16:20 Royal Ascot

Tuesday 15 June 2021

All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:3518:10

St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Rnd)

  • 3YO only  |   Class 1  |   7f 213y  |   Good to Firm (Good in places)  |   13 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 16:21  |   Winning time: 1m 37.4s
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1
(2)
Horse silk
Battlegroundt145
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR:  111| BF| C
11/1
Won the Chesham (at this meeting) and Vintage Stakes last summer. Went off favourite for the Guineas at Newmarket on return but didn't look at home on track. Well worth another chance. Tongue tied.
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Timeform
2
(13)
Horse silk
Bullace26
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: Hector Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR:  106| D
33/1
Progressive sort who was completing a hat-trick in 1m Newmarket handicap (good to firm) on reappearance. Good third behind Mostahdaf and Highland Avenue at Sandown since and not to be underestimated.
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Timeform
3
(8)
Horse silk
Chindit45
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR:  113| C
11/2
Smart colt who was a Group 2 winner at 2. Made a winning return in Greenham and far form disgraced when fifth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket (didn't look comfortable on the undulations). Respected.
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Timeform
4
(12)
Horse silk
Highland Avenue26
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR:  110| BF| D
15/2
Dubawi colt who improved another chunk when completing hat-trick in Feilden at Newmarket. Good second behind Mostahdaf in Heron Stakes at Sandown since, conceding 3 lb to winner. More to come.
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Timeform
5
(5)
Horse silk
La Barrosa24
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR:  108| C
16/1
Won 7f maiden here and Newmarket Group 3 at 2 and returned with cracking effort in Craven at latter track. Ground against him in Irish Guineas. Suspect he has more to offer, possibly a good deal.
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Timeform
6
(11)
Horse silk
Lucky Vega24
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR:  117| BF
4/1
Ready winner of Group 1 at the Curragh last summer and returned with a bang when close third to Poetic Flare in 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Not so good in Irish Guineas but that was on soft ground.
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Timeform
7
(9)
Horse silk
Maximal40
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: C T Keane| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR:  107| BF| D
12/1
Well-bred colt who probably hasn’t progressed as expected, but he has some useful form this season and has been shaping as if this drop back to 1m will suit. Needs to improve a fair bit, though.
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Timeform
8
(1)
Horse silk
Mostahdaf26
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| OR:  108| D
10/1
Highly progressive colt who has won all 3 starts, beating Highland Avenue by ½ length when completing hat-trick in Heron Stakes at Sandown. Yard has won this 3 times since 2014. Respected.
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Timeform
9
(10)
Horse silk
Naamoos53
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR:  110| D
20/1
Much improved when dominating handicaps at Musselburgh and Sandown both starts this season, showing smart form when winning by 6 lengths at latter track. Can progress again and worth a crack at this.
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Timeform
10
(3)
Horse silk
Ontariob140
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: W M Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR:  107| D
125/1
Useful colt but plenty to find at this level. Possible pacemaker.
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Timeform
11
(7)
Horse silk
Poetic Flare24
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR:  118| D
7/2
Emulated his sire with victory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Excuses in French Guineas but quickly bounced back with narrow defeat in Irish 2000 Guineas. Tough sort and the one to beat on form.
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Timeform
12
(6)
Horse silk
Thunder Moon45
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J P O'Brien| OR:  116| BF
12/1
Looked potentially high-class when overcoming trouble to beat Wembley in National Stakes in September. Possible excuses when behind that rival in Dewhurst but flopped in 2000 Guineas on return.
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Timeform
13
(4)
Horse silk
Wembleyt124
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR:  113
33/1
Smart form when runner-up in the National Stakes and Dewhurst as a 2-y-o but has disappointed in English/Irish Guineas both starts this season, so bit to prove all of a sudden. Tongue strap fitted.
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Timeform

Forecasts

Poetic Flare (7/2), Lucky Vega (4/1), Chindit (11/2), Highland Avenue (15/2), Mostahdaf (10/1), Battleground (11/1), Maximal (12/1), Thunder Moon (12/1), La Barrosa (16/1), Naamoos (20/1), Wembley (33/1), Bullace (33/1), Ontario (125/1)

Verdict

Last year's Chesham winner BATTLEGROUND arrives here fresher than most having not had a hard race in the 2000 Guineas, but the weight of support for him that day was telling, and this strong, lengthy colt is worth another chance at this more suitable track. Poetic Flare has been kept busy since his win in the 2000 Guineas and has the best form in the book, with Lucky Vega just behind.

  1. BATTLEGROUND (USA)
  2. POETIC FLARE (IRE)
  3. LUCKY VEGA (IRE)

Previous Winners

2024
Weight: 9-2  |Age: 3
J: S M Levey  |  T: R Hannon
5/2
2023
Weight: 9-2  |Age: 3
11/5
2022
Weight: 9-2  |Age: 3
J: W Buick  |  T: C Appleby
10/11

Prize Money

1st: £198,485.002nd: £75,250.003rd: £37,660.004th: £18,760.005th: £9,415.006th: £4,725.00

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