EMILY DICKINSON can provide trainer Aidan O’Brien with a record-extending ninth victory in the Ascot Gold (British Champions Series) on day three of Royal Ascot 2023.
The Ballydoyle maestro knows better than most what is takes to win the Group One feature of the third day of the Royal meeting at the Berkshire track, having struck with a record four successes from the great Yeats and also 12 months ago with Kyprios. Both of those horses were top middle-distance performers stepping up to the marathon 2m4f of the Gold Cup and Emily Dickinson can do something similar. With Kyprios unable to defend his crown due to injury, the Group One contest looks one of the most wide-open renewals in recent years.
Emily Dickinson ran well, not beaten far in sixth behind the reopposing Roger Varian-trained Eldar Eldarov, in the St Leger last September and also ran a fine race when fourth in the Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp the following month. On her first try stepped up to two miles in the the Group Three Loughbrown Stakes at Curragh on her final start of the season she was hugely impressive, winning by five-and-a-half lengths. She won the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan on her return to action in April. And although she disappointed when only sixth sent off the odds-on favourite in the Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes last month, she is clearly much better than that and the Gold Cup has been her main aim. She has run well on soft conditions but should also handle firmer ground as she did when she was a staying-on third behind Sea La Rosa in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last July.
She has followed a similar path to the Gold Cup as Kyprios last season and the great Yeats did a few times. More improvement is expected for this marathon trip and with her filly and mares’ allowance she can come out on top ahead of the aforementioned Eldar Eldarov, last year’s Ascot Stakes hero Coltrane, from the Andrew Balding stable; and the Charlie Johnston-trained 2021 Gold Cup winner Subjectivist, if he is ready for his return to Turf following his injury.
Jessica Harrington won the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes (Fillies) (3.40pm) last season with Magical Lagoon and she could go close again with VILLAGE VOICE. The John and Thady Gosden-trained Al Asifah is unbeaten and looks a solid favourite on the back of two impressive victories at Haydock Park and Goodwood. But at much bigger odds Village Voice could be just the improving type to land this Group Two contest. The three-year-old filly won for a second time in three starts on her seasonal return in the Listed Salsabil Stakes at Navan in testing conditions in April. She remains open to plenty of improvement and stepped up to 1m4f can bring that out and she can upset the favourite to triumph. Another Irish raider, O'Brien's Warm Heart, could also be in the mix.
American trainer Wesley Ward has a fine record in the juvenile sprints at Royal Ascot and AMERICAN RASCAL can give him another win in the Group Two Norfolk Stakes (2.30pm). Ward won the five-furlong sprint with No Nay Never (2013) and Shang Shang Shang (2018) and saw Golden Pal narrowly beaten by The Lir Jet in 2020. And on his fine debut success in Keeneland, the two-year-old – whose mare is another Ward Royal Ascot star Lady Aurelia – can get the better of warm favourite Elite Status, from the Yorkshire stable of Liverpool FC Karl Burke.
It could be another successful day for Irish trainer O’Brien at Royal Ascot and BERTINELLI can win the King George V Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (3.05pm). The progressive son of Justify won the always informative London Gold Cup at Newbury last month and looks a horse on the up. He can win again stepped up to 1m4f for the first time.
O'Brien may also land a record fifth victory in the Group Three Hampton Court Stakes (5.35pm) with DRUMROLL. The son of Deep Impact out of the stable's former Royal Ascot scorer Maybe looks a well-bred colt and has won two of his three starts so far. On his first try at this 1m2f distance, he was actually beaten a short head by Teutates in the Group Three Gallinule Strakes at the Curragh last month. But he was awarded the victory in the stewards' room after interference late on. He looks just the improving type that has done well in this race in the past and there is surely more to come from Drumroll.
Dianne Sayer's REDARNA could make a winning return at massive odds in the finale, the Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) (6.10pm). Now a nine-year-old, Redarna has won over course and distance in the past. He won over a mile on his first start of last season at odds of 66-1 at Thirsk. And although this is a much tougher assignment on his seasonal return he could easily go close to a shock win and looks like he can at least make the frame. Others of interest in the competitive seven-furlong contest are the Pat Chamings-trained Spanish Star – who has already won at Epsom and Goodwood so far this season; Ralph Beckett's Biggles; and another course and distance winner Vafortino, from the Kevin De Foy stable.
Charlie Hills' SAXON KING – a recent winner at Chester – may be able to come out on top in the tricky-looking Britannia Stakes (Handicap) (Colts & Geldings) (5pm). Stable-mate Racingbreaks Ryder, who has won his last four starts including over a mile at Haydock Park and seven furlongs at Ascot last time; Harry Eustace's course and distance winner Docklands; the Richard Hannon-trained Dark Thirty; and Mustajab, from the Willie Muir and Chris Grassick stable, are all on a pretty-long short-list of potential winners.
Wright Ones
ROYAL ASCOT DAY THREE
2.30pm American Rascal
3.05pm Bertinelli
3.40pm Village Voice
4.20pm Emily Dickinson
5pm Saxon King
5.35pm Drumroll
6.10pm Redarna (NAP)
