Royal Ascot's G3 Jersey S. is never far short of Classic standard and that will be required in Wednesday's renewal due to the presence of Prince Faisal bin Khaled's standard-bearer Le Brivido (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Beaten just a short head by the subsequent G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}) in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Deauville on May 14, the still unexposed bay had done his prior racing over six furlongs and will likely find this interim trip ideal.
Godolphin's Dream Castle (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has come a long way in a short space of time and his second to Barney Roy (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) in Newbury's G3 Greenham S. over this trip on Apr. 22 preceded a fifth in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6. Meeting trouble in that mile Classic, he races without the hood he was fitted with on that occasion and has the added dimension of Josephine Gordon here. “He has been working nicely and Josephine Gordon has been riding very well for our stable,” trainer Saeed bin Suroor commented. “The return to seven furlongs will suit and I am looking forward to another good run.”
Another with Classic form is Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah's G1 1000 Guineas third Daban (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who had previously beaten the subsequent G2 German 1000 Guineas winner Unforgetable Filly (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}) in Newmarket's G3 Nell Gwyn S. at this distance on Apr. 19.
Aidan O'Brien's contenders are always worthy of note and last year's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere third Whitecliffsofdover (War Front) looked at home over this trip when impressive on his 2017 debut in Newmarket's Listed European Free H. on Apr. 19. His subsequent third when odds-on for the Listed Owenstown Stud S. again over this distance at Naas on May 21 could be blamed on the good-to-yielding ground he encountered there and a switch back to fast going will only benefit him.
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