Weights & Measures: Royal Ascot | Updated BHA ratings post-Ascot

All marks are new official ratings from the BHA. Those marked with an asterisk* are BHA performance figures in the absence of a new official mark (usually juveniles or Irish-trained horses).

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TUESDAY, June 19

Queen Anne Stakes

• Accidental Agent >>>> +7lb to 116
• Lord Glitters >>>> +8lb to 115
• Lightning Spear >>>> -1lb to 119

A wide open mile division and a bunch finish saw horses rated 109 and 107 fill the first two spots in the Queen Anne, half a length separating them just has had it had done when they filled the same positions, in the same order, at the same track, in handicap company last October.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s winner Accidental Agent is up 7lb to 116 with runner-up Lord Glitters raised 8lb to 115 and, while both deserve the chance to prove this was no fluke, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the form doesn’t work out as the season progresses.

Both go very well at Ascot which looks a significant factor, while there were some hard-luck stories in behind, notably Beat The Bank (rated 118, BHA performance figure of 112) who was repeatedly denied a clear run.

Horses like Addeybb (Sandown form franked by Aljazzi in the Duke of Cambridge), who missed Royal Ascot, could well still have a big say in the mile division come the end of the season and, though this was a thrilling start to the week and a much deserved success for an excellent trainer, it throws up more questions than answers about the current crop of older milers.

Meanwhile, this is the 15th time Lightning Spear has been beaten at Group One level. The fact he couldn’t win this renewal of the Queen Anne, on ideal ground, casts major doubt over his ability to ever get the job done at the top table.

Coventry Stakes

• Calyx >>>> introduced at 113

A remarkable performance from Kingman colt Calyx just 10 days after he burst onto the scene with a bulldozing win in novice company on Newmarket’s July Course on debut.

A winner of ‘his race’ on the stands’ side by six-and-a-half lengths at Ascot, he was only a length in front of Advertise on the far side at the line but his dominance can be marked up significantly.

Rated 113 after those two bits of evidence in the last fortnight, you can be sure that is post-fixed with a large plus and he may well get the chance to improve on that number in the Prix Morny.

The last two Coventry winners to tackle the Prix Morny had mixed results; The Wow Signal went onto win at Deauville in 2014, but in 2010 Canford Cliffs failed in his French mission before bouncing back in style as a three-year-old.

Canford Cliffs is one of three Coventry winners to rate higher than Calyx in the last decade, the other two being Dawn Approach and Caravaggio and two of those, the first two, went onto win Classics.

King’s Stand Stakes

• Blue Point >>>> +5lb to 120
• Battaash >>>> -1lb to 122
• Mabs Cross >>>> +4lb 110

Blue Point was trying five furlongs for just the second time in his career in the King's Stand but he relished the drop to the minimum trip off a strong pace at a track he likes.

His only defeat in four runs at Ascot came in last year’s Commonwealth Cup and it could be that six furlongs on a stiff track just stretches his stamina a little too far – this test certainly looks perfect for him.

Whether he’d be able to cope with five furlongs at a speed track like York remains to be seen, but it’s the Nunthorpe that looks a natural target for him now rather than the big six-furlong races.

Battaash did too much too soon and deserves serious credit for getting as close as he did considering the energy he used up early, while Mabs Cross is improving and stayed on well, suggesting a step back up to six furlongs might well be beneficial.

St James’s Palace Stakes

• Without Parole >>>> +10lb to 119
• Gustav Klimt >>>> +6lb 118*
• Wootton >>>> Remains on 112

Considering what the Queen Anne served up it’s no surprise to see Without Parole emerge from the week as 6/4 market leader for the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on August 1.

The unbeaten son of Frankel will get 7lb from his elders in that race and he’s already rated higher than the Queen Anne posse, going up 10lb to 119 after holding off Gustav Klimt by half a length in the closing stages of the St James’s Palace Stakes.

A sweaty and keen U S Navy Flag set the pace and the way Without Parole quickened in the home straight to reel him in and put the race to bed was impressive, the runner-up flattered by his proximity at the line.

Having said that Gustav Klimt is clearly improving himself and this was a far superior to effort to his runs in the English and Irish Guineas. It’ll be interesting to see how he develops between now and Goodwood, if, indeed, that's his intended target.

WEDNESDAY, June 20

Queen Mary Stakes

• Signora Cabello >>>> introduced at 100

Signora Cabello was a fourth Queen Mary winner in the last 12 years for York’s Listed Marygate Fillies’ Stakes after Gilded (2006), Langs Lash (2008, second at York) and Ceiling Kitty (2012).

Just like she did at York, the daughter of Camacho shaped as though a sixth furlong will be well within her grasp so you would think races like the Cherry Hinton and Lowther Stakes will be on her radar in the weeks and months ahead.

Queen’s Vase

• Kew Gardens >>>> +2lb to 110

The first time the Derby form has been tested and the ninth home at Epsom, Kew Gardens, didn’t let it down with a commanding performance in the Queen’s Vase.

The pick of the Aidan O’Brien trio by Ryan Moore and the market, he was entitled to win this on form, presuming he really was the best of the Ballydoyle three, and he proved that emphatically by leading home his stablemates by over four lengths.

He screams St Leger, for which he is the 6/1 favourite, but the temptation to drop him back in trip to 1m4f may well linger depending upon the progress of Saxon Warrior and O’Brien’s Oaks fillies.

Duke Of Cambridge Stakes

• Aljazzi >>>> +2 to 114

Aljazzi improved massively in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes last year, where, as a 40/1 shot, she chased home Qemah in second place, for which the handicapper raised her 11lb to 112.

This time, in a weaker renewal, she didn’t have to improve much at all to go one place better, but she might well have progressed judging by the ease of her near four-length success.

Up a couple of pounds to 114, Marco Botti suggested afterwards she’ll be targeted at the Falmouth Stakes and another crack at the top level.

She looked out of her depth in the Sun Chariot last October, but deserves another go after this and, judging by her Ascot win, if they get rattling fast ground at Newmarket it can only help her cause.

Prince Of Wales’s Stakes

• Poet’s Word >>>> +7lb to 126
• Cracksman >>>> -5lb to 125
• Hawkbill >>> Remains on 122

Poet’s Word is now officially rated a 1lb better horse than Cracksman.

It seems absurd given the son of Frankel pulverised him by seven lengths in the Champion Stakes just last October, but there’s no doubt that 130 had to be revised following two compelling pieces of evidence at Epsom and Royal Ascot.

Both those runs suggest Cracksman is not as good as that Champion Stakes win implied. Perhaps he can hit those heights again when everything falls right for him, when the emphasis is on galloping, maybe in the autumn, when the ground is softer.

But, while the 125-rated Cracksman has something to prove now, Poet’s Word is firmly on the up.

Only out of the top two once since racing at the top level in six starts, his consistency is a key part of his weaponry and running his race while others around him don’t (as was the case here) will see him pick up plenty of prizemoney this season.

He’s versatile regarding trip, but the best three runs of his career have come over 10 furlongs so perhaps he’ll be better off being aimed at the Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International rather than the King George.

Royal Hunt Cup

• Settle For Bay >>>> +8lb to 107*
• Afaak >>>> +1lb to 104
• Circus Coutere >>>> +1lb 107

No official rating yet for Settle For Bay but a BHA Performance Figure of 107 suggests he’d get that sort of mark for a handicap in the UK were he entered for one tomorrow following an easy success in the Royal Hunt Cup.

He’s now five from five over a mile since returning from a pelvis injury, but the way he tanked through the contest suggests he’d cope with a drop to seven if coming back for the International Handicap back at Ascot on King George day.

A mark of 107 would mean he’d likely be top weight in that, which might put off connections, but David Marnane could well be setting his sights higher anyway following a tremendous success.

Jersey Stakes

• Expert Eye >>>> +8lb to 119
• Society Power >>>> +3lb to 108

The last time Expert Eye won by four-and-a-half lengths in impressive fashion he was made favourite for the Guineas eight months prior to the Classic.

Things didn’t work out for him after that as he was last in the Dewhurst, a hard-pulling second in the Greenham and then 10th in the Guineas, but he bounced back to form in the Jersey Stakes with an authoritative victory over Society Power.

Up 8lb to 119, he’s been allotted an identical rating to that of Without Parole and perhaps we’ll see them clash in the Sussex Stakes if this Acclamation colt is tried over a mile again. It could be that this trip, or even shorter, is better for him, however, given he can be keen in his races.

Only Ribchester has kicked on from Jersey Stakes success in recent years, as well, so you’d want to see Expert Eye put in another effort like this one to be confident over his new rating, especially considering his patchy profile.

THURSDAY, June 21

Norfolk Stakes

• Shang Shang Shang >>>> 102*
• Pocket Dynamo >>>> introduced at 104
• Land Force >>>> 103*

Not much to report here. The performance figures are a world away from what Calyx achieved in the Coventry and it looks unlikely Wesley Ward’s Shang Shang Shang will come back for something like the Prix Morny like stablemate Lady Aurelia did after her juvenile success at the meeting a couple of years ago.

Pocket Dynamo ran a cracker in second for Robert Cowell and has already run in France, so he could well go for the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte next month, a race won by British trainers in five of the last six years.

Land Force was arguably unlucky, racing away from where the main action unfolded, and he has more to offer on fast ground as a two-year-old.

Hampton Court Stakes

• Hunting Horn >>>> up 5lb to 114*

There’s been a high-class roll call for the Hampton Court in recent years with Cannock Chase, Time Test, Hawkbill and Benbatl winning it the last four years with three of that quartet striking at the highest level subsequently.

Hunting Horn has been a bit of a slow burner, but this was impressive and was the first time he’d encountered good to firm ground.

That might be a coincidence and he may well have just improved with racing, but a performance figure of 114 shows he’s going the right way and he could well tackle Group One company next, either in the Eclipse or in France.

Ribblesdale Stakes

• Magic Wand >>>> Up 11lb to 115*

A career-best performance by some distance from Magic Wand who proved her Oaks flop all wrong with a mighty success in the Ribblesdale.

Soft ground could well be a viable excuse for her Epsom fourth and the way she quickened off much better conditions at Royal Ascot marks her out as a potential top-notcher.

Raised 9lb in Ireland to 113, she’ll probably get the chance to improve upon that rating in the Irish Oaks and it will be fascinating if she can kick on from this and take on the colts later in the season.

Gold Cup

• Stradivarius >>>> Remains on 118
• Vazirabad >>>> Remains on 117*
• Torcedor >>>> 117*
• Order Of St George >>>> 114*

A superb renewal of the Gold Cup with Stradivarius coming out on top from Vazirabad and Torcedor in a three-way thriller with former winner Order Of St George three lengths behind them in fourth.

There’s not an awful lot between the top three as the ratings suggest, but with Vazirabad and Torcedor unlikely to stand in Stradivarius’ way in his pursuit of the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million bonus the biggest danger could be a three-year-old.

Gosden took advantage of the generous 13lb weight-for-age allowance in the Goodwood Cup with Stradivarius last year and that concession, if any three-year-olds take him on in Sussex, could be the one thing that prevents this son of Sea The Stars from collecting the bonus bounty.

Britannia Stakes

• Ostilio >>>> +7lb to 97
• Curiosity >>>> +3lb to 96
• Magnificent >>>> +1lb to 92

A brilliantly judged ride from the front by Silvestre de Sousa aboard Ostilio and he was never headed, making all from his central draw and drifting over to the stands’ rail which helped him keep his focus late on.

Beaten by Kings Shield and Without Parole in novice company, he was clearly well treated off 90 and a 7lb rise to 97 might not stop him from going in again considering he’s seen off 29 unexposed rivals in this.

The runner-up, Curiosity, did well to get within two lengths of the winner, doing best of those coming from off the pace and improving again from his promising second at Newmarket.

Up just 3lb, he’ll be of interest in a mile handicap at a decent meeting soon, I would imagine.

King George V Stakes

• Baghdad >>>> +7lb to 97
• Corgi >>>> +6lb to 94
• First Eleven >>>> +6lb to 97
• Cross Counter >>>> +3lb to 101

A tight finish but really strong form, full of improving three-year-olds and it was run at a good clip as well thanks to Communique and Baileys Excelerate who did each other no favours.

Communique can continue his progression when not doing too much too soon, probably at Goodwood, but the story of this race was the bad luck of First Eleven who got no run in the final quarter mile before finishing like a train.

It’s no surprise he’s up 6lb after finishing third and even that hike may not stop him from winning next time.

FRIDAY, June 22

Albany Stakes

• Main Edition >>>> introduced at 106
• La Pelosa >>>> 105*
• Fairyland >>>> 104*

Zoffany’s juveniles at Royal Ascot have a tremendous record and the sire is now four from nine with his two-year-olds at the meeting at 44 per cent. Staggering stuff.

Looking at his other juvenile winners at Royal Ascot, Illuminate and Waterloo Bridge didn’t really train on, but Washington DC did and there’s hope Main Edition will as she’s tough and talented and at the very least promises to win more as a two-year-old.

La Pelosa ran a cracker in second on just her second start and she’ll get further judging by her pedigree. A performance figure of 105 on just her second run marks her out as one to keep on the right side of.

King Edward VII Stakes

• Old Persian >>>> +5lb to 110
• Rostropovich >>>> 107*
• Giuseppe Garibaldi >>>> 106*

The King Edward VII Stakes might only be a Group Two but there’s always the hope that it will be the launchpad for a Grade One star, like it was with Nathaniel in 2011.

Old Persian will have to improve again to win a Group One, but he’s getting better with racing and this was an excellent first effort over 1m4f even if the steady pace possibly did play to his strengths.

Up 5lb to 110, connections have rolled the dice with an Irish Derby supplementary entry on Tuesday and it will be fascinating to see how he gets on in that given he brings a different line of form into the race than the Derby horses.

Commonwealth Cup

• Eqtidaar >>>> +7lb to 114
• Sands Of Mali >>>> Remains on 116 (PF 112*)
• Emblazoned >>>> +4lb to 110
• Stone Of Destiny >>>> +14lb 109

This was no Muhaarar moment from another Sheikh Hamdan-owned sprinter, unfortunately, and while the Commonwealth Cup has produced some fantastic sprinters in its brief history, the big M, Quiet Reflection, Caravaggio and Harry Angel, this season’s renewal might not be up to that sort of level.

Eqtidaar was one from four going into this and he drifted to his left late on, hampering Emblazoned and holding on by half-a-length from the fast-finishing Sands Of Mali who raced away from the main part of the action.

The runner-up could well reverse form with the winner should they meet again, but, on this evidence, the Commonwealth Cup horses have it all to do when they meet their elders later in the season.

As for Stone Of Destiny, it was meant to be that he went up 14lb.

Coronation Stakes

• Alpha Centauri >>>> 122*
• Threading >>>> Remains on 110
• Veracious >>>> Introduced at 107

A fantastic performance from Alpha Centauri, who was head and shoulders above the rest of the Coronation Stakes field in a record-breaking time.

She circled them three-wide heading into the home turn and fairly sprinted away for a six-length success, her rating of 122 unsurprisingly making her the week’s top miler.

Threading ran well in second but the other one to take out of the race was third home Veracious, third on just her third start following a 252-day break.

This was just her first start out of maiden company and looks a likely one for the Falmouth considering her owners, Cheveley Park, record in that race.

Sandringham Stakes

• Agrotera >>>> +10lb to 98
• Ortiz >>>> +3lb to 85
• Escape The City >>>> +2lb to 82
• Desert Diamond >>>> +1lb 91

Ed Walker said after the Sandringham had been run and won that that would be Agrotera’s last run in a handicap, but with a rise of ‘just’ 10lb will that still be the case?

She hosed up under a confident Jamie Spencer, looking every inch a group horse in the making, but a mark of 98 might tempt connections to go for a big handicap pot given she’s proven herself in a big field.

If not, the Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, a Group Three run over seven furlongs, has been the port of call for many a Sandringham winner and she certainly doesn’t look to lack any pace.

Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes

• Dash Of Spice >>>> +9lb to 107
• Sir Chauvelin >>>> +2lb to 99

Handicaps do look to be a thing of the past for Dash Of Spice now, though.

Raised 11lb after his easy win at Epsom on Derby day, he’s gone up another 9lb to 107 and that effectively forces him into something like a Group Three next time.

SATURDAY, June 23

Chesham Stakes

• Arthur Kitt >>>> introduced at 106
• Nate The Great >>>> 105*
• Duke Of Hazzard >>>> introduced at 97
• Beyond Reason >>>> introduced at 91

The Chesham Stakes, for horses whose sires won over 1m2f or further, often produces slow horses that don’t go on to amount to much but, in recent years, it has produced a Guineas winner in Churchill and a Derby winner in Masar.

Arthur Kitt is now two from two and showed a really nice attitude to see off Nate The Great, but he’s related to plenty of speedy types and that probably helped him against a field of largely stoutly-bred individuals.

If there is one that could develop into a Classic contender, perhaps it’s the fourth home, Godolphin filly Beyond Reason. By Australia out of an Azamour mare, she did the best of the fillies and reversed her maiden form with New Winds.

She looks the type to progress as she steps up in trip.

Hardwicke Stakes

• Crystal Ocean >>>> Remains on 122 (118*)
• Red Verdon >>>> Remains on 113

Easy as you like for Crystal Ocean who won as he liked in a weak renewal.

He’s going to have bigger tests to come in races like the King George, where we’ll get a truer handle on whether that 122 rating underestimates his ability or vice versa.

Windsor Castle Stakes

• Soldier’s Call >>>> introduced at 105
• Sabre >>>> introduced at 103
• Dom Carlos >>>> 97*
• Van Beethoven >>>> 96*

This looks stronger form than the Norfolk which begs the question, do we really need both races? The easier option looks to have attracted the better horses this year, which isn’t an ideal situation.

Soldier’s Call showed plenty of speed to lead the stands’ side group and could well head to the Molecomb at Goodwood next. The last Windsor Castle winner to try his luck in that race was Hototo, who was third in Sussex in 2012.

Diamond Jubilee Stakes

• Merchant Navy >>>> 119*
• City Light >>>> 118*
• Bound For Nowhere >>>> 116*

BHA Performance Figures all the way here with three international raiders fighting out the finish to a thrilling Diamond Jubilee.

Merchant Navy would’ve been an unlucky loser, as not only was he up against it at the weights being an Australian-born horse that didn’t have the three-year-old weight-for-age benefits, but he was also carried left by the errant Bound For Nowhere in the closing stages.

Somehow, he just held on from City Light who was in front before the line and after the line but not on the line, denied by a bob of the head. Such is racing.

The form can’t be trusted upon as much as it would be had Harry Angel got off on terms and run his race. He’s had zero luck at Ascot throughout his career, so hopefully he can recover from the puncture wound sustained in the stalls and return to his best at some point this campaign.

Wokingham Stakes

• Bacchus >>>> +5lb to 110
• Dreamfield >>>> +4lb to 107
• Major Jumbo >>>> +2lb to 103
• Tis Marvellous >>>> +2lb 101

An excellent training performance from Brian Meehan who produced Bacchus after a 260-day break and he couldn’t have been more bullish pre-race.

He denied a massive gamble on Dreamfield who was punted into 2/1 from 4s and the bookies escaped by the skin of their teeth as the admirable Bacchus just got up to the dismay of thousands of punters.

Dreamfield did a bit too much too soon and hung to his left under pressure, but was so close to remaining unbeaten after just four starts.

He got 2lb from the winner on Saturday but would get 3lb in a future handicap and I don’t think too many punters would be siding with Bacchus on those terms.

Both look capable of making their mark in group company, but it’s the unexposed and highly progressive Dreamfield that has the most potential and he could yet strike at the highest of levels.

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