Stars set to shine on Royal Ascot's opening day
Royal Ascot gets underway Tuesday, with the fields for an explosive first day already drawn. Much focus has been placed on the quartet of Australian sprinters heading for the King's Stand S. (Eng-G2) run over five furlongs, while Phil Cunningham's English Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) hero COCKNEY REBEL (Val Royal [Fr]) will attempt to win the main feature, the St James's Palace S. (Eng-G1). His conditioner, Geoff Huffer, captured this prize back in 1988 with Persian Heights and makes no secret of what this meeting means to him. "He's good for racing, because it proves you can spend 30,000 guineas and get a horse that's probably the best we've seen for a few years," Huffer said. "Royal Ascot is a wonderful meeting and a great spectacle -- it's magic for everybody, win or lose, and I love the place." Aidan O'Brien is quoted odds-on to be the leading trainer at the five-day meeting, while Mick Kinane is expected to follow suit in the riders' category. Among the horses they will team up with Tuesday is Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's GEORGE WASHINGTON (Ire) (Danehill), who makes his four-year-old comeback in the Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1). Last year's impressive English Two Thousand Guineas and Queen Elizabeth II S. (Eng-G1) winner was renowned for his ego at three, but his conditioner feels he is a different proposition after a failed spell at stud. "He seems to be behaving himself well and we think he's matured," O'Brien commented. "We've been very happy with him." In Royal Ascot's media guide, much emphasis is placed on the meeting's place in the Global Sprint Challenge, and it played a pivotal role in that 12 months ago when the eventual champion TAKEOVER TARGET (Celtic Swing) collected the King's Stand en route. Ex-cabbie Joe Janiak's star veteran is back, with three high-class Australian compatriots in tow. They are MISS ANDRETTI (Ihtiram), BENTLEY BISCUIT (Peintre Celebre) and MAGNUS (Flying Spur).
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Janiak
spoke of the importance of being back on now familiar territory.
"We know
England a lot better now and are better prepared than last year," Janiak said.
"We've got the four best sprinters over, and just between them it's going to be
one hell of a race."
Miss Andretti's trainer Lee Freedman echoed those
sentiments.
"These horses are all very competitive with each other and there is not a lot
between them," Freedman commented. "Takeover Target is the benchmark, the
world champion, so you've got to be respectful of him. Magnus is an up-and-comer
and Bentley Biscuit has really improved out of sight. They are all strong
finishers, so the (stiff) track won't be a drama."
For new Chief Executive
Charles Barnett, the overseas presence confirms the new status of the oldest
race meeting in the world.
"I don't feel there is anything elitist about this
place at all," Barnett said. "Quite the reverse, it is a very open and embracing
environment. The Royal meeting is all about a huge party, with racing there. The
international runners have been an important part of our marketing strategy and
(Head of PR) Nick Smith has been doing sterling work around the world. It's very exciting and attracts more international flavor to
the event."
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