Dubai: The Gold Cup (Group 1), the oldest and arguably most prestigious race at Royal Ascot, is the highlight of the third day of the Royal Meeting.
The two miles and four furlong contest has in the past been won by stayers of the highest calibre and Ireland’s Order of St. George will attempt to outstay his 17 rivals and join the pantheon of great winners that include the legendary Yeats, who won it in four successive years between 2006 and 2009.
Aidan O’Brien-trained runners have dominated the race in recent years and Order of St. George, an imposing 11-length win in last year’s Irish St Leger, has strong claims to become his seventh winner.
His principal rival appears to be the Willie Mullins-trained Max Dynamite who finished second in last year’s Melbourne Cup and the improving Mizzou who finished seventh in the Gold Cup last year.
Meanwhile, Godolphin are three-handed as they bid to win the Group 3 Tercentenary Stakes, former the Hampton Court Stakes, which was added to the Royal meeting as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002. This 10-furlong event is restricted to three-year-olds.
Hawksbill (C Appleby/W.Buick, Prize Money (Saeed Bin Suroor/James Doyle) and Race Day (Saeed Bin Suroor/ Martin Lane) represent the Boys in Blue who are looking to take home the trophy for the first time.
Recent Newmarket scorer Hawksbill seeks a career fifth victory, while Prize Money looked good in defeat when going down by half a length in a Listed race at Goodwood three weeks ago,
Race Day is being tested over a long trip following several efforts over shorter distances.
Appleby said: “Hawksbill was impressive in his first run back this season when winning the Newmarket Stakes.
“He handled the good to soft conditions then and has come out of the race well.
“He goes into the race in good order although extreme ground conditions would be an unknown.”
Saeed Bin Surour is happy with his pair of runners but believes that the ground can play a part in Prize Money’s performance.
“Prize Money has finished second on both his starts this season and a mile and a quarter is a good trip for him,” said the Emirati handler.
“He is in good form and has been working well but we will have to wait and see how he handles the ground. Race Day is also in good order.”
Ajman Princess, owned by Shaikh Mohammad Obaid Al Maktoum, is the lone horse with Dubai connections in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes, a race restricted to Classic generation fillies and run over a mile and a half.
Hugo Palmer’s Architecture was an eye-catching second to Minding in the Oaks at Epsom and looks to be the one to beat while Even Song, runner-up to Chicador in the Pretty Polly must also have a chance.
The meeting opens with the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes for two year-olds, a race where Bin Surour’s Silver Lance has a leading chance.
