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Saturday's G2 Hardwicke S. features the usual strong representation from Sir Michael Stoute, who holds the record of nine winners with six coming remarkably in the last 10 years. There was a touch of Harbinger (GB) about the success of his main hope Exosphere (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) in the G2 Jockey Club S. over this trip at Newmarket Apr. 30, even if that form has a large question mark over it. Sauntering to a four-length dismissal of the subsequent G1 Coronation Cup flop Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade...

QUEEN FOR A DAY Becomin the third filly in six years to come off the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and win the G1 Coronation S. on Friday, Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was on the money to provide Al Shaqab Racing with a top-level Royal Ascot victory that is the life source of any major bloodstock operation. Too anxious for her own good when third in the Classic over Deauville's straight mile last time May 15, the bay took a step forward under a confident Gregory Benoist to provide...

A STAR ASCENDANT Rapidly rising star of the sprinting ranks Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) registered a career high in Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane S. last month and, having scooted to an impressive success there, was forced to unleash her entire armoury to prevail in a thrilling climax to Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, her first start at the highest level. Adopting her usual hold-up tactics under cover in rear until gliding into contention after halfway, the 7-4 favourite found gaps to launch her challenge approaching the final...

As commendable as his successes in the G3 Abernant S. and G2 Duke of York S. have been, there is a sense that Royal Ascot Saturday is what counts as Magical Memory (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) approaches the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. While by no means a specialist trainer of sprinters, Charlie Hills has excelled with that type of racehorse in the early stages of his career and his guidance of Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds's grey from useful handicapper to valid Group 1 animal is the next feather in his cap following...

Michael Tabor's Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has not enjoyed the best of luck so far in 2016 and received another slice of ill-fortune on Friday when being drawn 15 of 16 in the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly on Sunday. Second to stablemate Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 1, last year's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine had been lined up for a tilt at the Irish equivalent before being forced to sidestep that encounter and now has to defy a traditionally unfavourable...

COSMIC Unable to land any kind of blow in the G1 Epsom Derby 13 days previously, Saeed Suhail's Across the Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) proved a different proposition on Ascot's more conventional track to register a battling success in Friday's G2 King Edward VII S. and provide Sir Michael Stoute with a seventh renewal of this "Ascot Derby" and 74th Royal winner in all. Supported into 7-1, the bay who carried such confidence from Kieren Fallon into the blue riband but was ridden here by Frankie Dettori was...

HOME OF THE BRAVE The aptly named Brave Anna (War Front), who bettered a debut eighth behind 'TDN Rising Star' Roly Poly (War Front) at Naas by graduating in style upped to six furlongs at The Curragh last month, entered Royal Ascot's G3 Albany S. as the Aidan O'Brien second string, but exited the six-furlong test very much number one after grinding out a determined win. Missing a beat at the kick and subsequently positioned in rear, the 16-1 chance powered into contention approaching the final quarter mile and refused...

Since 2001, Mark Johnston has captured this prize seven times, with Aidan O'Brien on four, and they are multiply represented once again, with the latter holding the stronger hand at first glance. Ballydoyle's trio is headed by Landofhopeandglory, who needs to improve on his latest last of five over 10 furlongs in The Curragh's G3 Gallinule S. May 22 but who is bred to over this extreme trip. His compatriot Ebediyin scored over 12 furlongs at Naas May 11, where another Ballydoyle runner Sword Fighter was in third, and as...

Just two months since they shared top billing at the Goffs UK Breeze-up Sale at Doncaster when selling for £170,000, Kodiac (Ire) colts Prince Of Lir (Ire) and Ardad (Ire) are both now Royal Ascot stakes winners. The John Gosden-trained Ardad set the ball rolling with his 3 1/4-length strike in Tuesday's listed Windsor Castle S. in a time of 1.02.56––fractionally faster than the same day's G1 King's Stand S. victory of Profitable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). On Thursday, Prince Of Lir kept his unbeaten record intact when winning the...

Equestrian New South Wales has announced that Godolphin is to become the official partner for the 2016 New South Wales Interschool Equestrian Championships, which takes place between June 22 and 26 at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. The largest competition of its kind in the country will see 650 horses and riders compete in a range of disciplines, including eventing, showing, show jumping and dressage. Godolphin will also be supporting the Australian Interschool Equestrian Championships at the same venue––which was the site of the equestrian phases for the 2000 Sydney...

Facile G2 Queen Mary S. victrix Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) will not follow the path taken by last year's winner of the race, Acapulco (Scat Daddy), by following up in the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. at York's Ebor Meeting. Acapulco was beaten two lengths into second in the Nunthorpe by Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) when carrying 24lbs less than the winner. Trainer Wesley Ward confirmed the news to viewers of Channel 4 Racing's Morning Line, saying, “Her eyes are bright, her ears are pricked and she ate up...

Nobody produces G1 Gold Cup winners like Aidan O'Brien and with a record six winners in the last 10 years obviously not enough, Lloyd Williams, Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier and Derrick Smith's Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) duly delivered lucky number seven for the current Ballydoyle supremo when overcoming a troubled trip in Thursday's renewal staged in honour of the Queen's 90th birthday. After enjoying the perfect spot initially under cover behind the leaders, the 10-11 favourite was shuffled back to worse than mid-division along the back straight...