All twelve runners in Friday's Queen's Vase venture into the unknown when they take on the 2 mile trip at Royal Ascot. None of the field have gone the distance before but Aidan O'Brien's Regent Street is well fancied to take victory at odds of 11/4 with Boylesports, although Mark Johnston's three entries demand respect thanks to their trainer's stellar record in the race.
Regent Street heads the odds after placing twice in Group races this year, including a respectable three length defeat to one time Derby hopeful Recital last time out. Both of those placings were over 1 mile, 2 furlongs and the shorter distance might be more to the Galileo colt's taste. Regent Street will take some beating on Group form though as O'Brien looks to follow up last year's win with Mikhail Glinka .
Even O'Brien's record in the race pales in comparison with that of Sir Henry Cecil, who can lay claim to eight winners of the Group Three race. Cecil's entry, Solar Sky, is 4/1 second favourite and is a colt of some potential having been bred to stay. The 3-year-old was second to stablemate World Domination earlier this season and was a winner at Haydock over 1m 4f last month.
Cecil's fine record in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot is under threat from Mark Johnston though as he has trained five of the last ten winners and goes in triple-handed this week. Namibian is his leading hope according to the odds having gained plenty of experience in his eight outings and the 5/1 shot should enjoy the 2 mile trip. However, he was third to stablemate Eternal Heart in the Edinburgh Cup and we fancy the look of the Musselburgh winner.
Johnston opted to swerve Eternal Heart away from Thursday's King George V in favour of the Queen's Vase and he looks well worth an each way punt at 8/1. The half-brother to Group One winner Yavana's Pace is fast improving after sealing a third successive win at Musselburgh. The 2 mile trip should be right up his street and the way he responded to being outpaced over 14 furlongs before running on to win at Sandown bodes very well.
The other entry from the Johnston stables comes in the form of Halifax (8/1), who steps up in trip and grade after staying on to win twice over 1m 4f this year.
Elsewhere, Roger Varian arrives as a trainer in form after picking up 16 winners from 64 runners prior to Royal Ascot. Success in the Queen's Vase looks more difficult as the progressive Ittirad(7/1) was second over a mile and a half at York, and Varian is not certain his colt will stay 2 miles.
Godolphin enter Borug, a 16/1 chance with Boylesports.com, as the colt looks to improve on two wins as a juvenile last year. However, the 3-year-old was badly exposed when fourth in a Derby trial last time out and faces a tough task when stepping up in trip on Friday.
It is difficult to look beyond the leading contenders for this race and O'Brien's Regent Street could display the class that has made him a decent performer in Group company, although expect a strong challenge from the Mark Johnston pair of Namibian and Eternal Heart.
11/4 Regent Street
4/1 Solar Sky
5/1 Namibian
7/1 Ittirad
8/1 Eternal Heart
8/1 Halifax
16/1 Borug
20/1 Qushchi
20/1 Hawafeez
50/1 BAR
Odds supplied by Boylesports.com bookmakers, with best odds guaranteed on all British and Irish horse racing.
Posted: Thursday, 16th June 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: royal ascot, the queens vase, regent street, namibian, boylesports,
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