GOLDEN JUBILEE

AL QASI
4yo bay colt; Elnadim – Delisha
Trained by: Peter Chapple-Hyam
Form: 611211-6
“Never stopped improving last year after opening his account on the polytrack at Lingfield when dropped back from a mile to six-furlongs and went on to land handicaps at York, Ripon and Ascot. I was most impressed by his four-length success at Ripon off a mark of 84 and he should be all the better for his first outing of 2007 when a close sixth in a big field for the Duke of York Stakes. Lightly-raced and still on the up.”

AMADEUS WOLF
4yo bay colt; Mozart – Rachelle
Trained by: Kevin Ryan
0543235-1
“The winner of the Middle Park Stakes as a juvenile, he failed to get the trip in last year’s 2,000 Guineas and ended up running with distinction against older horses in the top sprints in 2006. Placed four times in Group 1 company last term, he emerged from winter quarters in fluent style in the Duke of York Stakes and my spies at Hambleton Lodge tell me he’s been scorching up the gallops and is a fresh horse heading for Ascot with a live chance.”

ASSET
4yo bay gelding; Marju – Snow Peak
Trained by: Richard Hannon
Form: 102-1
“Took Listed mile contest at Kempton last term before a far-from-disgraced 9th in 2,000 Guineas. Also a cracking second to Jeremy in Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot 12 months ago. Has been gelded since and made an impressive reappearance when comfortably slamming stable-mate Assertive in Listed grade at Newmarket’s Craven Meeting in April. Clearly thoroughly enjoyed the drop back to sprinting and is almost certain to be capable of showing even more improved form yet.”

BENBAUN
6yo bay gelding; Stravinsky – Escape To Victory
Trained by: Mark Wallace
Form: 2222153-1
“Was second in his first four starts last term before landing Group 3 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh and stepped back up to six-furlongs to win, again in Group 3 company, at same Irish venue in late May. Goes on most ground expect perhaps too soft and though usually equipped with some form of headgear is pretty genuine and consistent performer.”

BENTLEY BISCUIT
6yo chestnut gelding; Peintre Celebre – Tycoon Joy
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse
Form: 1273140-4111
“This would surely take the ‘biscuit’ if connections’ ambitious dream for King’s Stand Stakes, Golden Jubilee Stakes and July Cup success came to fruition. The form is certainly in the locker as this year he’s already beaten Takeover Target twice who then went on to beat Gold Edition. With a Group 1 haul of five, a collection that only started last November, he has a fabulous career strike rate of 12 wins from a mere 18 starts. He has yet to race over five-furlongs and, all being well, it looks as if the ‘Jubilee’ could be the race to bring out the best in him and he actually operates up to a mile. One thing is for sure, punters will have a few heart-stopping moment as his come-from-behind style of racing means there is no margin for error as he proved when winning at Doomben having been last swinging into the short home-straight.”

FIRENZE
6yo chestnut mare; Efisio – Juliet Bravo
Trained by: James Fanshawe
Form: 312301-13
“Hasn’t exactly spent a lot of time at the coalface and last year, as well as excellent placed efforts in the Wokingham and Stewards’ Cup, graduated from winning a handicap at Goodwood to scoring narrowly in Listed company at Newmarket. She’s continued on the upward curve this term and wasn’t fully extended to win Listed event at Nottingham. Close third to Sierra Vista in Temple Stakes at Sandown last time, she tends to hold her form well and should keep giving supporters a proper run for their money.”

MAGNUS
5yo bay horse; Flying Spur – Scandinavia
Trained by: Peter Moody
Form: 122352201-2341
“Comes over as the least-touted of the Aussies but don’t underestimate this horse as he claimed the considerable scalp of Bentley Biscuit as the first four home fought out a blanket finish in a Group 1 dash at Warwick Farm in March with the pair racing off level weight. He’s also finished close on the tail of Miss Andretti on a couple of occasions and has already been offered places at stud back home so any more high profile runs can only enhance his value. Has only raced on good or softer ground so a fast surface at Ascot could be a concern. Admittedly has a bit to find with Bentley Biscuit, who appears to have made giant strides since their last encounter.

MISS ANDRETTI
6yo bay mare; Ihtiram – Peggie’s Bid
Trained by: Lee Freedman
Form: 60111213-111
“Has a terrific record of 16 wins from 24 starts and she has been successful four times in Group 1 company in Australia. So far this year she is unbeaten in three races, all in the top grade, in the Coolmore Lightning Stakes and Timbercorp Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley and Seppelt Wines Handicap at Caulfield, a six-furlong contest that was worth nearly £244,000 to the winner and an event that saw her smash the track record. Two of her wins this year have been legs of the Global Sprint Challenge and her trainer sent out Falkirk to come fourth in last year’s King’s Stand Stakes. Connections reckon this mare is much better than Falkirk and she’s rated 10lb superior on her homeland mark. Reportedly a mare that goes best fresh she is also in the King’s Stand – a race in which her trainer fancies her the most - and she has won all her starts immediately following a break.”

TAKEOVER TARGET
8yo bay gelding; Celtic Swing – Shady Stream
Trainer: Joe Janiak
Form:13113721-521
“Has been successful in Group 1 company on no less than five occasions including when scooping a £486,000 first prize jackpot in Japan last October. He has already scored in the top grade this season at Doomben, a victory that saw him win for the third time in his career over seven-furlongs. The winner of the 2006 Global Sprint Challenge, he is described by connections as being even better this year and is bidding for a repeat win in the King’s Stand Stakes. His trainer also reports that as he matures he is losing some of his early toe which can only help his cause when he contests the Golden Jubilee on the final day of the meeting, a race in which he came a game third in 12 months ago.”

TAX FREE
5yo bay gelding; Tagula – Grandel
Trained by: David Nicholls
Form: 41113-48111
“Won small race at Leicester and Listed event at Goodwood in the space of four days last term and wasn’t disgraced when close third on his final outing of 2006. Returned much more like himself after a below-form trip to Dubai when winning a shade cosily at Thirsk in April and followed up at Newmarket next month by piping stable-mate Peace Offering by a short-head in Palace House Stakes. Showed arguably further improvement next time when turning over the well-regarded Dandy Man at Naas and is a must for the shortlist as he’s proven on all bar the most testing of conditions and normally isn’t far off the speed in his races.”