Horse Racing
Season
Duke of Cambridge Stakes - Form Comments

18/06/2019 17:43

G2 – 1600m – Turf

1 I Can Fly It is very encouraging that her career best run came over Ascot’s straight 1600m, finishing strongly when a close second in a G1 last October. The ground was soft then but she has also shown high grade form on quicker ground. She occasionally disappoints. 
2 Agrotera Proved that she was way ahead of her handicap rating when landing a gamble to beat 22 rivals in a handicap over this straight 1600m at Royal Ascot last year. Well worth a crack at this higher level after quite a smooth Listed win at Kempton in April.
3 Anna Nerium Not very big but has plenty of heart. Well backed but struggling in last place, she suddenly started to progress and got home in front in a G3 over Epsom’s undulations early this month. That was on fast ground but she’s won on soft also.
4 Bella Ragazza Battled back after being headed to win a handicap over the straight 1600m at Newmarket last October. Didn’t have a good passage when 4th behind Anna Nerium at Epsom on her latest start, but she’ll probably need to improve to win this. Good or soft ground helps.
5 Dan’s Dream Her two previous ventures over this trip didn’t prove that it suited her, though those runs were in very hot events. A close 2nd in both starts this season – latterly being outpaced in a 1200m G3 at The Curragh this month before running on strongly late.
6 Di Fede Her four wins have come over shorter than this but she likes Ascot and has come close to winning over 1594m here on the round course. However she will need to upgrade on her only start this year so far.
7 Hand On Heart Her two wins have been on slow ground so that would be ideal here. Has been tricky at the gates but was a good 2nd in a Listed event over this trip at Leopardstown this month, responding to pressure though having no chance with the winner.
8 Indian Blessing Connections have not been afraid to travel her and she earned good US placemoney in three group races at around this trip last year – including a G1 at Keeneland. Her Listed race victory at Musselburgh on 1 June suggests she’s in top shape.
9 Move Swiftly Without a run this year, but she has finished in the first three in all her seven starts and the figures suggest that her last three runs were her best. Tactically she has usually sat chilly off the pace. Her rating would give her an each-way chance.
10 Nyaleti Has winning form here back in 2017 – over 1200m – and was also a G2 winner over this trip in Dusseldorf last year. Very disappointing when eased right down at Epsom last time but there were legitimate excuses.
11 Preening This is her trip and this lightly-raced two times winning filly began the new season encouragingly when finishing strongly into 2nd behind Agrotera in a Listed event on the Kempton all-weather in April. Her trainer says that ideally she wants a fast surface.
12 Pretty Baby Likes winning according to her trainer, an opinion backed by her record of five wins from seven starts. She made most of the running to win a soft-ground G3 over 1400m at Lingfield on her 2019 return. Expect her to be ridden more patiently in order to help her stay this 1600m. 
13 Rawdaa Has won or been placed in all seven starts but her latest run was easily her best when making a red-hot serious G1 filly have to fight all the way to wire in a York G2 last month. Back down in trip here but a major player if repeating that last run.
14 Red Tea Her three visits to Ascot – including over this straight 1600m – have not been very good. However she decisively beat a huge field in a 1600m handicap at The Curragh last month, also running a good third in a G2 there subsequently.
15 Shenanigans She arrives here in winning form, landing a 2000m Listed event on fast ground at Ayr last month, sitting close to the speed before pouncing that day. That was very encouraging though if her rating is correct she faces a tough challenge.
16 Threading Ran really well on her only previous Ascot visit – over this distance but on the round course – when runner-up to an exceptional rival in a G1 a year ago. Her form then tailed off and she has had a 266-day break since her last start. Versatile groundwise.
17 Veracious A G3 winner over this distance at Sandown last September. Disappointing when a beaten favourite on both starts this season, but she was doing her best work at the end in an Epsom G3 last time, and looks to be gradually coming to her peak.