Ryan Moore – aboard two Royal runners on Ladies’ Day
THE QUEEN has two fancied runners tomorrow on Ladies’ Day with Estimate carrying her colours in the Gold Cup and Bold Sniper representing her in the King George V Handicap.
Both are trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Ryan Moore. The former is vying for favouritism and would be making it back to back Royal Ascot victories should he prevail after winning the Queen’s Vase last year. Bold Sniper is outright favourite in the 3yo mile and a half handicap and looks to have strong credentials in an admittedly tricky 19 runner affair.
Sea Shanty, trained by Richard Hannon, also represents The Queen in The Britannia Stakes, a very competitive 3yo handicap over a mile. Winner of his last three races over a mile, the son of Elusive Quality at double figure odds looks to have more to do tomorrow under pilot Pat Dobbs.
The Irish are having a wonderful royal meeting with six winners to date but today belonged to a rising star in the weighing room, James Doyle, who rode an 891.5/1 treble in three successive races, courtesy of Al Kazeem, Belgian Bill and Rizeena. He was particularly impressive on the Roger Charlton trained Al Kazeem in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, not allowing jockey Paul Hanagan too much rope on Mukhadram. Hanagan had set sail for home two out and went three lengths clear but Doyle was alert to his move and eventually reeled him in with just a neck to spare at the line.
While only one favourite has obliged on each of the first two days, punters may have had a slightly better day today with two second favourites and one third favourite obliging as well.
As for betting on the Queen’s hat, if there was doubt yesterday, today was even more confusing as the ruling monarch of 61 years wore a green, purple and pink hat. Apparently, Ladbrokes paid out on all three.
While blue is the bookies’ favourite colour for tomorrow will it be hats off to the Queen after a royal winner?
Posted by Simon Double on 19 June 2013
