Quality fields declared for opening day of Royal Ascot

A happy Maxime Guyon after Solow had landed the Dubai Turf. Image copyright of Racingfotos.com

Royal Ascot 2015 looks set to get off to a flyer with quality fields declared for all three QIPCO British Champions Series races on the opening day.

Proceedings get underway at 2.30pm with the Queen Anne Stakes, in which French raider Solow will bid to cement his position as one of the best horses in the world with a seventh straight success.

The impressive Dubai Turf winner will face seven rivals, including Al Shaqab Lockinge winner, Night of Thunder, and the current top-rated miler in the world, Able Friend.

To find out the latest on Able Friend, watch our video with Assistant Trainer, George Moore.

The action comes thick and fast with 19 of the fastest sprinters on the globe lining up for the King’s Stand Stakes. Sole Power is bidding to go down in the history books with a hat-trick in the race and he will exit from stall 6 and be ridden once again by Richard Hughes.

The flying Australian filly, Shamal Wind, should give him plenty to think about, with Ryan Moore in the saddle for the first time, together with regular Champions Series stars, Hot Streak, G Force, Pearl Secret and Stepper Point.

It’s a clash of the 2000 Guineas winners in the St James’s Palace Stakes at 4.20pm as Gleneagles, the winner at both Newmarket and The Curragh, goes head to head with Andre Fabre’s Make Believe.

The multiple French Champion Trainer said about his French 2000 Guineas winner: “Make Believe has done well since making all the running in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) though I have not done much work with him as he is quite a light horse. But I am very happy with his condition.”

“Fast ground would not be a real concern for him as Ascot always does a good job with the ground and it was pretty fast when he won the Poule d’Essai, but a drop of rain would be welcome.”

“He does not need to lead, he could come from behind too, we will just see how the race develops and I will leave that to his jockey, Olivier Peslier.”

“I see Make Believe as a real miler and I expect him to remain at this distance for the rest of the season.”

“I was very impressed with Gleneagles in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, impressed with his confirmation, with his action and with his attitude. He looks something special and will be difficult to beat.”

Queen Anne declared runners:  

Able Friend, Cougar Mountain, Glory Awaits, Here Comes When, Night of Thunder, Solow, Toormore, Esoterique  

King’s Stand declared runners: 

G Force, Goldream, Hot Streak, Jack Dexter, Justice Day, Lancelot du Lac, Medicean Man, Muthmir, Pearl Secret, Rangali, Robot Boy, Sole Power, Steps, Take Cover, Mecca’s Angel, Shamal Wind, Wind Fire

St James’s Palace declared runners: 

Aktabantay, Belardo, Consort, Gleneagles, Latharnach, Make Believe