The King & The Royal Stud 2024

Both runners today performed satisfactorily. Serried Ranks seemed to be travelling well but was then both caught flat footed, when the pace really turned on, and then given no room to recover afterwards. He'll do better over 6f next time out.
Desert Hero was beaten a head into 2ndandwould probably have been in front in another 10 yards. Again he seemed 'done' for speed 2f out then was carried slightly right and, though running on in the last half furlong, just failed. I think it was a good performance and a return to 12f will make life easier for him. He certainly showed a good turn of foot once he got going.

 

A third Royal winner as High Order won by 13 lengths in what looked like an egg and spoon race for him at Southwell. He took charge soon after the start and, without too much effort applied, ran away from his field in the last 2f. He was very green in the last furlong (veering left then right) and hopefully will improve a good deal for this experience. Gosden's comments were 'He's learning and needs racing and education. He's got ability and a mile and a half is no problem for him, he could well be a mile-and-six horse later on. I'm happy with him and as long as the shoe coming off doesn't bother him and he's in good order, he won't hang around long before running again'.
He's by Frankel and out of a Dubawi mare called Diploma who won 3 races, including one listed race. He has a full-brother called Warrant Holder, who is yet to be placed with a trainer. There's a Sea the Stars yearling and Diploma was covered by Frankel again last year. Portfolio (by Deep Impact) is a half-sister to High Order and she has a yearling filly by Frankel.
If he matures in time he could be a Queens Vase entrant.

 

Gosden (no Royal 2yos at the moment) has trained all the King's winners so far this year. He has another Royal 3yo, The King's General, being mentioned on the gallops. He is the second live foal of Daphne (by Duke of Marmalade), the first being the useful filly Perfect Alibi (by Le Havre). He had a year end run and though competitive for a while finished last of 6, eight lengths adrift of the winner. I'd look for a12f entry in the coming weeks for this entire colt.

Not really a rash of entries, though it does look as if the first 2yo, Royal Equerry, will make her debut at Salisbury on Sunday. The useful Works of Art goes for a listed 6f race at Chelmsford on Thursday and should get some Black Type.
Gilded Water and Anglepoise are both entered on Monday in the same race at Windsor. It's disappointing to see Slipofthepen withdrawn from his race on Saturday, though he has been mentioned on the gallops. It wouldn't surprise me if he was gelded soon.

 

Royal Equerry kicks off an interesting week for the King. She's the first 2yo to run and on paper has a fine pedigree being by Kingman out of the Danehill Dancer mare Medley who as a race filly won both the Albany and Cherry Hinton. If she's ready Royal Equerry could be the type to win over 5f at Salisbury tomorrow. There are two previous winners in the field however.

On Monday two maidens are entered in the two divisions of the 8f maiden at Windsor. The filly Anglepoise makes her debut in the 2nd Division and Rossa Ryan gets the mount. She's by the speedy Zoustar out of a 12f winning Galileo mare, so should be suited to the distance. She may not be suited to the soft ground. In the 1st Division Gilded Water, who looked like Billy Bunter on his debut at Newmarket, has Marquand in the saddle and if improving on his racecourse debut may go close.

On Wednesday the gallops spotted The King's General makes his seasonal debut in the 10f maiden on the 1st Day of the Chester meeting. By Dubawi out of Daphne (who won 4 races as a 3yo & 4yo) and has bred a good filly in Perfect Alibi, who won 3 races as a 3yo. This colt must be one of the main hopes for this season and hopefully will show well.

On Thursday Stoute's Reaching High goes to Chelmsford and one would expect an improved performance from this Sea the Stars gelding. He runs over 10f which must be the bare minimum for him as he's a son of Estimate.

On Friday Crown Estate, who disappointed at Newmarket has a chance to redeem himself at Ascot. Anglepoise and The King's General have back up entries at Nottingham.

Entries for Royal Ascot are appearing and this week's winner High Order is entered for the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes, so they do rate him.

 

Works of Art (of whom Balding said in his Spring magazine was a Nell Gwynn possible) finished last on her seasonal debut at Chelmsford: very disappointing. She has much to prove next time out.
Royal Equerry's debut 4th at Salisbury was an unsatisfactory affair. Drawn 6, the horse in 4 careered into the horse in 5, at the start, making it necessary for Ryan to hold up the filly. She recovered her composure and ran on pleasingly in the last furlong. She was 6 lengths behind the winner who beat the other two experienced 2yos home. A 6f race for the King's filly at somewhere like Newbury seems in order if there are no negatives after this start.
The Royal Stud did have a winner over the weekend when Punctuation took a good handicap at Goodwood. He's now a 7yo and has proved himself a useful hurdler too.

Gilded Water must be out to do better today at Windsor. I'd also hope Anglepoise shows a bit more on her 2nd start.

 

Two promising 3rd places today, though a win would have been nice. Gilded Water (backed down from 15-2 to 16-5) went closest but looked to blow up in the last furlong. He perhaps needs a bit more fitness and bit further. Anglepoise (backed down from 33-1 to 15-2) ran very much better but at the business end ran green. She pleasingly straightened out in the last half furlong. They both look as if they will win a maiden.
Biggest news is that Treasure is entered for Saturdays Oaks Trial at Lingfield, with Ryan already marked up as her jockey.
The Kings General was withdrawn from Wednesday's Chester maiden with Gosden preferring to run an Oppenheimer colt. I'd take the signal. The Royal colt could be diverted to Nottingham on Friday. Reaching High looks to Chelmsford with Dobbs booked, though he has got engagements at Haydock and newcastle later in the week..