14:30 Royal Ascot

Thursday 20 June 2024

Premier Race Day Text
All14:3015:0515:4516:2517:0517:4018:15

Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)

  • 2YO only  |   Class 1  |   5f  |   Good to Firm  |   13 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 14:34  |   Winning time: 59.77s
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1
(13)
Horse silk
Aesterius27
Age: 2|  Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: A Watson| D
8/1
Early foal who fetched £380,000 at the breeze-ups and he landed the odds without too much fuss starting out at Bath a month ago. Didn't beat a great deal so form is ordinary but he can leave that level well behind.
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Timeform
2
(14)
Horse silk
Arizona Blaze26
Age: 2|  Weight: 9-3| J: David Egan| T: A Murray| D
14/1
Knew what was required when justifying favouritism at the Curragh in March and having finished second to Whistlejacket in listed company he regained the winning thread upped to 6f in the Marble Hill Stakes. No obvious reason why he'll reverse the form with that rival.
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Timeform
85,000 gns yearling, Kodiac colt. Brother to several winners, including useful 2-y-o 6f winner No Leaf Clover and useful 5f winner Geocentric and useful 2-y-o 5f winner To Wafij. Bred to be sharp and was just that when making winning debut in 6-runner maiden at Yarmouth. Thrown in deep here.
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Timeform
4
(9)
Horse silk
Blinky23
Age: 2|  Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| D
40/1
Totally different proposition on second start when landing 7-runner novice at Leicester, settling better and just holding on. Doesn't quite possess the scope to improve as a few of these, though.
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Timeform
6
(8)
Horse silk
Loom15
Age: 2|  Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| D
22/1
Moved with purpose for a long way when seventh of 11 in a 6f York novice on debut last month and he duly built on that back at 5f when successful at Ripon a fortnight ago. Type to improve again and good test over this trip will suit.
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Timeform
7
(12)
Horse silk
Milford22
Age: 2|  Weight: 9-3| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| D
14/1
Foaled February 28. 55,000 gns 2-y-o, Kodiac colt. Dam unraced half-sister to high-class 1m-12.4f winner Monterosso. Knew his job and looked potentially useful when drawing clear in 5-runner maiden at Hamilton 3 weeks ago. Runner-up well held since but he did it nicely and can progress.
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Timeform
8
(10)
Horse silk
Moving Force12
Age: 2|  Weight: 9-3| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| D
18/1
Mehmas colt. Half-brother to useful 2-y-o 6f/7f winner New Definition. Overcame a tardy start when making a winning debut at Beverley last month and better form when short-head second trying to give 7 lb to re-opposing Shareholder at that venue 12 days ago.
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Timeform
9
(5)
Horse silk
50/1
Well prepared to make a winning start at Chantilly (5f, heavy) and better form when runner-up twice since, latterly in listed company at Sandown a month ago. Cheekpieces on and likely to give it a good shot, for all others are open to greater progress.
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Timeform
10
(4)
Horse silk
Shareholder12
Age: 2|  Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: K R Burke| D
12/1
€460,000 2-y-o. Dam, unraced, closely related to Jersey Stakes winner (runner-up in Irish 2000 Guineas) Gale Force Ten. Very expensive breeze-up purchase who overcame a tardy start and obvious greenness when edging out Moving Force at Beverley. Level-weights this time but sure to build on that.
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Timeform
11
(7)
Horse silk
The Man52
Age: 2|  Weight: 9-3| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Spencer| D
33/1
Foaled February 22. £145,000 yearling, Mehmas colt. Half-brother to several winners, including useful winner up to 7.5f Justifier and useful 5.7f/6f winner Goodwood Crusader. Dam, 5f/6f winner. Created favourable impression if not a big rating when winning on debut at Southwell (5f) in April.
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Timeform
12
(2)
Horse silk
11/1
An athletic sort and shaped encouragingly without given a hard time when fifth of 8 in newcomers race at Newbury (5.2f) in April. Derived plenty from that when second at Newmarket and in the right hands to progress, for all he's the only maiden in the race.
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Timeform
13
(11)
Horse silk
10/11
500,000 gns yearling. Brother to very smart 5f/6f performer Little Big Bear (beaten on debut before landing the Windsor Castle) and having failed to land strong support on 6f debut, he emphatically put that right over 5f when 3¾ lengths too good for Arizona Blaze in listed company. Form choice.
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Timeform
14
(6)
Horse silk
Saturday Flirtb155
Age: 2|  Weight: 9-0| J: Joel Rosario| T: Wesley Ward| D
20/1
Eye-catching pedigree and fitted with blinkers, he won 11-runner maiden at Keeneland by 1¼ lengths from Bois Blanc, despite making effort out wide entering straight, leading final 1f and always holding on. Represents top US yard and commands serious respect against male opposition.
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Timeform

Non-Runners

5
(1)
Horse silk
Evening Saigon23
Weight: 9-3|  Age: 2
T: M O'Callaghan  J: Non Runner
NR

Forecasts

Whistlejacket (10/11), Aesterius (8/1), Tropical Storm (11/1), Shareholder (12/1), Arizona Blaze (14/1), Milford (14/1), Evening Saigon (16/1), Moving Force (18/1), Saturday Flirt (20/1), Loom (22/1), The Man (33/1), Blinky (40/1), Binadham (50/1), Rock Hunter (50/1)

Verdict

It's really hard to escape the claims of WHISTLEJACKET, who is the clear pick on form and can chart a similar path to his very smart brother Little Big Bear in tasting defeat on debut at the Curragh before getting it right on second outing and following up at this meeting. Shareholder runs just 12 days on from his winning start and this costly breeze-up buy is arguably open to the most improvement, with Loom another to consider for each-way purposes.

  1. Loom22/1

Previous Winners

2023
Weight: 9-3  |Age: 2
J: Rossa Ryan  |  T: A Murray
150/1
2022
Weight: 9-3  |Age: 2
J: P Hanagan  |  T: R A Fahey
50/1
2021
Weight: 9-1  |Age: 2
J: P Hanagan  |  T: R A Fahey
14/1

Prize Money

1st: £85,065.002nd: £32,250.003rd: £16,140.004th: £8,040.005th: £4,035.006th: £2,025.00

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