Royal Ascot 2011 – Rains loom over Coronation Stakes, King Edward VII Stakes, Jockey skills test
Thrilling horse racing at the Royal Ascot on the first two days was perfectly supported by some good weather. All of that is about to change since the met office reported that the Royal Ascot festival could be hit by rain on 16 and17 June, 2011.
Thursday, 16 June, will offer some dry weather but in between the weather will be affected by passing showers and during the course of the day 2mm to 4mm rain is expected to hit the festival.
What sort of impact it will leave on the racing tracks is hard to predict because if the morning weather holds up dry then a 2mm rain shower in the afternoon could hold up the racing tracks nicely and have minimum negative impact. More showers are expected
on 17 June.
Clerk of the course, Chris Stickels, said:
"Thursday should start dry but there will be sharp showers from midday that could bring in an estimated 2mm to 4mm of rain. There should then be a heavier band on Friday that is likely to deliver more”.
Richard Hannon, trainer of the 2011 Queen Anne Stakes champion, Canford Cliffs, who went on to defeat Goldikova had another successful day when his other horse, Strong Suit, won the Grade Two Jeresey Stakes, would be expecting that his Royal Ascot winning
spree is not rained out.
Rain hit race tracks become unpredictable and favourites are washed away because it comes down to adaptability of a certain horse and how to use the advantage over those struggling with wet conditions.
Races that could be affected on 16 June could be Norfolk Stakes Group 2, Ribblesdale Stakes Group 2 Fillies, Gold Cup Group 1, Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap),
King George V Stakes (Handicap).
Races that could be affected on 17 June: Albany Stakes Group 3 Fillies, King Edward VII Stakes Group 2 Coronation Stakes (British Champions Series) Group 1, Wolferton Handicap (Listed Race), Queens Vase’ Group 3, Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap.
The race card for both 16 and 17 June is full of important races and the wet conditions could affect horses such as, Brigantin, the four year old trained by Andre Fabre, and, Motrice, trained by Sir Mark Prescott and many more, who have to prepare according
to the conditions and come up with new tactics.
Jockeys at the end of the day could play an important role while steering their horses on the right and dry patches of the race track. Experienced jockeys such as, Ryan Moore, could prove to be gold dust at the end of the day for owner as well as trainer.
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