4.20 Ascot: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1, 1m)
The contenders
Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Ramonti and Blue Ksar
"Ramonti worked well on Monday and has been cantering since. He is sound and happy. I am looking forward to running him in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
The filly Darjina will be tough to beat. She won from Ramonti last time but I think the stiff mile at Ascot will suit our horse. Blue Ksar is in the race to act as a pacemaker and make sure of a nice pace for Ramonti who prefers good or good to firm ground. We don't want the ground too soft."
James Fanshawe, trainer of Cesare
"He ran very well at Goodwood but he does like Ascot. He has a very good record there and he put up a very quick time when he won a Listed race there in the spring. Johnny Murtagh knows him. The horse has a bit to find but he seems in good form."
Clive Cox, trainer of Dunelight
"The forecast rain would be a big worry but Dunelight couldn't be in better
form and if it remains on the quick side, with his Group placed efforts, I
would be pleased to see him take his chance. Any rainfall would dampen his
chance and could cause us to think again."
Nicolas Clement, trainer of Stormy River
“He enjoyed the track when he ran in the St James's last year. The colt has been working well and I feel he is back to the form that saw him win the Messidor. After the Jacques Le Marois he scoped dirty which explained his poor run that day. We treated him and gave him some time and I am now happy with him. This will be his last race before he goes to stud at the Haras díEtreham.î”
Alain de Royer-Dupre, trainer of Darjina
He said: "If we have rain it is not good for our filly. She travelled over on Friday morning and has arrived OK. She had a good trip over.
“She came out of the Moulin in great form and that's why we decided to go to Ascot. The filly still has her summer coat and is looking beautiful. She has strengthened during the summer and is now really balanced in the way she gallops. Darjina is a serious and very honest filly and always gives her best except when the going is testing. She could stay more than a mile and that is important for this stiff Ascot course.”
Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Duke Of Marmalade and Excellent Art
" Excellent Art is in good form. He has run in three Group 1's this year and has performed well in all of them. We're hoping he will do so again. Duke Of Marmalade, too, has been very consistent. He came out of his Irish Champion Stakes run well. He's in good form and we don't think switching him back to a mile will inconvenience him."
ChrisRichardson, managing director of Cheveley Park Stud, owners of Cesare
"It was no disgrace for Cesare to get beaten by a Group 1-winning filly in Echelon, especially as Echelon was receiving 6lb. It won't be easy, but we've targeted this race for some time and he really enjoys himself at Ascot."
Eoghan O'Neill, trainer of Vital Equine
"He's got to have his ground. He worked fine on Tuesday morning but he's a horse who does not like firm ground."
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