LET THE ROYAL MEETING BEGIN

By David Clarkson

19/06/2012

Chief Correspondent

Last night I checked into my usual Royal Ascot lodgings at Lythe Hill, mid-way between the South coast of England and the Berkshire racecourse. The anticipation of an international racing feast grows as I unpack my morning suit and grey topper. The cream of British and Irish talent square off against the raiders from Australia, America and other corners of the globe.

Royal Ascot is a fabulous five day festival of racing and fashion. The hats - from stunning to silly - the pageantry, the Queen in her carriage, the formal wear for gentlemen, the champagne on lush green lawns and the incredible racing come together to form one of Britain's most iconic sporting events.

This week the wealthy of Britain descend upon the royal racetrack for an occasion rich in every sense – heritage and sporting merit as I will point my Sydney Racing camera at the vast array of wealth represented by the crowds of dukes, earls and oligarchs strutting their status.

For a mere racing journalist Royal Ascot is a chance to watch and wonder at the great racing contests and the elaborate outfits donned West of London.

There is no gentle introduction with lesser races to start as may happen at Flemington, Sha Tin or Randwick. The first three races today are all at Group 1 and England has far fewer Group 1 races than Australia, so this is a truly special day. After the Queen makes her first carriage journey down the straight and bookies settle the bets on the colour of her outfit (my selection is lemon), we savour the 1600m Queen Anne Stakes, the 1,000m King’s Stand Stakes and the 1600m St. James Palace Stakes.

In the opener at 11-30pm Sydney time the highest-rated horse in the world Frankel will be bidding to stretch his unbeaten record to 11. He is currently paying $1.16 on Betfair for the win. Stablemate and three-parts brother Bullet Train (370/1), who has been seen to good effect as pacemaker for Frankel on his last two starts, again features and looks likely to ensure a strong gallop.

Excelebration ($13), the runner-up to Frankel on his last two starts, again looks likely to challenge and spearheads three runners from Aidan O'Brien. The ex-Bart Cummings horse So You Think has, however, chosen tomorrow’s Prince Of Wales's Stakes as an alternative option.

Helmet ($90), three times a Group 1 winner for Peter Snowden in Australia, will make his British debut for trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni. Last seen when disappointing in the UAE Derby at Meydan at the end of March, Helmet was successful on six of his nine starts last year.

German star Indomito (300/1) also makes the line-up, along with the Charlie Hills-trained Red Jazz (300/1) and recent Epsom scorer Side Glance (160/1). It would be a massive trifecta if Frankel were to be unplaced. He is expected to win easily again. Sadly the Frankel-Black Caviar clash over 1600m at Goodwood on August 1 will not go ahead.

Today’s second race is the King's Stand Stakes - a thrilling 1000m sprint recently dominated by Australia. The first three in the market for this open event are Bated Breath, Ortensia and Wizz Kid. I saw Bated Breath run a disappointing eighth in the Hong Kong Sprint but he returned to the track in May winning the Temple Stakes at Haydock from Sole Power. Paul Messara’s Ortensia is currently the $6 favourite with Betfair, having won at Bendigo, Sandown, Caulfield, Randwick, Doomben, Eagle Farm and Meydan, where he also beat Sole Power. The seven-year-old Testa Rossa mare has also won two Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot in Western Australia, a long way from today’s venue.

The four-year-old Wizz Kid has been heavily backed into $6,60 third favourite since winning the Prix Du Gros-Chene at Chantilly a fortnight ago with 2010 Melbourne Cup winning jockey Gerald Mosse aboard. Sole Power goes round again and Little Bridge and Joy and Fun must also be considered. My value bet on the day is Hong Kong raider Little Bridge ($16) ridden by Australian Zac Purton.

The third Group 1 today is the St James's Palace Stakes, another 1600m race, this time for three-year-olds only. The obvious pick is Aidan O’Brien’s Power (4/1 favourite), who won last year’s Coventry Stakes. He has won four times at the Curragh, last time landing the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the end of May. However he did disappoint in the English equivalent three weeks earlier when 17th of 18 at Newmarket 37 lengths behind the subsequent Derby winner Camelot. Lucayan ($12) won the French 2,000 Guineas, though is yet to race overseas. Hermival ($12.50) was beaten 2.5 lengths behind Camelot and 4 lengths behind Power.

I'll take a gamble with Most Improved, who had time off through injury before making a comeback at Chantilly in the Prix Du Jockey Club ahead of Gregorian. He will have come on for that run and Kieren Fallon is in the saddle.

Dawn Approach, Cristoforo Colombo, Englishman and Sir Prancealot put their unbeaten records on the line in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes for the youngsters. With nine unbeaten juveniles its an open contest but Sir Prancealot looks the best of Richard Hannon's quartet and gets my tentative vote.

Tomorrow's feature is the Prince of Wales's Stakes, which is contested by four-year-olds and older over 2000m. Along with Saturday's Golden Jubilee Stakes - renamed the Diamond Jubilee Stakes this year to mark the Queen's milestone - it is the most valuable race at Royal Ascot, worth £500,000. The race looks to be between So You Think and Cirrus des Aigles.

The highlight of Royal Ascot is usually the Gold Cup, run on the Thursday. Staged over 4000m, the race is the longest Group 1 in Britain. Aidan O’Brien’s Fame and Glory is looking to repeat last year’s win in the race.

Three-year-old fillies take centre stage on Friday in the Coronation Stakes. The race provides the chance for 1,000 Guineas winners from Britain, Ireland and France to clash over Ascot's round mile.

Saturday climaxes with the Diamond Jubilee, the long-awaited British debut of Black Caviar. What a day that will be. Then it’s back to Heathrow and back to Sydney.