Ascot Poised For Storming Opener

Royal Ascot 2015 gets underway on Tuesday, when a face-off to focus worldwide attention in the G1 Queen Anne S. forms arguably the highlight of the whole meeting. Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) requires no introduction tackling his first western adventure and seeking a fifth top-level victory in succession, but standing in his way is the vastly improved Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) from France. The Wertheimers’ 5-year-old comes to Berkshire with confidence as sky-high as his Hong Kong counterpart on the back of dominating wins in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Mar. 28 and G1 Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp May 24 over a furlong and a half further than this trip. As effective at a mile last term, the homebred who–was at one point tried out as a middle-distance and even marathon performer–was the subject of a bullish report from trainer Freddy Head Sunday. “Solow is very well and things couldn’t be better,” he said. “This is his toughest test yet, so we’ll see how good he is. He has never met so many good horses, so we will see what he is worth. He travels over this evening and is a very good traveler who will go anywhere.” Off the opposition, Head added, “Able Friend is very impressive in all his races, but he has never run on this side of the world and the straight mile at Ascot is stiff, so it will be new to him. Solow is very good, there is no doubt, but we’ll see how good on Tuesday. He’s as well as he was when he won in Dubai, so I’m very confident.” 

Making sure that the prestigious curtain-opener is not all about two horses are the Richard Hannon-trained duo of Night of Thunder (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Toormore (Ire) (Arakan), who finished first and second, respectively, in the May 16 G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury, while Andre Fabre saddles Baron Edouard de Rothschild’s 2014 G1 Prix Rothschild winner Esoterique (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).