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During the week leading up to the Coronation, thoughts turn to Royal Ascot with the traditional Trials Day held on Wednesday...
During the week leading up to the Coronation, thoughts turn to Royal Ascot with the traditional Trials Day held on Wednesday. Trueshan will be looking to stamp his authority on the Gold Cup with victory in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes whilst the three-year-old sprinters test out the course and distance ahead of the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup in the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes (Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes).
Trueshan boasts an impressive record at Ascot (3-3) and can bounce back from a surprise defeat when second in the Listed Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham behind Rajinsky. Trainer Alan King has suggested the stayer may be slowing down at the age of seven but his three consecutive victories in the Group 2 Long Distance Cup over course and distance suggests these conditions may revitalise him.
Coltrane rose to prominence last season with an eye-catching victory in the Ascot Stakes Heritage Handicap at Royal Ascot and proved capable in Group events subsequently. He defeated Trueshan by a neck in the Group 2 Doncaster Cup in September before going down by a head in the Group 2 Long Distance Cup over track and trip to his rival. If Trueshan is truly not the force of old, Coltrane will be ready to take advantage.
Seven-year-old Rajinsky produced a career-best performance when beating Trueshan in the Listed Further Flight Stakes and needs to prove he can replicate that level of form. El Habeeb would be the unknown quantity in the field. He won the 1m6f Noel Murless Stakes in September before commencing the new season with a fifth in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan. The four-year-old is lightly raced and looks capable of improvement.
WIN: COLTRANE
DARK HORSE: EL HABEEB
In the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes, Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Mischief Magic will be making his seasonal reappearance. The Exceed and Excel colt showed progression throughout his juvenile campaign and looks a major player in the sprinting division.
Bradsell won the Group 2 Coventry Stakes over course and distance at last year's Royal Ascot meeting before sustaining an injury in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes. Trainer Archie Watson will have him ready for this return to action and his potential remains untapped.
Cold Case ended last season with a victory in the Listed Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar. He has a progressive profile and will need to continue improving against proven top-level performers. Richard Hannon's Trillium recorded multiple Group victories over sprint distances as a juvenile and makes her seasonal reappearance with fair claims.
WIN: BRADSELL
DARK HORSE: TRILLIUM
Elsewhere on the card, debut winners Maximum Impact and Action Point will take each other on in the five-horse 5f Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial EBF Conditions Stakes. Maximum Impact was an impressive twelve-length winner of a Leicester novice for trainer Alice Haynes whilst Action Point switches to the turf for the first time following a victory at Kempton Park.
There are some potential future star fillies on display in the 1m Royal Ascot Trials Day British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes including Dancing Goddess, daughter of UAE 1000 Guineas winner Winter Lightning. The filly recorded a debut win at Kempton Park before running into a good winner of John & Thady Gosden's (Running Lion) when second over 1m at the same track. She will face debut juvenile winner Orchid Bloom and the newcomer Queen For You.