SILVESTRE DE SOUSA: Royal Ascot Friday

Star Sports brand ambassador Silvestre De Sousa reacts to a dramatic opening Norfolk Stakes on Gold Cup Day at Royal Ascot where he finished third on Crispy Cat. He tells City AM’s Racing Editor Bill Esdaile how unlucky he was after the wayward path of winner The Ridler ….

CLICK PLAY BELOW TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW.

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FRIDAY

ROYAL ASCOT

If the weather forecast is to be believed, then Friday will be the hottest day of the week. I mentioned in yesterday’s blog how well the horses are looked after from a welfare point of view and I thought I should remind you also what hard work it is for the jockeys. The heat generated from the horses is huge and remember we are basically hugging them in a finish. It’s like lying on a radiator and its so important to keep hydrated. I must drink at least a bottle of water after every ride. Speaking of which I’ve got my busiest day of the week with four rides to look forward to…

Also check out the latest ZOOM ROOM with Bill and Johnny – CLICK HERE TO WATCH THAT (Friday’s preview starts 15 minutes, 12 seconds in).

DOUBLE O – 2.30pm (Albany Stakes)

I start off with Double O for Amo Racing in the opening Albany Stakes. She gave me a nice feel when winning at Pontefract a couple of weeks ago and deserves a crack at a race like this. She does take on two really smart fillies in Meditate and Mawj so this won’t be easy. However, if you don’t buy a ticket and all that…

FLOTUS – 3.05pm (Commonwealth Cup)

The first of the Group One races and I’m thrilled to be asked to ride Flotus again. She’s always been a filly I’ve liked ever since I won on her at Goodwood first up last season. She felt like she was coming back to form at Haydock last time and don’t forget she was second to Tenebrism in the Group One Cheveley Park on fast ground last season. If she returns to that sort of form she could run a lot better than people think. As for the rest, you can make a case out for about 10 of these including Perfect Power and Go Bears Go who fought out the Norfolk Stakes finish here last year. I also reckon Irish raider Twilight Jet will go well too.

4.20pm (Coronation Stakes)

It’s a shame there is no Homeless Songs in this but we do get to see the return of Inspiral (pictured below). She was such a good two-year-old and will be hard to beat if retaining that ability. This is a tough test though with Guineas winner Cachet the biggest danger.

GOLDEN MAYFLOWER – 5.00pm (Sandringham Stakes)

A huge field of 29 line up for the Sandringham Stakes where I am looking forward to partnering Golden Mayflower (pictured below, left) for Amy Murphy. She felt like she needed to drop back to this sort of trip last time and has always been a filly we like. She’s in good form at home and hopefully the first time cheekpieces will help her a bit too. There are so many fancied ones here though including Fresh Hope and Heredia.

SALITEH – 6.10pm (Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes)

My last ride of the day is Saliteh, again for Amo Racing. She is an interesting runner who comes over from Ireland for Adrian Murray. She was third to Twilight Jet at Naas last time and is somewhat in calmer waters here. She’s another that sneaks in here under the radar. Fellow Irish raider Ladies Church looks sure to go well too.

Good Luck
SDS

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