The highlight on the final day of Royal Ascot is the Golden Jubilee Stakes, a six furlong sprint. Fifteen have been declared, although this evening it looks as though the Australian runner Takeover Target won't line up. At the time of writing the market is dominated by two runners; Sacred Kingdom from Hong Kong and JJ The Jet Plane from South Africa. Intriguingly they're drawn right next to each other in stalls eight and nine. Connections of Sacred Kingdom have stumped up £45,000 to take part in this, so I guess they think they have a chance... It's JJ The Jet Plane for me, although I note that the market hasn't proved a very reliable guide in the past ten years with no favourites obliging, and second favourites only collecting twice.
In the Hardwicke I looked into taking on favourite Doctor Freemantle with Campanologist but decided to resist temptation. Course and distance winner Campanologist is top on official ratings but Godolphin haven't had a particularly good Ascot and the horse ran some way off his best on his seasonal debut when eighth of twelve in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown. I'll watch with interest but keep what little money I have left in my pocket.
Having said that, I do like to have an interest in the finale, the Queen Alexandra Stakes, which is run over two and three quarter miles - I'm pretty certain this is the longest race of the entire meeting. What a fantastic horse Nicky Henderson's twelve-year-old Caracciola is! Having won the Cesarewitch last autumn at odds of 50/1, he was sent hurdling over the winter months and then, reverting back to the Flat, he collected the listed Grand Cup at York three short weeks ago. He will relish the fast ground here but faces a stiff task giving the rest of the field at least five pounds. Bulwark isn't one to trust implicitly but would be right there if in the mood which brings me back to Amerigo and Halla San. On Chester Cup form there's little between the two; I take the view that Halla San looks likely to stay while Amerigo isn't certain to. At the prices, Halla San offers the better value and with the stable is in such good form, Halla San is the selection.
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5/2 favourite JJ The Jet Plane broke well and led going to the two furlong pole but kept on the same pace from thereon in, finishing fourth behind the fast-finishing 20/1 winner Art Connoisseur. Cannonball was a neck away in second and Lesson In Humility (33/1), who apppeared to take the preliminaries as well as anything in the field, an excellent third.
Several people obviously had the same idea as me about Campanologist, the difference being they put their money up as the horse was sent off 2/1 favourite. Dettori sent his charge on two out to win the race but he was run down in the final furlong by 8/1 chance Bronze Cannon.
A poor effort from Halla San (5/1)in the finale, being badly outpaced three from home and trailing in seventh of the ten runners. This went to old timer Caracciola (6/1) who put put another incredible performance, being in total command as they came to the furlong pole. His stable companion Tasheba was sent off 100/30f but came home fourth.
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