Simon Holt expects more Australian glory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot today. Check out his full preview.
Australian sprinters have more than made their mark at Royal Ascot in the past and the latest challenger from 'Down Under', REDKIRK WARRIOR is expected to take plenty of beating in Saturday's Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
The seven-year-old has an interesting background having been trained by William Haggas when known simply as Redkirk back in 2014 when he won both his starts including over a mile-and-a-quarter on this course.
Following a period in Hong Kong, Redkirk Warrior has thrived over sprint distances for David Hayes and completed back-to-back victories in the prestigious Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March when overcoming a track bias to beat Brave Smash and the re-opposing Merchant Navy (now with Aidan O'Brien) who was receiving 12lb.
An earlier short head defeat of the smart Redzel in the Black Lightning Stakes over five furlongs on the same straight course at Melbourne's premier racecourse confirms that this test (most Aussie sprints are run round a turn) will be nothing unusual.
Reported to have been working extremely well at his Newmarket base in preparation, Redkirk Warrior could prove too good even for Britain's highest-rated sprinter Harry Angel whose free-running style has resulted in four defeats on this stiff course (three at six furlongs).
Even though much worse off at the weights with the selection, Merchant Navy could be a big danger having won at The Curragh when reportedly only just ready on his Irish debut last month while last year's Commonwealth Cup fourth (Harry Angel second) and The Tin Man, neck winner from Tasleet in this race 12 months ago, cannot be discounted.
Sixth in last year's Diamond Jubilee was TUPI who looks attractively handicapped in the Wokingham Handicap if returning to that sort of form.
Beaten just over three lengths by The Tin Man, justifying a rating of 108, Richard Hannon's gelding later finished third behind Brando in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville before losing his way.
Tupi didn't perform too well in Dubai earlier in the year, but that was also the case in 2017 after which he won his first race back in Britain. If history is to repeat itself, a 9lb drop in the ratings since last summer will certainly help.
Long time favourite Dreamfield could certainly be a Group class horse in waiting and was confidently expected before comfortably making all here last month when unchallenged to beat Silent Echo, a winner twice since but now 2lb worse off.
Preview posted 0700 BST on 23/06/18
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