We've teamed up with Timeform to preview Saturday's Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The Top-Rated
Hello Youmzain (Timeform weight-adjusted rating: 135)
Hello Youmzain developed into a very smart sprinter for the Kevin Ryan yard last season, winning the Sandy Lane Stakes and the Sprint Cup (both at Haydock) either side of his third in the Commonwealth Cup at this meeting. The undoubted highlight came when making the breakthrough at the top level in the Sprint Cup, making just about all the running to beat The Tin Man by half a length. Admittedly, those tactics are harder to execute at this track, as he found on his final three-year-old start in the Champions Sprint Stakes over this C&D, when weakening to finish eighth after doing too much too soon in testing conditions. He doesn’t necessarily need to lead, though, and it will take a good one to beat him if everything falls right on his return from eight months off the track.
The Improver
Sceptical (133p)
Previously owned by Godolphin, Sceptical was still unraced when bought by his current connections for just £2,800 last August, since when he has won all five of his starts to establish himself as the highest-rated sprinter in Ireland. The latest of them saw him take another step forward on his turf debut to land a listed race at Naas 12 days ago, quickening clear in the furlong to put some smart rivals to the sword by three lengths. Clearly this represents the toughest test of his career to date, but everything he has done suggests he won’t be out of place in this company, with further improvement on the cards as he attempts to emulate his dam Jealous Again, who won the Queen Mary Stakes at this meeting for Wesley Ward back in 2009.
The Timeform Flag
One Master (Trainer Form)
William Haggas is still waiting for his first winner of the week at Royal Ascot, but it’s fair to say that he has been knocking on the door with three seconds and a third. Throw into the mix his six winners at other venues since last Saturday and we are left in no doubt that the Haggas string is in top form. All that points to a big run from One Master, who will be bidding to notch a third Group 1 success after her back-to-back wins in the Prix de la Foret. Seven furlongs is probably her optimum trip, but the conditions she’ll encounter on Saturday represent just about the next best thing, a strongly-run race over six in which the testing conditions should place the emphasis even more on stamina.
Verdict
Several of these are closely matched on their best form, including Hello Youmzain and One Master, two of four previous Group 1 winners in the line-up. Sceptical is by far the least exposed runner in the field, though, and there is a chance he could prove a cut above his rivals, such is the fantastic impression he has created in a relatively short space of time.
Timeform weight-adjusted ratings
- 135 Hello Youmzain
- 134 One Master
- 133p Sceptical
- 132 Dream of Dreams
- 132 Khaadem
- 132 The Tin Man
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