The final day of the Royal Ascot festival will host the Jubilee stakes.
Platinum Jubilee Stakes
Saturday’s Jubilee Stakes has drawn a field of 14, headed by Ralph Beckett’s Kinross, who bids to make it third time lucky in the race. Last year’s winner Khaadem and Champion’s Sprint winner Art Power back for more.
Here’s my runner guide along with a couple of tips. As always, good luck!
Platinum Jubilee Stakes Runners Guide
Art Power
- Trainer: Tim Easterby
- Jockey: David Allan
- Form: 601054
- Odds: 14/1
Top sprinter when on-song, and having twice won Group 2s at the Curragh last season, the grey signed off the campaign with a Group 1 victory in the British Champions Sprint Stakes over course-and-distance.
Not disgraced in two starts this season and cannot be taken lightly when reflecting on his career highlight at this course. Place prospects but may want softer ground.
Jumby
- Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton
- Jockey: Charles Bishop
- Form: 959900
- Odds: 66/1
Group 2 and Group 3 winner, who finished third in the Wokingham here two seasons ago, but his form has taken a turn for the worse since July last year, and he’s already been found out at the highest level.
Even the application of blinkers isn’t enough to fancy him in this grade, and others hold more compelling claims.
Khaadem
- Trainer: Charlie Hills
- Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- Form: 315750
- Odds: 25/1
Smart at his best and caused a massive shock in this race twelve months ago when turning in a career-best performance to score at 80/1.
He hasn’t been in the same form in four subsequent starts, and I just don’t think he’s classy enough to repeat last year’s heroics. Not for me this year.
Kinross
- Trainer: Ralph Beckett
- Jockey: Rossa Ryan
- Form: 731122
- Odds: 11/2
High-class sprinter with two Group 1s to his name, including when successful in the British Champions Sprint Stakes over course and distance two seasons ago.
Has held his form very well since, placing in a Breeders’ and July Cup, and concluded last season with back-to-back narrow defeats in Group 1s.
Fitness might be an issue, though, as he could only finish seventh in this race last year on his return, but this is a weaker edition.
Mill Stream
- Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam
- Jockey: William Buick
- Form: 116821
- Odds: 5/1
Improving sprinter and gamely saw off Shouldvebeenaring in the Group 2 Duke of York last time but was found out in a pair of Group 1s last season, including over track-and-trip.
He has raised his game since, though, so he could easily produce another personal best in an open renewal.
Mitbaahy
- Trainer: Charlie Hills
- Jockey: Jamie Spencer
- Form: 881471
- Odds: 13/2
Not been with this stable long and recently finished with a power-packed late surge to take the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh, which was a career-best.
A strongly-run contest will suit, and the fact that Jamie Spencer opts to ride him this year instead of Khaadem must entitle him to respect.
Quinault
- Trainer: Stuart Williams
- Jockey: Richard Kingscote
- Form: 131086
- Odds: 33/1
Had a remarkable 2022, winning seven times and working his way through the handicapping ranks. He’s been well beaten in both starts this campaign, though, and he’s likely to be outclassed at this much tougher level than he’s used to. Others are preferred.
Shartash
- Trainer: Archie Watson
- Jockey: James Doyle
- Form: 540611
- Odds: 13/2
Wasn’t at his best on his final couple of starts for Johnny Murtagh but achieved a quality level of form as a two-year-old and has been rejuvenated by current connections.
He’s won both of his starts since joining this stable, and although this is a much deeper grade in comparison to last time, he cannot be ruled out for owners who have had a cracking week.
Shouldvebeenaring
- Trainer: Richard Hannon
- Jockey: Sean Levey
- Form: 233026
- Odds: 14/1
Made the frame in a pair of Group 1s last year, including a neck-second in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Went close in the Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes in his penultimate start when a narrow second but wasn’t so good at the Curragh last time out behind a couple of these and needs to pull out more.
Still, he has place possibilities, especially if he’s back to his best.
The Wizard Of Eye
- Trainer: Charlie Fellowes
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Form: 966571
- Odds: 12/1
Landed the Victoria Cup on his seasonal reappearance at this course last month, and Ryan Moore is booked to ride, but I’m not sure the drop-in trip will suit.
Ratings suggest he has a bit to find with a few of these, but he will benefit from a strong pace and is likely to be finishing off his race to good effect.
Washington Heights
- Trainer: Kevin Ryan
- Jockey: Tom Eaves
- Form: 244114
- Odds: 14/1
Largely consistent and has only finished outside the top four once in his career.
Had several of these in behind when making a winning return in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes and performed with credit to finish fourth in the Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes last time out.
Does he seem like a winner of this prestigious race, though? I’m not so sure.
Believing
- Trainer: George Boughey
- Jockey: Danny Tudhope
- Form: 130914
- Odds: 9/1
Classy filly with listed and Group wins to her name, and after finishing down the field in a Group 1 race at Sha Tin on her return, she bolted up at Haydock on her penultimate start.
Earlier this week, she ran a cracker to finish a close-fourth in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes and must be respected turned out quickly.
Swingalong
- Trainer: Karl Burke
- Jockey: Clifford Lee
- Form: 031448
- Odds: 20/1
Rarely runs a bad race and did really well last season, winning a Group 3 race at York and placing three times at the highest level, including over course and distance twice.
Her third in the Commonwealth Cup here last year and fourth in the Champions Sprint on her final outing of the season read well, and she will be fitter from her comeback run at York. No reason why she can’t be thereabouts.
Vadream
- Trainer: Charlie Fellowes
- Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
- Form: 573280
- Odds: 66/1
Decent mare, especially when conditions are soft, but has run poorly the last twice.
She only beat home one rival in the King Charles III Stakes earlier this week, and she looks up against it in this as well. Limited appeal.
Platinum Jubilee Tips & Predictions
BELIEVING (tipped at 9/1) has only been given four days to recover from her excursions in the King Charles earlier this week, but George Boughey wouldn’t be doing it without good reason.
The way she kept on to be nearest the finish in fourth suggested this trip might actually suit her better on this course. She was down the field in the Champions Sprint here last season but the soft ground was against her.
Her penultimate win at Haydock was very good, and she will get the ideal set-up with plenty of pace on offer as a few of these like to go forward. I don’t think we have seen the best of her yet, and I can see her running very well.
Four places are widely available.
THE WIZARD OF EYE (tipped at 12/1) has a bit to find on ratings, but I loved the way he picked up strongly to take the Victoria Cup last time out, and a stronger run race can only benefit his chances even greater.
He’s a strong traveller and possesses a turn of foot, as displayed last time, so the drop-in trip shouldn’t pose an issue and connections have booked Ryan Moore to ride. Despite being the joint lowest-rated runner, he’s a big player in an open contest.
Four places are widely available.
