2023 Royal Ascot Ante-Post E/W Double – DS
2023 Royal Ascot Ante-Post E/W Double
We had to make do with a solitary place at 20/1 on Saturday with Nomadic Empire. Onesmoothoperator should have placed too but he was given far too much to do. Mondammej broke well, arguably too well as I’d have preferred to see him dropped out. Alfa Moonstone ran a stinker and Loaded Gun got hampered close to home. Now, the focus switches to our 2023 Royal Ascot ante-post e/w double, find out who Dave Stevos is backing below.
Day 1 – Tuesday: King’s Stand Stakes (Group 1)
The horse I like in this contest was also entered in the QEII Jubilee, hence the delay in posting. She’s been left in the King’s Stand after forfeits today so presumably, the plan is to stick to 5f.
Formerly trained by Jack Davison, Mooniesta finished fourth in this race last year. She ran on really well in the closing stages after being dropped out in rear and while she was 5L behind the winner Nature Strip, she was only 0.75L behind Twilight Calls who finished in second.
The daughter of Dandy Man ran three times subsequently, on good when beat a short head by Ladies Church at the Curragh and then twice on soft in France when she was well beaten. Connections decided to cash in on their prized asset at the sales at the end of the season and she was sold for 800k.
Obvious Target
You would imagine that Mooniesta’s new owners will be aiming for G1 glory with their new purchase. This contest looks by far the most obvious target for her given her excellent run in 2022. Personally, I would have strongly considered running over 6f later in the week but she should get the breakneck gallop she needs over 5f in this race. Her best recent form has come on quick ground so hopefully, conditions should be ideal next week.
Last year she came into this after three prep runs so she should be fresher this time around after just one. That comeback run at the Curragh behind Ladies Church should have sharpened her up nicely and once the weather remains on the dry side, Mooniesta is more than capable of hitting the frame here at odds of 40/1.
2023 Royal Ascot ante-post tip: Mooniesta e/w @ 40/1
Day 5 – Saturday: Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Group 1)
My fancy for this sprint will be familiar to regular readers. We backed Run To Freedom in the Champions Sprint here last season and he ran an absolutely massive race to finish 2nd after drifting out to an incredible 150/1. He is back over a C&D he relishes for the first time this season and this son of Muhaarar is a G1 winner in waiting in my opinion.
Trained by Henry Candy, he was running over the wrong trips in his younger days. While he managed to win a novice and a handicap off 88 over 7f, he didn’t try 6f until his tenth career start as a 3yo. That resulted in a win off 90 at Kempton in October 2021 and he hasn’t looked back since. A short head defeat off 96 was his last run of 2021 and he embarked on a sprint campaign last season.
Learning The Game
It has taken Run To Freedom a while to learn how to run in these sprint races. He has a serious engine, a high cruising speed and a big turn of foot, the key has been getting him to utilise those abilities in the right way. He was keen when beat in a G3 on his return last term and then he landed a Listed race at Windsor when allowed to race more prominently.
On his first go in G1 company here last season he was only 3.25L behind the winner Naval Crown in 10th. He again raced prominently and he just couldn’t quicken in the last 150 yards. It was a fine debut effort at the top table. After a minor win at Salisbury and a poor run over 7f, he came back to Ascot in first time cheekpieces to run in the G3 Bengough Stakes.
New Tactics
This time David Probert dropped him out and his mount relished the new tactics. He cruised into contention and if anything, Probert got to the front too soon. Still, he finished an excellent fourth, just 2.5l behind the winner Rohaan and a length behind Commanche Falls in third. He reversed that Rohaan form in the Champions Sprint next time, finishing 2nd behind Kinross under similarly patient tactics.
This season he has run twice. A decent return in a class 2 conditions race at Haydock was followed by a Listed win at Salisbury (6f gd/fm) and this should be the first time he has his favoured fast ground in a G1 since the application of the cheekpieces.
Given that his four turf wins have come on good or quicker, his last two runs at Ascot probably deserve to be marked up as the ground was on the easy side. 20/1 looks a massive price about this 5yo and he is my idea of the e/w bet of the week at Royal Ascot.
