1m6f (1m6f34y) Queen’s Vase (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo)
I’m not sure there is a standout performer in this line-up. It could be Asmarani for the Aga Khan, but you’d be taking a massive risk on him handling the ground consider he is by a stallion in Sottsass that has never had a winner on gd-fm going and has a strike rate of 1/20 on good ground.
Coolmore normally do well in this and whilst Scandinavia and Shackleton have both looked like modest performers to date, you wouldn’t rule out either taking a huge step forward over this 1m 6f distance.
The two that stick out to me based on what they have shown so far are RAHIEBB and PINHOLE.
Rahiebb has had to give significant weight away on his last three starts where he has finished second to some potentially smart performers. He’s looked green on nearly all those occasions, but hopefully he’s now developed enough maturity and experience to show his best here up in distance which I imagine should suit based on how he has finished off his races.
Pinhole on the other hand, has only had three starts, and whilst he went down by 10 lengths on his last start that was behind the Derby 1-2 with the third also looking potentially quite smart. Add to the fact that was Pinhole’s first start of the season and you can build a pretty strong case that this son of Frankel has plenty more in the locker. His second start showed he had stamina and a nice turn-of-foot and I think he looks overpriced at 8/1.
1pt win Rahiebb @11/2, 1pt win Pinhole @8/1, 15:05 Royal Ascot, Wednesday
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