SIR MICHAEL STOUTE and Ryan Moore are an irresistible combination in the biggest races.
And following on from star colt Workforce’s victory in the Investec Derby, the duo can land a double at Royal Ascot with a couple of fillies today.
Moore can steer the Stoute-trained Strawberrydaiquiri to glory in the Windsor Forest Stakes (3.05pm). And later in the final race, the Sandringham Handicap (5.30pm), SAFINA can bring up the double.
Strawberry daiquiri has only been beaten twice in seven career starts and made a winning return in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket.
One of her only defeats came in the Group One Sun Chariot at the end of last season when she was fourth behind a rival today, Sahpresa. But over a course and distance she scored on last year the Dansili filly can turn the tables and land the Group Two prize.
Safina can supplement her maiden success at Chester last month with victory in the Sandringham. Lightly-raced, the Pivotal filly can continue her improvement with victory in the competitive Listed mile contest.
In an open-looking Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (3.50pm), the improving Glass Harmonium has a chance for the Moore and Stoute combination, but they may find it hard to get the better of Andre Fabre’s French raider BYWORD.
French-trained horses have won the Group One feature twice in the last three years with Fabre landing it with Manduro in 2007.
The four-year-old has only been beaten once in three starts this term and Fabre wouldn’t send him over if he didn’t feel he was up to the task.
He is yet to win at the top level but on his final outing the Peintre Celebre colt chased home star mare Goldikova in the Group One Prix d’Ispahan. That is top class form and he is sure to be close where a case can be made for several of the 12 runners.
Barry Hills won the Jersey Stakes (2.30pm) with Ougba last year and he has another likely type in RED JAZZ.
The three-year-old won the same European Free Handicap at Newmarket as Ougba did 12 months ago on his seasonal reappearance and like his stable-mate finished down the field in eighth in the 2,000 Guineas. He was second at Newmarket last time and can go one place better in this Group Three contest.
Others of interest on the second day of Royal Ascot are Moonlit Garden in the Queen Mary Stakes (5pm) and in the Tryst in the Royal Hunt Cup (4.25pm)
ROYAL ASCOT DAY TWO PREDICTIONS: 2.30pm Red Jazz (NAP) 3.05pm (Windsor Forest Stakes) 3.45pm (Prince Of Wales‘s Stakes) 1 Byword 2 Glass Harmonium 3 Twice Over 4.25pm (Royal Hunt Cup) Tryst 5pm Moonlit Garden 5.35pm Safina.
