* An inspection of the course will take place before racing due to heavy rain.
Queen looks to end meet with winner in Chesham
Race 1, Listed Chesham S., 11.30pm AEST
Coolmore Australia’s shuttle stallion Wootton Bassett (GB) sees his debut winner Great Max (Ire) in the Listed Chesham S. on Saturday. The colt is out of a full sister to fellow Chesham S. winner Sunny Way (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}), who was later sold to race in Hong Kong.
The Queen’s Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is a half-brother to G1 Winx S. second Invictus Prince (GB) (Dansili {GB}) with his dam Golden Stream (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) also the grandam of Wednesday’s G2 Queen Mary S. second Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}). The Queen has a strong connection to this family with Golden Stream’s half-sister the dam of former Australian runner Bold Sniper (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) who raced for the Queen in Australia.
A winner in his second start last out, Sharp Combo (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) is out of a stakes-placed half-sister to the dam of G2 Herbert Power H. winner Big Memory (Fr) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}). That gelding added multiple Australian black-type placings to his family record with three stakes wins and eight placings at the level.
Aussie connections about in Jersey
Race 2, G3 Jersey S., 12.05am AEST
Yulong owner Zhang Yesheng sends out Ace Aussie (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the G3 Jersey S. only four days after seeing his new Australian stallion Lucky Vega (Ire) finish his racing career with a second in the G1 St James’s Palace. The colt is out of a full sister to multiple Group winner and Group 1-placed Carribean Sunset (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who is now a broodmare in Australia.
Carribean Sunset is the dam of the Group 3-placed Lovani (Lonhro) and multiple stakes-placed Holbien (Pierro) among her seven Australian foals. The mare also has a 2-year-old American Pharoah (USA) colt named Always Hapi in training with Kris Lees, a yearling full brother to Lovani, and visited Pierata last year.
Vadream (GB) has strong Australian connections as a daughter of Brazen Beau who is also out of a half-sister to the multiple Group winner Big Duke (Ire) (Raven’s Pass {USA}).
A three-quarter brother to American Pharoah’s Group 1-placed Monarch Of Egypt (USA), Khartoum (USA) (Pioneerof The Nile {USA}) is also a half-brother to Upfront (USA) (War Front {USA}). Imported to Australia in 2018, Upfront was carrying the Siyouni (Fr) colt Direct, who was third in the G2 Silver Slipper. That colt is in training with Lloyd Kennewell and last raced in the G2 Todman. Upfront also has a yearling colt by Russian Revolution, who sold for $100,000 to Kavanagh Racing at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and she was bred to Yes Yes Yes last year.
The winner of two of his three starts, Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is looking to put his first loss behind him. The colt’s dual Group 1-winning dam Ghanaati (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) is a half-sister to the grandam of both G1 Sydney Cup winner Shraaoh (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and his Group 2-winning full brother Raheen House (Ire).
A winner in his debut earlier this month, Storm Damage (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) looks to give some black type to his Australian-based half-sister and her foals. That sister is Pfeiffer (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}), who has had five live foals in Australia with a yearling Headwater filly and Headwater weanling colt to come. The mare again visited the Vinery Stud-based sire for 2021.
New Zealand shuttler Vadamo’s (Fr) son Spycatcher (Ire) has multiple stakes placings to his name and looks to add a win to his record in the Jersey S. The colt is a half-brother to Hong Kong runner Reel Bizzy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who was retired a few months ago after three seasons in the country.
Legion Of Honour (GB) represents Wootton Bassett in the Jersey S. on Saturday. Ninth last out to G1 St James’s Palace winner Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas, Legion Of Honour is looking to add a stakes win to his resume.
New Mandate’s (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) dam is a granddaughter of Lunda (Ire) (Soviet Star {USA}). That mare produced Australian stakes winner Rugged Cross (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and G1 Caulfield Cup-fourth Blue Monday (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), among her three stakes performers.
Toronado (Ire) is the sire of the Queen’s Tactical (GB), who won last year’s Listed Windsor Castle and lines up at Royal Ascot for a second time in this race. Out of the multiple stakes-placed Make Fast (GB) (Makfi {GB}), he is also a grandson of Group 3 winner Raymi Coya (USA) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}).
Tiger Moth among leading entries in Hardwicke
Race 3, G2 Hardwicke S., 12.40am AEST
G1 Melbourne Cup second Tiger Moth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) makes his second start of the year in the G2 Hardwicke S. after struggling on Soft to Heavy ground at The Curragh last out. The colt is a half-brother to stakes winner Coach House (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and a full brother to multiple Group placed Butterscotch (Ire), who had a Justify (USA) filly last year.
Dual Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) is one of two stakes winners out of a half-sister to multiple Australian stakes-placed Mr Garcia (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}). That three-time stakes performer ran his last race in March of last year and ended his career with 12 top three finishes in 25 starts.
Multiple stakes winner Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is one of four stakes winners for Tanaghum (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), whose runners are led by Group 1-winning Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven’s Pass {USA}). That mare is also the grandam to four-time Group 1 winner and New Zealand shuttler Ribchester (Ire).
Group 1 winner Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) looks for his second win of the year in the Hardwicke. The 5-year-old is out of Shastye (Ire) (Danehill {USA}), who has seen her runners Maurus (GB) (Medicean {GB}) and Sir Isaac Newton (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) spending the last part of their careers in Australia with both earning black type in the country. Japan is joined by his full brother Mogul (Ire), who is looking to get his first win of the year.
Wootton Bassett sees his six-time winner Ilaraab (Ire) try to score his first stakes win after winning each of his last six races from seven starts. The colt is out of a half-sister to Group 3 winner Census (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}).
Dream Of Dreams takes on Diamond Jubilee
Race 4, G1 Diamond Jubilee S., 1.20am AEST
Group 1 winner Dream Of Dreams (Ire) is by former shuttle sire Dream Ahead (USA) and out of a half-sister to Airwave (USA) (Air Express {USA}). Airwave is the grandam of Coolmore Australia shuttle stallion and Champion Churchill (Ire) and his full brother Blenheim Palace (Ire), is in training in Australia and last raced on May 6.
