15:00 Royal Ascot

Saturday 20 June 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 1m 42.38s

(1)

Arizona¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S M Levey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 116| C

25/1

Useful juvenile, appearing to be a star in the making when plundering the Group 2 Coventry Stakes (6f); left trailing in the wake of Pinatubo on various occasions thereafter; weakened after racing prominently in the 2000 Guineas (11th of 15).

Form: 14325-0

(6)

Palace Pier¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 109| D

4/1

Kingman colt (600,000gns yr); mightily strong at the finish (solid form) when maintaining his unbeaten record on seasonal reappearance at Newcastle (1m) a fortnight ago; sights raised, albeit with sky remaining the limit; promises to stay further.

Form: 11-1

(2)

Pinatubo¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 126| BF| C

11/8

The outstanding juvenile of 2019; blew the opposition away (inc. Arizona) with a simply dazzling display in the Group 1 National Stakes at The Curragh (7f, good), before landing the odds in the Dewhurst; beaten favourite (third) in the 2000 Guineas.

Form: 11111-3

(3)

Positive²⁵²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 113

14/1

Beaten twice by Pinatubo as a juvenile (Vintage Stakes & Dewhurst Stakes), yet was successful on each of his other two starts - edging out the 2000 Guineas winner Kameko in the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown; lacks the benefit of a recent run.

Form: 1216-

(5)

Royal Dornoch¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110| D

50/1

Sprung a 16-1 surprise when downing the favourite Kameko in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket (1m, good) last September; low-key tenth of 15 in the 2000 Guineas; shouldn't be troubling the market leaders on that evidence.

Form: 37151-0

(4)

Threat²⁶⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R Hannon| OR: 114

20/1

Progressed swiftly as a juvenile after finishing ½L second to Arizona in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes (6f), winning at York (6f, Gimcrack) & Doncaster (7f, Champagne Stakes); upped-in-trip for seasonal reappearance; can he cope with race-fit rivals?

Form: 122115-

(7)

Wichita¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118

9/4

Twice successful as a juvenile, including in the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket (7f, good); only third in the Dewhurst, yet did manage to turn the tables on conqueror Pinatubo in the 2000 Guineas when a brave neck second to Kameko.

Form: 1213-2

Forecasts

Pinatubo (11/8), Wichita (9/4), Palace Pier (4/1), Positive (14/1), Threat (20/1), Arizona (25/1), Royal Dornoch (50/1)

A potentially thrilling renewal of the St James's Palace Stakes is in store with the outstanding juvenile of 2019 Pinatubo recommencing battle (from the 2000 Guineas) with the upwardly mobile Wichita. Aidan O'Brien's charge was arguably always slightly better positioned than his more illustrious rival at Newmarket, but crucially appeared to see out the 1m trip more strongly. However, both have masses to fear from the still unbeaten PALACE PIER. After briefing looking in trouble on seasonal reappearance at Newcastle a fortnight ago, John Gosden's Kingman colt galloped on remorselessly from the furlong pole to strike in a most taking manner. His best days surely lie ahead.