Royal Ascot started in a blaze of glory on Tuesday with Frankel, officially rated the best racehorse in the World, winning by an astonishing eleven lengths in the Queen Anne Stakes. The meeting closes on Saturday with all eyes on Australian superstar Black Caviar, currently rated the second-best racehorse and seeking a 22nd consecutive victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (3.45).

Having travelled over safely and settled in well at Newmarket, she will face 14 rivals over six furlongs on Saturday in front of a sell-out crowd. The two factors that are out of the control of connections are the draw and the going. The six-year-old mare has been drawn in stall 15 of 15 and the going is likely to be on the soft side of good. The bookmakers are currently showing her as 2-7 favourite with the French mare Moonlight Cloud rated her biggest threat at 6-1.

Last year this Group One prize was won by James Fanshawe’s Society Rock who is seeking a repeat after his respectable third in the Duke of York Stakes. Krypton Factor represents Bahrain trainer Fawzi Nass following a successful campaign in Dubai earlier this year in what is truly an international contest.

The day’s action gets under way at 2.30 with the Chesham Stakes for two-year-olds over seven furlongs. Godolphin have not enjoyed their most successful Royal Ascot to date but have two promising youngsters here in Tha’ir and Lovely Pass. At 3.05 Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden bids to for Group Two glory over a mile and a half in the Hardwicke Stakes. He will have to reverse the placing’s with the progressive Aiken from their last meeting and may also struggle to beat Sea Moon from Sir Michael Stoute’s stable.

The Wokingham Stakes (4.25) is the top sprint handicap of the week with a maximum field hurtling up the Ascot straight. Jeremy Gask could run Medicean Man who ran a stormer at the start of the week to finish fourth behind Little Bridge and he also runs High Standing, a previous winner here who looked to be on his way back last time out.

The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at 5.00 looks an ideal opportunity for Camborne to add to his recent runaway victory for John Gosden and William Buick. The meeting closes at 5.35 with the Queen Alexandra Stakes and Simenon could turn out again quickly after winning Tuesday’s Ascot Stakes.

Ladbrokes have early prices on all the races at this week’s Royal Ascot meeting including a number of special bets on the Australian mare Black Caviar. For many, her appearance is the highlight of a fantastic week’s racing.

Author Profile: Harvey Mayson+

written by Harvey \\ tags: Black Caviar, Dunaden, horse racing, Jubilee Stakes, Ladbrokes, Royal Ascot