SILVESTRE DE SOUSA: Royal Ascot Wednesday

It’s a busy day two at Royal Ascot for me with rides in six of the seven races and I’ve plenty of lively chances amongst those too. A tough opening day for me with no joy from the three rides but it’s hugely competitive racing and hopefully better luck for me as the week goes on.  Full preview below and I’ve also recorded another Zoom Room with Bill and Luke – you can watch that by CLICKING HERE.

WEDNESDAY

ROYAL ASCOT

BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE 2.30pm Queen Mary Stakes

My first ride of the day is the filly Beautiful Sunshine for George Boughey and she is one I know well having ridden her before she went to the breeze-ups. She got off the mark at Windsor early last month then followed up in impressive fashion in soft ground at Sandown (pictured below). Conditions will be very different here but she is speedy and should be fine on the ground. I suppose the big danger will be the American filly Twilight Gleaming who is drawn near the stand side. She looks really quick and may just take some catching.

DANCING KING 3.05pm Queen’s Vase

I’m thrilled to have been asked to ride Dancing King who is unbeaten in four races since being gelded. I won on him at Leicester and I’m hopeful he can be competitive from his nice draw over a trip we know he stays and ground he likes. It’s just whether he is up to this class, but we will give it a good go. You have to respect Aidan O’Brien’s three runners with Wordsworth looking the pick of his three.

QUEEN POWER 3.40pm Duke Of Cambridge Stakes

If I’m to ride a winner on day two then it will most likely be Queen Power for King Power racing and Sir Michael Stoute. Obviously, we have to reverse the Newmarket running with Lady Bowthorpe, but my filly has come on for that run where she got a little tired late on. She has since bolted up at York and I’m hoping she can be very competitive despite the drop in trip. Third in this race 12 months ago, I wouldn’t swap her for any of these.

4.20pm Prince Of Wales’s Stakes

No ride for me in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and to be honest I cannot see beyond Love on her return. She was so good last season and with the ground in her favour I’d be surprised if she got beat here. Stablemate Armory is no slouch either and last year’s winner Lord North was impressive in Dubai. It should be a great race to watch.

TRAIS FLUORS 5.00pm Royal Hunt Cup

The big cavalry charge of the day is the Royal Hunt Cup where I’m back aboard Trais Fluors who won nicely at Sandown last weekend. He makes a quick reappearance off a 5lbs penalty and I suppose I’m just hoping the race doesn’t come too quick for him. He was impressive on Saturday and could be bang there if reappearing in the same form. Finest Sound deserves to be favourite and the other one I give a squeak to is Astro King. The pair of them could still be ahead of the handicapper.

SUPERIOR FORCE 5.35pm Windsor Castle Stakes

Another nice two-year old ride for George Boughey in the shape of Superior Force who gave me a nice feel when I sat on him the other morning. He’s done nothing wrong in two starts and may appreciate the drop back to this trip. Whether he’s up to winning a race like this remains to be seen, but those two runs will have helped him. You have to respect the US raiders who are probably the ones to beat, but I think Chipotle can go well back on fast ground.

STUNNING BEAUTY 6.10pm Kensington Palace Stakes

My final ride of the day is the Godolphin filly Stunning Beauty who has a 100% record in this country. The only two poor runs in her life came out in Dubai, but she looked to have put those disappointments behind her when winning at Doncaster last time. She will love the ground and must have an each-way chance.

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