Lucayan, upset winner of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Fr-I), and Power, winner of the Abu Dhabi Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) will square off against 14 other 3-year-old colts in the St. James’s Palace Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot June 19.
The Royal Ascot meet is being aired on TVG, with daily coverage from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. EDT
Trainer Francais Rohaut will send out Lucayan, the longshot winner of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) last month. The son of Turtle Bowl, who had been dismissed at 33-1 odds, had only a listed stakes win to his credit prior to his classic win, although he had two wins and two seconds from four starts going into that race. Stephanie Pasquier will ride.
Aidan O’Brien will send out both Power and Wrote in the St. James’s Palace. Joseph O’Brien will partner Power, who will be trying to notch his third group I victory. The son of Oasis Dream rebounded nicely to win the Irish Guineas after his dismal performance in the British equivalent May 5.
Seamie Heffernan will partner Wrote, who will be trying to return to the sharp form that he showed when he stormed to victory in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) last November. Since that victory, the son of High Chaparral has two third-place finishes in stakes races, but then threw in a clunker in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas.
Born To Sea will be trying to step out of the shadows of his famous older siblings, Sea the Stars and Galileo. By Invincible Spirit, Born to Sea is the last foal out of the great Urban Sea. After a win and a second-place finish in two stakes races as a juvenile, Born to Sea was thrown into group I company, and finished far back in both the Irish Two Thousand Guineas and the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I).
Johnny Murtagh will ride Born to Sea for trainer John Oxx.
Trainer John Gosden will send out three in the St. James’s Palace: Fencing, Gregorian, and The Nile. Fencing, a son of Street Cry, races as a homebred for George Strawbridge. The 3-year-old colt most recently finished third in the 10-furlong Betfred Dante Stakes (Eng-II) May 17. Frankie Dettori will ride.
Gosden also sends out Princess Haya’s Gregorian, and Prince Khalid Abdullah’s The Nile. Gregorian is a two-time winner at the handicap level, but hasn’t faired that well in group I company. The Nile has made just three lifetime starts, with a first, second, and third place finish. Although only a maiden winner, The Nile (by Oasis Dream), has shown some ability, since Gosden’s first call rider, William Buick, chooses to ride the Juddmonte colt over the other two runners.
Foxtrot Romeo has only made four starts, but has been keeping good company. The son of Danehill Dancer most recently finished second to Power in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas. Richard Hughes will ride.
$387,500 St. James’s Palace Stakes (gr. I, race 3, 10:45 a.m. EDT), 8 furlongs (turf). All carry 126 pounds.
PP, Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Gabrial, (Ire), J.P. Spencer, R. Fahey
2. Hermival (Ire), G. Benoist, M. Delzangles
3. The Nile (GB), W. Buick, J. Gosden
4. Saigon (GB), K. Milczarek, J. Toller
5. Power (GB), J.P. O’Brien, A.P. O’Brien
6. Foxtrot Romeo (Ire), R. Hughes, B. Smart
7. Fencing (KY), L. Dettori, J. Gosden
8. Arnold Lane (Ire), M. Harley, M. Channon
9. Miblish (GB), T. Queally, C. Brittain
10. Dragon Pulse (Ire), F. Berry, M. Delzangles
11. Born to Sea (Ire), J. Murtagh, J. Oxx
12. Gregorian (Ire), R. Moore, J. Gosden
13. Cognito (KY), M. Dwyer, B. Meehan
14. Lucayan (Fr), S. Pasquier, F. Rohaut
15. Most Improved (Ire), K. Fallon, B. Meehan
16. Wrote (Ire), J.A. Heffernan, A.P. O’Brien