Royal Ascot Day 2 builds on a strong opening day, with the Carnival starting to take shape as another quality card comes into focus.
The Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes takes centre stage, supported by a strong undercard featuring the Queen Mary Stakes and the Duke of Cambridge Stakes, races that consistently offer both class and betting opportunities.
The Australian flavour at Royal Ascot continues with James McDonald, Zac Lloyd and Mark Zahra riding.
With momentum building and plenty of angles to assess, let’s dive into the action and pinpoint the standout plays for another big day at Royal Ascot.
Tough way to start Day 2 with a field of 25 lightly raced two-year-old fillies in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes.
ALTA REGINA (1) impressed on debut last start over this distance at Lingfield with a 4.25 length win.
The Hamad Al-Jehani-trained daughter of Sioux Nation settled just behind the leaders before letting rip with a furlong to go to easily put her rivals away.
She’ll be better for the experience and gets James McDonald in the saddle.
| 1. Alta Regina (23) J: James Mcdonald 58kg 1T: Hamad Al-Jehani |
LIMESTONE (4) ended last preparation with a win and has picked up where he left off this campaign with back-to-back victories.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained colt was tenacious first-up over 2103m at Cork where he led before pulling out plenty when challenged to win by a half-length.
Last start in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms Ebf Yeats Stakes, he produced a devastating turn of foot to run past Asakir and win by 1.25 lengths with over six lengths to third.
He’ll appreciate the rise in distance and won his only previous third-up race.
| 4. Limestone (8) J: Dylan Browne Mcmonagle 58kg 21×11T: Joseph O’brien |
BLUE BOLT (3) returned in super order last start with a win in the Listed Conqueror Fillies Stakes.
The Andrew Balding-trained mare let down strongly to prevail by three-quarters of a length to take her record over this distance to four wins and two seconds from six starts.
She’ll strip fitter and won her only previous second-up race which was a four-length demolition.
The daughter of Blue Point is lightly raced and has plenty of upside.
Colin Keane should land in a forward position.
The multiple Group 1 winner will give a great sight on speed for Josh Parr.
| 3. Blue Bolt (11) J: Colin Keane 58kg 122×1T: Andrew Balding |
French galloper DARYZ (3) is a weapon who has won seven of his nine career races and looks right up to winning the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained entire raced dashed clear last start to win the Group 1 Prix Aga Khan IV by 3.5 lengths.
That was short of his best distance but showed the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner’s adaptability.
He won his only previous third-up race and he looks awfully hard to beat on what he has shown this season.
| 3. Daryz (2) J: Mickael Barzalona 58kg 21×11T: Francis-Henri Graffard |