Rossetti's famed Bocca Baciata was the first of the artist's works to contain a lone female and, appropriately for Ladies Day, that painting's namesake Bocca Baciata (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) is the sole distaffer in Thursday's G3 Tercentenary S. at Royal Ascot. Purchased for €230,000 as part of the Gerry Oldham dispersal in 2013, Flaxman Stables's sophomore bagged one of three starts as a juvenile and opened this season in hot form when lowering the colors of Pleascach (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the Apr. 18 Listed Salsabil S. at Navan. She relinquished that hold next time, finishing fifth as Pleascach gained revenge in last month's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, and comes back here bidding to become the first filly to succeed since the event's recalibration in 2002. “After she ran in the Guineas at the Curragh, the general consensus was that she should step back up in trip,” revealed racing manager Alan Cooper. “[Trainer] Jessica [Harrington] has been very pleased with her so let's hope the plan comes to fruition. Her form is very good, whichever way you look at it, and she has traveled over to Ascot very well. We're hoping for a good show.”
Leading the boys' brigade is Juddmonte's likely favorite Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who has finished no worse than second in four starts and goes postward off an impressive score in last month's London Gold Cup H. at Newbury. A revitalized Frankie Dettori gets the nod for the Roger Charlton incumbent, who is out of the operation's 2006 G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud victress Passage of Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}). “He came out of his last race very well and we were delighted with how he won at Newbury,” commented Charlton. “There is a field of 14, which appears on the larger side for the race. With this size of field and a few front runners, there should be a generous pace, which should suit him. He has a tremendous cruising speed and showed a good turn of foot, and hopefully that will stand him in good stead. Last year he was beaten at Sandown by Lathanarch and we were disappointed by the way he behaved, but that form doesn't look too bad now after Latharnach was second to Gleneagles [in Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace S.].”
Richard Hannon trainee Peacock (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) will induce a shower of top hats if providing The Queen with a popular victory. Runner-up in the Apr. 15 Listed Feilden S. at Newmarket, that form received a mighty boost when his conqueror on the Rowley Mile, Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), went on to claim bloodless victories in the G2 Dante S. and G1 Epsom Derby. He returns off a win in the May 30 Listed Fairway S. back at Newmarket. “Peacock's Feilden second looks pretty smart after Golden Horn went on to win the Derby, so we'd be hopeful of a bold run for The Queen,” Hannon said. “He got back on track in listed grade at Newmarket and his form is rock-solid.”
Taking momentary leave of Coolmore duties, Ryan Moore is reacquainted with Disegno (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Having been in the plate when third in a stellar renewal of the Feilden at Headquarters, the rider was aboard Smuggler's Cove (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Ire}) when The Niarchos Family's homebred bay narrowly lost out to Not So Sleepy (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) in a bobbing finish to last month's Listed Dee S. at Chester. “The [soft] ground was terrible for him at Chester last time– he needs it fast,” insisted Alan Cooper. “Hopefully, given how the ground has been riding, it should be in his favor this time. He has been progressing and wasn't beaten far by Golden Horn first time out. Sir Michael [Stoute] has always rated him highly so we are hoping that he delivers what we have always felt he is capable of.”
Runner-up in Sandown's G3 Classic Trial and Longchamp's G2 Prix Hocquart, Cape Clear Island (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) seeks compensation for a troubled effort in the May 31 G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly. Trainer's son Joseph O'Brien renews his partnership with the Derrick Smith colorbearer for the first time this year.
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