Better late than never - 25/1 Wokingham Stakes winner

It has been a long week for followers of the Royal Ascot Update but thankfully it ended on a high with the first two home in the Wokingham Stakes advised at 25/1 and 12/1, namely Unequal Love and Dark Trooper. A big thank you to William Haggas for sending me a list of his runners for the week - that was a major factor in selecting the Cheveley Park Stud owned filly because it confirmed the six furlongs event was the plan. The only filly in the line-up and the first one to win it since 2015, Unequal Love had the form in the book having finished a close fifth in the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh on her previous start - the runner-up Regional had franked the form in the week, too. Drawn in stall one, Tom Marquand's mount travelled beautifully in behind the leaders and found plenty when asked for her effort. She clear to lead inside the final furlong, the Haggas trained filly was always holding the fast finishing Dark Trooper and Orazio to win by half a length. A return to Pattern company will almost certainly be on her agenda with the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York (12th July) a likely target. 

Dark Trooper, who was heavily supported into 4/1 favourite, ran a cracker in second off a mark of 102 and won't look out of place in Listed or Group 3 races. Held up by James Doyle, his draw in stall 24 didn't do the four year old any favours because there was more pace amongst those drawn low. Pulled to the outside, he thundered home but the winner had set sail for home and was never going to be caught. 

Later on the card, Hand of God (9/4) was highlighted for the Golden Gates Handicap and the son of Churchill looked a well treated three year old as he readily saw off eleven opponents by upwards of a length and three quarters off a mark of 91. Harry Charlton had endured a frustrating week following the narrow defeats of King's Gambit and Kikkuli but this fast improving colt put the record straight with an authoritative win. Bred to improve over this longer trip, he was only raised three pounds for his win in the Esher Cup at Sandown in April and been kept fresh since. Entered in the John Smith's Cup at York (13th July) next month, he is most unlikely to get in even with a five pounds penalty. He looks every inch a Pattern horse in the making.

Talking of Kikkuli, the Top 40 entry produced a career best when denied by a short head in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes. A half-brother to the brilliant Frankel, I wasn't convinced the son of Kingman would be quick enough for the drop back to seven furlongs but he travelled smoothly and may have briefly headed Haatem close home but it was Richard Hannon's colt who put his head down where it mattered. It was still a very good effort by Harry Charlton's runner-up and it bodes well for the rest of the season. Provided it doesn't come too soon, he looks tailormade for the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes over a mile at Newmarket's July meeting (11th July). Alternatively, he could wait for the £100,000 Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood (2nd August). Either way, he is a smashing prospect.

Therefore, it has been a good end to a tough week - getting the winners of the Royal Hunt Cup and Wokingham Stakes at 12/1 and 25/1 was very satisfying and there were a few hard luck stories. There is a fine line between a successful week or an ordinary one. I am convinced Kassaya (advised @ 16/1) would have gone close in the Queen Mary Stakes with a clear run, while King's Gambit should have won the Hampton Court Stakes on Thursday. I should have stayed loyal to Mickley (highlighted @ 16/1) in the Britannia Stakes. The week could have had a very different look to it. As far as the biggest disappointment of the week - the King George V Handicap. I couldn't see Poniros finishing out of the money but he raced too keenly early from his wide draw and was a spent force early in the homestraight. 

Aidan O'Brien dominated the week with 6 winners from 39 runners, including Group 1 successes for Auguste Rodin and Kyprios, and claimed the top trainer's title for a thirteenth time. Karl Burke had a very productive week with juvenile successes for Leovanni (Queen Mary Stakes) and Shareholder (Norfolk Stakes), plus Swingalong was a close second in the Group 1 Jubilee Stakes on day five. The head of Spigot Lodge also had his share of misfortune with Andesite and Elite Status missing the Coventry Stakes and Commonwealth Cup respectively due to late setbacks, while Liberalised wouldn't go in the stalls in the Albany Stakes. Karl now has 7 Royal Ascot winners to his name. Fellow northern handler Kevin Ryan topped up his number of Royal winners to 11 thanks to Group 1 scorer Inisherin (Commonwealth Cup) and Ain't Nobody (Windsor Castle Stakes). 

Now its time to switch codes, and get stuck into One Jump Ahead. I'll be back to update the Diary in the next few days.