Crack stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) leads a 12-strong field for the 2 1/2-mile G1 Gold Cup, as next Thursday's Royal Ascot fields take shape.
A winner of this event in 2022, the chestnut sustained an injury last term that forced him to make just two starts. However, he has put that hiccup behind him and has won the Listed Vintage Crop S. and the G3 Levmoss S. in succession.
This race's entries read like a who's who of some of the best stayers in Europe, and, although Wathan Racing's Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}), last year's winner, will miss this engagement due to a setback, the Emir of Qatar is still represented by Group 2 winner Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}). Although soft-ground dependent, Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) steps forward again here coming off a third to Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Caius Chorister (Fr) (Golden Horn {GB}) in the G3 Henry II S. at Sandown in May. Willie Mullins will send out Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), while Andrew Balding is hoping that G3 Sagaro S. winner Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) will fit the bill. Another consistent performer in these contests is Godolphin's Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), who comes off of a third-place finish to Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup in March.
Kicking off the racing next Thursday is the G2 Norfolk S., and it, too, features a strong Aidan O'Brien chance in the form of Curragh listed winner Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never), who races for a Coolmore partnership. Of the 33 entries for the five-furlong event, another likely starter of note is the Karl Burke-trained and Wathnan Racing-owned Shareholder (Not This Time), a winner at Beverley earlier this month. Adrian Keatley runs the French listed winner Francisco's Piece (GB) (Mayson {GB}), and Amo Racing's G3 Marble Hill S. heroine Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev) also sports an entry. Joseph O'Brien saddles Marble Hill third Midnight Strike (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) for Teme Valley Racing.
In the 1 3/8-mile G2 Ribblesdale S., Godolphin's Diamond Rain (GB) (Shamardal) will attempt to take her record to a perfect three-for-three after victories at Ascot in May and in the Listed Fillies' Trial S. later that month and faces 18 rivals. Juddmonte's Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) looms a high-profile rival with two wins to her name and a last-out second in the Listed Pretty Polly S. on May 5 for trainer Andrew Balding. Aidan O'Brien has entered a trio headed up by winner Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}), herself second to the Ralph Beckett trainee Forest Fairy (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}) in the Listed Cheshire Oaks in May. Another Beckett runner is listed scorer and G1 Betfred Oaks fourth You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).
Two dozen horses have signed on for the 1 1/4-mile G3 Hampton Court S., with Wathnan Racing's latest buy First Look (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) one of the headliners. The G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up, a winner at Chantilly last November, has two additional group placings in his Classic season for Andre Fabre. Listed winner Caviar Heights (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who races for Karl Burke, will participate, as will Harry Charlton's King's Gambit (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who took the London Gold Cup on May 18. The stakes-placed Bracken's Laugh (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) from the yard of Richard Hughes and Aidan O'Brien's handicap winner Chantilly (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are other potential runners.
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