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Glen Shiel Pointing to Diamond Jubilee

Group 1 winner Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who won the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. to give regular jockey Hollie Doyle her first Group 1, is being aimed at the June 19 G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot. The 7-year-old gelding, who is trained by Archie Watson for Hambleton Racing Xxxvi & Partner most recently ran fourth in the G2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands S. at The Curragh on May 22.

Hambleton Racing Head Racing Manager Cosmo Charlton said, “We were happy enough with that for his first run of the year. He was always going to come on a bit. Although he handles heavy ground, obviously the meeting was nearly abandoned. First time back on that ground, Hollie [Doyle] felt he'd come on for the run–and I thought he might just have been on the wrong part of the track as well.

“I think there were a combination of factors–and under a penalty first time out, it was no penalty kick. He could have got away with it, but it didn't quite pan out.

“It was very much a prep, and it's all systems go for Ascot now. He certainly handles plenty of cut, but Archie [Watson] has made it very clear that decent ground won't be a problem for him.”

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Commonwealth Cup in the Cards For Sacred

Cheveley Park Stud homebred Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is being pointed at the G1 Commonwealth Cup S. at Royal Ascot. Runner-up in a trio of Group 2 events in 2020, the William Haggas charge captured the G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket on Apr. 14, but tired to seventh in the May 2 G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas when last seen.

“That [Commonwealth Cup] is the wish at this point in time,” said Cheveley Park Stud Managing Director Chris Richardson. “We thought that she didn't stay in the Guineas. The Commonwealth Cup is a tough race, but it's the logical race for her.

“She was the last off the bridle at Newmarket, in fairness–she just ran out of puff. We think she's come on well for the experience, and William is pleased with her, so we'll roll the dice.”

Another Cheveley Park colourbearer, the two-for-two Potapova (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is a possible starter in the G1 Coronation S., also at Royal Ascot. The bay Sir Michael Stoute trainee broke her maiden at first asking over seven furlongs on the synthetic at Chelmsford on Nov. 26 and returned on May 17 to pick up another novice win going that trip in her turf bow at Redcar.

“We haven't made that decision yet,” he added. “That is what I would favour personally, but Sir Michael is playing his cards close to his chest, so we'll see.

“I know that he rates this filly very highly. She did take a while to come to herself last year, but obviously she has come earlier [this year] and she has plenty of potential, which we've already witnessed.

“We can't commit [to the Coronation] just yet, but I'm hoping she might turn up there. She's got plenty of talent and she's one that we can bring along gradually–and I'm sure she'll keep improving.”

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Watering Has Started Ahead of Cazoo Derby Festival at Epsom

Irrigation has started on select portions of the Epsom Downs in advance of the Cazoo Derby Festival on June 4-5. The ground is currently good, good to firm in places, and the forecast is looking less and less likely for rain.

“At nine o'clock yesterday morning I'd have called the ground good,” said Epsom Clerk of the Course Andrew Cooper. “Yesterday was a dry, sunny day here. Temperatures got up to about 20 degrees–and it was a lovely, sunny afternoon.

“We dried out a bit more–and as of nine o'clock this morning, if we were racing here today I'd call it good, good to firm in places.

“You've only got to look at the going reports up and down the country and see that a lot of the Flat courses are heading into that territory, so that's not unexpected at all. It's exactly where I'd have expected us to be, given the weather in the last week.”

The drier portions of the course will have five millimetres of water applied, but more may be needed depending on the weather later in the week.

“We're focusing today on those bits of the track that we would be calling good to firm, or the fast side of good, if we were racing here today,” he said. “As far as the Derby course is concerned, it's really only the first half a mile, from the Derby start to the mile start that walks a bit quicker than the last mile.

“We'll be leaving the last mile, certainly for today, and we've decided we'll put 5mm over that first half a mile. In our judgement, the time has come for us to step in and just start irrigation.

“In terms of the forecast, increasingly–this morning even–the shower risk at the end of the week is diminishing.

“There's still a degree of uncertainty. But here and now, the risk of showers is diminishing–which is one of the considerations to us cracking on and doing some watering.”

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19 Stand Their Ground in G1 Cazoo Derby

There are 19 colts remaining in the 1 1/2-mile G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 5.

Leading the way is current favourite and G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. hero Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), one of six for Aidan O'Brien and the various Coolmore partners. Joining the G3 Ballysax S. victor from Ballydoyle are: former race favourite High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the G2 Beresford S. at two and was third in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. to Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) on May 13; G1 Criterium International winner and G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Van Gogh (American Pharoah); and the winners Sir Lamorak (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Besides Hurricane Lane, Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have also kept in the group-placed Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the G3 Autumn S. winner and G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. second One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Adayar will be ridden by Oisin Murphy.

“Godolphin and Charlie Appleby have given me the ride,” Murphy told Sky Sports Racing. “I had a sit on him last week. He felt really nice-it was a sensible canter, but he's a gorgeous horse, improving type, bred for the job. I'm super excited to be involved in the race. I'd like to win a Derby-hopefully it's this year.”

Fresh off a win in the G1 Tattersalls Ireland 2000 Guineas, Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who won the Vertem Futurity Trophy S. at two, will contest the Blue Riband for Jim Bolger. Mark Johnston's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud scorer Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is another to take his place in the Epsom showpiece for owner Teme Valley. Ahmad Al Shaikh's Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who won the G3 Chester Vase S. on May 5 for Andrew Balding, is also slated to start.

Anamoine Limited's John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), a son of 2010 G1 Oaks heroine Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) and named for trainer Ed Dunlop's father John, also stands his ground. He won the Listed Betway Fairway S. on May 15. Other listed winners set to take part are: Group 3 winner and May 21 Listed Cocked Hat S. victor Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for Martyn Meade, Aquis Farm and Ballylinch Stud; Listed Betfair Newmarket S. victor Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) for the William Haggas/Shadwell axis and Roger Varian and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Third Realm (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who saluted in the Listed Novibet Derby Trial S. on May 8.

Rounding out the field is the winner Southern Lights (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for Aquis Racing, Al Mamoura Partnership and Joseph O'Brien; Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for Richard Hannon and Amo Racing Limited; and Luke Comer's Seattle Sound (Ire) (Australia {GB}).

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