Harry Angel the one to beat in Diamond Jubilee after pleasing comeback
Calls for the four-year-old to line up in the second running of the highly-lucrative prize were first floated by Damion Flower, who is one of one of the nine remaining slot holders for the race, during a radio interview earlier in the month. While connections of the Godolphin-owned colt have made no suggestion either way if the contest would come under consideration for their horse, Harry Angel would add a fascinating European dimension to a race that seems sure to attract an increasing international presence as it continues to grow in stature.
The participation of the 125-rated Harry Angel resulted in a truncated field of six going to post in the Duke Of York and the son of Dark Angel (Acclamation) ran right up to his best on his return, defying a five-pound penalty to beat Brando (Pivotal) by two lengths, with a further neck back to Sir Dancealot (Sir Prancealot) in third.
Although the runner-up has yet to show his peak form at the course and Sir Dancealot needs a stiffer test at the trip, this was still a most pleasing display from Harry Angel, who took a lead in the early stages under Adam Kirby before quickening clear approaching the final quarter mile. He only needed to be pushed out inside the last furlong to maintain a healthy advantage and to deliver a performance of this calibre, which was awarded a joint career-best Racing Post Rating of 128, off a steady early gallop when bigger tests lie in wait augurs extremely well for his campaign moving forward.
A dual top-flight winner last season with victories in the July Cup (Gr 1, 6f) at Newmarket and Sprint Cup (Gr 1, 6f) at Haydock, Harry Angel is now set to return to the top table in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at Royal Ascot where a mouthwatering clash with Redkirk Warrior (Sniztel), the inaugural winner of The Everest, remains on the cards.
Stradivarius tunes up for shot at million
The staying programme in Britain has been given a timely cash injection this season with a £1,000,000 bonus on offer for any horse who wins a designated preparatory race prior to landing the Gold Cup (Gr 1, 2m4f) at Royal Ascot, the Goodwood Cup (Gr 1, 2m) at Goodwood and the Lonsdale Cup (Gr 2, 2m) at York and the John Gosden-trained Stradivarius (Sea The Stars) put himself firmly in the reckoning for those honours with a pleasing three-length success in the Yorkshire Cup (Gr 2, 1m6f) on Friday.
The four-year-old secured the middle leg of the treble last season and he returned to action looking capable of better form still, not needing to run to his official rating of 118 to beat the penalised Desert Skyline (Tamayuz) by three lengths but impressing with the way he travelled through the strongly-run contest before putting the race to bed under a confident ride by Frankie Dettori.
Stradivarius clocked an overall time 1.65 seconds under standard despite being eased in the closing stages, reflecting the sustained tempo throughout, and the relish with which he quickened off good fractions marks him down as a stayer with exceptional potential.
As such, Stradivarius looks an obvious Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) contender and he finished a length and a half in front of last year’s winner Rekindling (High Chaparral) when the pair met in the St Leger (Gr 1, 1m6.5f) last September. However, he is unlikely to keep any secrets from the handicapper during his assignments this summer, while it would be a difficult ask to produce his peak form at Flemington in November if he contests all of the premier staying prizes in Europe beforehand.
The Willie Mullins-trained Max Dynamite (Great Journey) has twice placed in the Melbourne Cup and he returned from a winter over hurdles with a reasonable fourth-place finish in the Yorkshire Cup, making some late headway over a trip short of his optimum. He will presumably return to Flemington in the spring, while stable companion Wicklow Brave (Beat Hollow), who ran tenth in the Melbourne Cup last year, finished seventh on Friday, weakening late on having set a strong early tempo.
Thundering Blue takes informative handicap
Away from the Pattern action, a number of horses caught the eye in the handicap ranks at York, not least the David Menusier-trained Thundering Blue (Exchange Rate), who ran out a ready winner over the extended 1m2f.
A three-time winner last season, Thundering Blue is a strong-travelling five-year-old who is best produced late off a good gallop and he showed excellent acceleration to win by a comfortable length and a quarter on Friday, confirming he is still on the upgrade and proving himself just as effective on good to firm ground.
Although he might not be entirely straightforward, Thundering Blue’s style of racing ensures he cannot be unduly punished by the handicapper, while he also shapes like he will stay 1m4f, and he would certainly be capable of producing Group-class performances in Australia.
The closing 1m4f handicap on Wednesday is traditionally a strong affair for the grade and the roll of honour includes Libran (Lawman), who landed the spoils in 2015 prior to winning three times under the care of Chris Waller in Australia, including the Chairman’s Handicap (Gr 2, 2500m) at Randwick in April 2016.
This year’s renewal looks no exception, with the first four home all progressive horses who will prove much better than class four performers in time, and both the winner and runner-up, Reverend Jacobs (Nathaniel) and Zeelander (Dubawi), look to have stakes-level capabilities.
Rhododendron flourishes at Newbury
On Saturday, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Rhododendron (Galileo) got the better of David Simcock’s Lightning Spear (Pivotal) by a short head in a thrilling finish to the Lockinge Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Newbury, keeping on well down the centre of the course to produce a career-best performance dropping back in trip.
The current crop of older milers lacks a standout performer and while this success did not suggest Rhododendron will dominate the division across the course of the season, she is now favourite for the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Royal Ascot and the four-year-old is the horse to beat at present.
Scat Daddy’s final crop continues to deliver
Finally, the two-year-old picture is beginning to take shape in Europe and the last crop of the late Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) might just prove his best ever, with the former Ashford Stud resident having produced a number of very promising juveniles so far this season.
Aidan O’Brien’s Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) is undoubtedly top of that list following his impressive four-length success in the Rochestown Stakes (Listed, 5f) at Naas on Sunday and he recorded an RPR of 102 when easily accounting for four previously unbeaten winners. He will now head to Royal Ascot as a strong favourite for whichever race he contests, with his style of racing and pedigree suggesting the Coventry Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) would be the most suitable option.