Day two at Royal Ascot means more Frankie Fever, but what about some David Disorder to mess things up for the great Italian?
Welsh jockey David Probert has three outside opportunities to beat Frankie Dettori, although neither jockey has a ride in what promises to be the race of the day, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.
Probert rides outsider Golden Spice in the Kensington Palace Fillies’ Handicap at 3.05, where Dettori will be on the favourite, Tamarama.
They then both have rides in the Royal Hunt Cup Heritage Handicap at 5.00, where Dettori is on joint-favourite Reach For The Moon, while Probert is on the 80-1 shot, Light and Dark.
The Bargoed Bullet’s final chance to shoot down the Ascot legend is in the Queen’s Vase at 5.35pm, where Dettori rides the favourite, Gregory, and Probert saddles the Andrew Balding-trained, Ndaawi.
The most anticipated race, however, is the 4.20pm, Prince of Wales’s Stakes, where there are only six runners but the quality is so high that four of them have realistic hopes for success.
Adayar is a former Derby and King George winner, but has suffered with injuries of late, so will face stiff competition from Luxembourg, Bay Bridge, and My Prospero.
Bay Bridge and Adayar were first and second in the Champion Stakes last October and renew their rivalry over a mile and two furlongs with the heralded Luxembourg and My Prospero also strong contenders.
Ridden by William Buick, Adayar is trained by Charlie Appleby, who says: “We have been delighted with how Adayar has come forward since the Gordon Richards Stakes. It was always the plan to come straight to Ascot afterwards and he ticks all the boxes coming into the race.
“It’s a very strong renewal, but Adayar is in great shape and we are very much looking forward to it. The target this season has been to win a Group 1 over a mile and a quarter and this will hopefully be his opportunity.”
Luxembourg was a let down in the 2,000 Guineas and it meant he missed the Derby. He won the Irish Champion Stakes before finishing a well-beaten seventh in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien says: “We’ve been very pleased with everything he has been doing since the Curragh. He’s drawn in stall one so Ryan [Moore] won’t be afraid to go forward if he has to.
“He showed at the Curragh that he is happy doing that. You can put him anywhere in a race and he doesn’t seem to mind. Everyone has been delighted with him at home.”
My Prospero finished a close third to Bay Bridge in the British Champions Stakes.
