Royal Ascot is flying by and we’re already into Day 4, with the Carnival building nicely toward the final day.
Friday delivers another strong betting card, headlined by the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, where the quickest three-year-olds go head-to-head over six furlongs, alongside the Coronation Stakes, a key mile contest for the top fillies.
It’s been a kind week so far, and there’s no reason to slow down now as we look to keep finding winners.
SUN GODDESS (21) comes through the Aidan O’Brien system and profiles as another filly with plenty of upside.
The Sioux Nation filly went close on debut over 1006m at Naas, missing by a head two starts back.
She took a big step forward second-up at the Curragh, where she quickly put the race away when Ryan Moore asked for an effort at the furlong, charging clear to score by five lengths.
O’Brien has a proven record with juveniles at Royal Ascot, and she looks well placed to measure up here.
VENETIAN SUN (21) kicked off her preparation over a mile in the Group 1 1000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket but failed to run out the distance.
Trainer Karl Burke made the right call dropping her back to 1207m for the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock, where she improved sharply, putting her rivals away late to win by three lengths.
That result keeps her Group 1-winning record at this trip intact, now four wins from four starts.
She also brings proven course and distance form, having taken out the Group 3 Albany Stakes here last year.
PRECISE (4) is a clear favourite on exposed form, and her record backs that up.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly has won seven of nine starts, with her latest performance in the Group 1 1000 Guineas standing out.
She settled off the pace before producing a sharp turn of foot, putting the race to bed quickly and drawing away to win by 2.5 lengths.
True Love, who finished second in that race, sits as the second favourite here, but it’s difficult to see her turning the tables, especially with PRECISE likely to improve third-up.
WATER TO WINE (6) lines up in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes looking to maintain his unbeaten record.
The John & Thady Gosden-trained colt made a strong impression on debut at Newbury, scoring by 4.25 lengths over 2213m.
He went to another level at Kempton on the synthetic, where he put together a dominant display, stretching away to win by 11 lengths in what looked more like a training gallop.
He has plenty of upside and, given he wasn’t fully wound up last start, there’s scope for further improvement.