesley Ward. Andre Fabre has confirmed Wathnan Racing's recently-acquired G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up First Look (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for the G3 Hampton Court S., in which a dozen line up.