Fourteen left in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Frankie Dettori may well be long odds to replicate his “magnificent seven” winners from the 1996, but he goes into Saturday’s meeting at Ascot with renewed firepower.
Godolphin, who celebrated its 1,000th British winner at Newmarket on Friday, have not had reason to cheer after a Group One race in the country since Mastery won last year’s St Leger. They have supplemented Poet’s Voice, the winner (pictured) of the Group Two Celebration Mile last time out, at a cost of £20,000 to stand alongside Rio de la Plata in the 14 six-day confirmations for the highlight of the card, the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. But they may be pushed to take a hand in what is looking like a strong renewal.
Much of the interest will centre on the third meeting between Makfi, trained in France by Mikel Delzangles, and Canford Cliffs. When they first met, in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, Makfi had one-and-three-quarter lengths to spare over Canford Cliffs when he won but finished only seventh when Canford Cliffs won the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot the following month.
Makfi was found to be a sick horse that day and has since demonstrated that his Guineas victory was no fluke beating Goldikova and Paco Boy in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville last month.
If there is a surprise package in the race then it could come from Aidan O’Brien. The fact that the trainer still has six possible runners still engaged in the race is no great shock but Cape Blanco was not one that was expected to form part of the trainer’s thinking for a race that he has won twice in the last four years.
Cape Blanco, who won the Irish Derby at the Curragh in July, caused a surprise last time out when he beat stable companion Rip Van Winkle in the Irish Champion Stakes over 10 furlongs at Leopardstown three weeks ago. At the time O’Brien described the difference between the pair as being that “Rip is a miler who gets a mile-and-a-quarter where Cape Blanco is a mile-and-a-quarter horse who gets a mile-and-a-half. Rip won’t mind going back to a mile, this horse won’t mind staying at a mile-and-a-quarter or stepping up to a mile-and-a-half.”
O’Brien can also pick from Windsor Palace, Air Chief Marshall, Beethoven and Steinbeck.
Godolphin was also busy with the petty cash for the other Group One race on the card, the Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile, for which they supplemented White Moonstone, who impressed when winning the Group Two May Hill Stakes at Doncaster.
The Dynaformer filly, unbeaten in three starts, heads a field that should throw some light on the pecking order for next year’s 1000 Guineas market. Theyskens' Theory was market leader for the Guineas after she won the Group Three Prestige Stakes at Goodwood last month, only to be replaced by White Moonstone's latest run, while the O’Brien-trained Misty For Me represents the best of the Irish form having won the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes.
Frankel, trained by Henry Cecil, was promoted to the head of the 2000 Guineas market after he won a conditions race at the St Leger meeting and is one of 10 confirmations for the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes.
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