The Queen's Royal Ascot fortunes have taken a major upturn in recent times and last year's G2 Hardwicke S. was a notable moment for the monarch as Dartmouth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) prevailed in a thriller to send the meeting's faithful home fulfilled. Subsequently third in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and runner-up in the GI Canadian International at Woodbine in October, he was back in rude health to win the May 19 G2 Yorkshire Cup and Ryan Moore has been released by Coolmore to retain his partnership. “He's in good shape and he knows his way around the track,” commented Sir Michael Stoute, who already boasts a record-breaking 10 wins in this. “He loves the track–he's solid.”
Twelve months ago, Moore was on Exospheric (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) instead of the runner-up Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and this time he deserts that Ballydoyle luminary's full-brother Idaho (Ire). Despite that move, the feeling is very much that 'TDN Rising Star' Idaho is a good horse waiting to happen and this could be the moment his luck turns around. Unseating today's rider Seamie Heffernan in the home straight in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster in September, last year's G1 Irish Derby runner-up, G1 Epsom Derby third and G2 Great Voltigeur S. winner was slowly away when fifth in the Canadian International and needed his comeback when sixth behind Highland Reel in Epsom's G1 Coronation Cup on June 2.
Lady Bamford's Wings of Desire (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) split Highland Reel and Dartmouth in the King George and may have found the G1 Juddmonte International coming too quick when ninth in that contest in August. Not seen since, the homebred faces a tough reintroduction as he prepares for another tilt at next month's showpiece event here. St Albans Bloodstock's Dal Harraild (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) relished an extra two furlongs when winning York's Listed Grand Cup on May 27, but is threatening to mature into a serious pattern-race performer while last year's G2 King Edward VII S. winner Across the Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) needs to find marked improvement off his return fifth behind Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy) and My Dream Boat (Ire) (Lord Shanakill) in the G3 Aston Park S. over this trip at Newbury on May 20.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
