By Tom Frary
Sunday saw the confirmations for 2024 Royal Ascot's opening day fixture, where the G1 St James's Palace S. is the rightful stage for the coming together of the 2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroes Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). The latter has been supplemented for the mile contest and is joined by fellow French raider Darlinghurst (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), while Ballydoyle rely on last year's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. hero Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's impressive Listed Heron S. scorer Almaqam (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Shadwell's Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) round out the eight contestants for a surefire thriller.
In the meeting's curtain-raising G1 Queen Anne S., 14 will line up headed by other leading French runners in Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire). Cheveley Park Stud's surprise G1 Lockinge S. winner Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), that Newbury contest's runner-up Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Fitri Hay's impressive G3 Diomed S. winner Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) are other notables for the championship mile contest.
A total of 17 sprinters will take part in the G1 King Charles III S., with the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint-winning 3-year-old Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) leading the chase for an open-looking renewal of the five-furlong charge. The fillies and mares have a strong representation headed by the Australian challenger Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) and the 2023 G2 Queen Mary S. scorer Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), who is one of Wathnan Racing's team of representatives during the week.
Also on the card is the week's juvenile feature, the G2 Coventry S., in which Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the key runner for the stable successful 10 times. He heads a field of 23, with the Joseph O'Brien-trained impressive Curragh maiden winner Cowardofthecounty (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) in attendance. The Coventry S. will also see Raphael Freire saddle a first runner in his own name in Britain for Amo Racing. Kia Joorabchian's outfit has declared the unraced Angelo Buonarroti (Justify), who was recently bought for €1 million at the Arqana Breeze-up Sale. The Brazilian-born Freire was previously assisting Dominic French Davis and is now training in his own right from an adjacent yard.
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