Starting at 11.30pm AEST on Wednesday night, the second day of Royal Ascot is led by the Prince Of Wales’s S. but every black-type race on the card could see at least one update to an Australasian runner’s pedigree.
Aktau sister represents in Queen Mary
Race 1, G2 Queen Mary S. for 2-year-old fillies, 11.30pm AEST
A half-sister to Listed Mornington Cup winner Aktau (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), G2 Queen Mary S. runner Poppy Petal (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) broke her maiden by 4.75l to become the fourth winner for Rare Ransom (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).
Poppy Petal’s second dam is a half-sister to the dam of stakes-winning half-siblings Born To Rock (Fastnet Rock) and Prettyhappyaboutit (Magnus). Their dam Call Me Pretty (USA) (Peaks And Valleys {USA}) had seven foals in Australia with her last being the 5-year-old Cameron Crockett-trainee Black Sunrise (Pierro). Aktau took the second half of the season off in 2020/21 but is still listed in active training with Michael Moroney.
Shipping over from the United States for the G2 Queen Mary S. is the Kodiac (GB) filly Artos (Ire). Artos is looking to become another stakes winner in the family of G3 Sky High winner Master Of Wine (Ger) (Maxios {GB}), multiple Australian Group winner Francis Of Assisi (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), and G1 Caulfield Cup third Cliffsofmoher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Starspangledbanner’s European season may get even better in the Queen Mary when Cheerupsleepyjean (Fr) lines up in the Queen Mary. The filly was a 2.25l maiden winner in April at The Curragh and is from the same family as G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}).
Out of a half-sister to Group 1 winner Sultanina (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) is Exceed And Excel's daughter Choux (Ire). The filly’s grandam is also a half-sister to the dam of multiple Australian Group-placed Dal Harraild (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}). That gelding was retired last year when in the care of Matt Cumani.
Kodi Bear’s (Ire) daughter Misty Ayr (Ire) is a half-sister to the dam of former Australian runner Goodwood Zodiac (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).
By shuttle stallion National Defense (GB), Twilight Gleaming (Ire) is out of a half-sister to G1 Winx S. second Invictus Prince (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who was retired in April. Under her third dam is the Queen’s retired Australian runner Bold Sniper (GB) (New Approach {Ire}).
Out of the Group 3-placed final foal from Mariah’s Storm (USA) (Rahy {USA}), Yet’s (USA) (War Front {USA}) dam Butterflies (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a three-quarter sister to multiple Australian Group winner Taj Mahal (Ire). Butterflies is a half-sister to stakes winner and Australian runner Blue Soldier (USA) (War Front {USA}), who is in training with Annabel Neasham.
Vadamos well represented in Queen’s Vase
Race 2, G2 Queen's Vase, 12.05pm AEST
G2 Queen’s Vase runner Law Of The Sea (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) is a half-brother to Warrnambool Cup winner Le Don De Vie (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Le Don De Vie last raced on Saturday in the G2 Sky Racing Q22.
Rich Hill Stud’s Vadamos (Fr) sees Dirham Emirati (Ire) take on Royal Ascot in his fourth start. The 3-year-old gelding is out of a half-sister to G1 Melbourne Cup fourth Master Of Reality (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and from the family of the Robert Hickmott-trained Nelson (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and former Australian runner US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Vadamos is also represented by Zinc White (Ire), whose third dam is Eljazzi (Ire) (Artaius {USA}). That mare’s influence is felt around Australia with those under her name including Australian broodmare Acts Of Grace (USA) (Bahri {USA}), Pride Of Dubai, Al Aneed (More Than Ready {USA}), and the late Kilimanjaro (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Second in a Group 3 last out, Arturo Toscanini (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looks to add even more black type to his resume in the G2 Queen’s Vase.
Pied Piper (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) comes from the family G1 Winx S. second Invictus Prince (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who was retired in April.
Breaking his maiden at Ascot by 2.25l in May, Stowell (GB) is out of a half-sister to G1 Sydney Cup winner Grand Marshal (GB) (Dansili {GB}).
Queen Power among Duke Of Cambridge entrants
Race 3, G2 Duke Of Cambridge S., 12.40am AEST
Third in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. last year, Puissance De Lune’s (Ire) full sister Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) looks to avenge that run in this edition. Queen Power comes into this race off an 8l romp in the G2 Middleton Fillies’ S. in May for her first Group victory. Queen Power is also a full sister to Australian stakes-placed His Majesty (Ire) and a half-sister to the dam of Irish Champion Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Fooraat (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a full sister to G1 Caulfield Cup winner Benbatl (Ire). Their family has multiple stakes performers in New Zealand and Australia with Group 1 winner Our Rokkii (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}), New Zealand stakes winner Alamer (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), Australian stakes winner Noogoora Burr (Royal Academy {USA}) and Group 1-placed Fleur Royale (Royal Academy {USA}).
Duke Of Cambridge runner Posted (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is from the family of the Kris Lees-trained G2 Crystal Mile winner Chief Ironside (GB) (Lawman {Fr}) and New Zealand Group 2-placed Intrigue (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), who was recently exported to Australia to be trained by Chris Waller.
Exceed And Excel’s Double Or Bubble (Ire) is looking to become the second stakes winner for her sire out of Mango Lady (GB) alongside Group 3 winner Mix And Mingle (Ire). They are out of a half-sister to a Royal Ascot Group 2 winner in High Accolade (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), who won the King Edward VII S. among three Group victories.
Armory among Prince Of Wales’s leaders
Race 4, G1 The Prince Of Wales's S., 1.20am AEST
Last year’s G1 Cox Plate second Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) lines up in the G1 Prince Of Wales’s S. on Wednesday. The 4-year-old made his first start since finishing second to Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in early May and won the G2 Huxley S. by 3l.
Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) looks to provide an update for two foals from the late Sweet Victory (USA) (Blame {USA}). Imported to Australia in early 2017 by Greg Perry, the Boomer Bloodstock-purchased mare has a 2-year-old filly by All Too Hard and a Dundeel (NZ) weanling colt.
Already a Group 3 winner at Royal Ascot, Sangarius (GB) (Kingman {GB}) also lines up. The horse's third dam is blue hen mare Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), who is also the grandam of G1 Metropolitan H. winner Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and his stakes winning half-brother Ironclad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Last year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Audarya (Fr) represents Coolmore's new shuttle stallion Wootton Bassett (GB) in the Prince Of Wales's S. in her first start since that victory. Audarya is from the family of G1 Hong Kong Cup winner Jim And Tonic (Fr) (Double Bed {Fr}) and G1 Beverly D. winner Mauralakana (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}).
Windsor Castle full of potential updates
Race 6, Windsor Castle S., 2.35am AEST
Windsor Castle runner Bond Chairman (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) is a half-brother to stakes winner Inyordreams (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). That mare’s foals include a three-quarter brother to Bond Chairman named Super Contender (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), who was imported to Australia in March of last year and is currently spelling for Chris Waller after last running on March 25.
Albion Square (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) convinced his connections to send him here when he broke his maiden by 1.5l last out. The colt is the first foal out of Exceed And Excel mare Aristocratic (GB).
Freshman sire Ardad (Ire) is the leading first season sire in Europe and is represented in the Windsor Castle by Superior Force (GB). A half-brother to Foxwedge’s Group 3-placed Seafront (GB), he is also a half-brother to the Kris Lees-trained Korcho (GB) (Toronado {Ire}).
Ardad’s Tipperary Sunset (GB) is the first foal out of a half-sister to the dam of Group 2 winner Mongolian Falcon (Fastnet Rock). Mongolian Falcon stands at Willow Glen Stud in New Zealand and is one of four Australian foals out of the late Amazing Beauty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The mare’s youngest is a 3-year-old full sister to Mongolian Falcon named Outlook in training with Brad Widdup.
A half-brother to Wednesday’s Kensington Palace runner Caspian Queen (Ire) (Sepoy), Barging Thru (GB) (Profitable {Ire}) is out of a full sister to Exceed And Excel’s Hong Kong stakes winner Rewarding Hero (GB) and a half-sister to the dam of Sepoy’s Group 3 winner Mighty Gurkha (Ire). Mighty Gurkha holds entries in two Royal Ascot races with both coming on Friday.
Brazen Beau is represented by 3.25l debut winner Boonie (Ire) in the Windsor Castle. The colt comes from the family of Redoute's Choice's Group 3 winner Fluky (Jpn) and Australian runner Manzala (Poet’s Voice {GB}), who is in training with Ashton Downing.
A half-brother to two stakes winners, including another Royal Ascot runner in G1 King’s Stand entry King’s Lynn (GB), Spring Is Sprung (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is a homebred for the Queen. The colt is out of a half-sister to the dam of Star Thoroughbreds’ Humbolt Current (GB) (Fastnet Rock), who recently came back from a spell for Chris Waller.
Ribchester (Ire) sends out 3.75l maiden winner Flaming Rib (Ire) and Ruthin (GB), a half-sister to Exceed And Excel’s multiple European Group winner Hit The Bid (GB).
Godolphin homebred Home City (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) is out of a dual-winning Dubawi (Ire) half-sister to Australian stakes winner and Group-placed Secret Number (GB) (Raven’s Pass {USA}). The mare is also a half-sister to the late Slovakia (USA) (Danzig {USA}), who is the dam of Group 2 and multiple Group 1-placed Tatra (Hussonet {USA}).
Royal Emerther (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is looking to break his maiden in the Windsor Castle in his third start. The colt is out of a half-sister to the dam of one time shuttler Dream Ahead (USA), who is also the grandam of Group 2 winner Now Or Later (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}), who spent a year and a-half racing in Australia.
