15:05 Royal Ascot

Wednesday 20 June 2018

All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:35

Queen's Vase (Group 2)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 3m 0.89s

(4)

Almoghared²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden

12/1

Well bred sort (half-brother to Oaks winner Taghrooda). Green on debut but produced a better performance when getting up late at Chepstow on contrasting quicker ground. Yard flying and step up in trip could see him improve again.

Form: 21

(9)

Drapers Guild³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 92

33/1

Just a Dundalk maiden win to his name but improved for that win with a placed effort behind Southern France in Listed class last time out. No doubt he will need more here though and vulnerable to less exposed sorts here.

Form: 446-212

(3)

Dubai Empire^v1³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T P Queally| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 85

66/1

Won a maiden at Musselburgh last year but ended the campaign well beaten in a Listed race at Newmarket and he's been below par in two starts this season. Plenty to find on form, wears a first-time visor.

Form: 5416-34

(8)

Jeremiah^p1¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: C Fellowes| OR: 81

20/1

Consistent sort but yet to get his head in front and it's highly unlikely that the for from handicap company that he brings to the table here will be good enough to see him play a part. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 33-432

(7)

Kew Gardens¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108| BF

10/3

Paid the price for racing too prominently in the Derby last time out and still yet to get his head in front this season. Looks a shade one-paced so step up in trip could see him in a better light and he will appreciate the drop in class here.

Form: 241-329

(2)

King's Proctor³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 95| BF

20/1

5L third to a smart sort at Chester last month but no match for the winner when a beaten favourite dropped down in class at Newbury subsequently. Will improve again at some stage but has plenty on his plate here.

Form: 51-2232

(10)

Lynwood Gold¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97

12/1

Won twice as a juvenile and slowly working his way back to form this time around. A return to quicker ground could see him improve further and not ruled out for a yard that have won three of the last nine renewals of this race.

Form: 221-753

(6)

Nelson³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111

9/2

Won a Group 3 at Leopardstown on return in April and perhaps did too much too soon back at that course in the Derby Trial last time. Hard to know if he'll stay this far stepped up markedly in trip but there's some hope on the dam's side.

Form: 2112-16

(5)

Southern France^t³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 95

9/2

Improved from his debut to win a maiden at Leopardstown and improved again to win a Listed race at Navan last time over 1f shorter. Trip unlikely to be an issue and there should be more to come.

Form: 211

(1)

Sovereign Duke⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Fran Berry| T: H Candy| OR: 96

50/1

Green on debut to win at Kempton two starts back but well beaten when stepped up in trip in Group 3 class last time. Has missed the break on two of his three starts but signs in his pedigree he will stay this far so can't be entirely ruled out.

Form: 7-15

(11)

Stream Of Stars⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| C

5/2

Confirmed the promise of his debut effort when winning at Sandown last time and he shaped like he will appreciate further on both his runs so far. Less exposed than most and yard won this last year; should run well.

Form: 21

(12)

Yabass^t³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Edward Greatrex| T: A Watson| OR: 88

66/1

Could hardly have been more impressive when winning at Ripon on second start of his season but perhaps found out to some extent since and behind some of these at Navan last time. Has plenty to find.

Form: 62-2126

Forecasts

Stream Of Stars (5/2), Kew Gardens (10/3), Southern France (9/2), Nelson (9/2), Almoghared (12/1), Lynwood Gold (12/1), King's Proctor (20/1), Jeremiah (20/1), Drapers Guild (33/1), Sovereign Duke (50/1), Yabass (66/1), Dubai Empire (66/1)

Aidan O'Brien has won four of the last eight renewals of this race and he sends a strong team in a bid to bolster that record here. KEW GARDENS has shaped like he will appreciate a more stamina sapping trip in recent times and he's taken to gain his first win of the season in a competitive renewal. Stablemate Nelson is an interesting prospect and can be forgiven his run in the Derby trial last time. John Gosden won this last year and Stream Of Stars isn't one to underestimate given his profile.