Thursday Royal Ascot Dark Horses by Dave Stevos
Thursday Royal Ascot Dark Horses
Now, it is time for Dave Stevos’ Thursday Royal Ascot Dark Horses. He has already posted three bets for Day 1 and two for Day 2. You can access those via the links at the bottom of this page. Find out who we are backing at big odds on Day 3 below.
King George V Stakes – Savvy Victory
I have my eye on three in the Norfolk but they are also entered in different races so I am going to hold fire on that race until decs. The first horse that appeals on Thursday is Savvy Victory in this 12f handicap. Trained by Sean Woods, we were on this horse at 25s last time out in a Listed contest at Newmarket (10f gd/fm). Rab Havlin rode and it wasn’t his finest hour. Only 6 ran but he managed to find lots of traffic problems.
Three furlongs out, no horse was travelling better than Savvy Victory. Havlin had him in behind horses and as he waited for the gaps to come, the first two quickened clear. Woods’ charge only found daylight after the 2f pole and he couldn’t reel in the two leaders. He kept on well to the line though and the step back up to 12f should suit.
Ground Should Suit
He tried that trip at Chester but the ground was soft. Yes, he won his maiden on easy ground but the majority of his turf form is on good or better. This son of New Bay wants a decent surface and he should get his ground, if the weather forecasters are right. His dam won her Group 2 in France on good (12f) and New Bay has a 24% strike rate with his progeny on good compared to 15% on soft.
So, is Savvy Victory well treated off 95? Well, I think he should have beaten Zain Saranda at Newmarket (1.25L behind) and he is rated 97. The winner Ottoman Fleet is 4/1 for the G2 King Edward so clearly, he is very highly regarded. If he goes and wins that, Savvy Victory will look absolutely chucked in off his current mark but unfortunately, that race isn’t on until after this. My main worry is this fella’s lack of big field experience but there are enough positives to warrant an e/w interest at 25/1. (Woods also has Savvy Knight entered so be careful when placing your bets).
Thursday Royal Ascot Dark Horses: Savvy Victory e/w @ 25/1
Britannia Stakes – Koy Koy
Andrew Balding runs Koy Koy in this 8f heat and he looks potentially well handicapped off 93. By Acclamation and out of a Dylan Thomas mare, it is a pedigree that has bundles of speed and stamina. This colt made a promising debut in a Salisbury novice behind Ribhi (6f gd). He came on plenty for that run next time at Ascot (7f gd). Yes, he could only finish 2nd but the winner had the benefit of previous experience and he finished 1.25L 2nd to Coroebus on his second start.
Next time at Newbury (7f gd) the penny well and truly dropped. Koy Koy bounced out, made all and hacked up by 6.5L. That form hasn’t exactly worked out but he could only beat what was in front of him. At Chester on his seasonal reappearance, Koy Koy ran a blinder off 90. He was bumped leaving the stalls, was keen all the way yet he finished off very well to grab 2nd behind Outgate.
The 5th in that race got to within 0.5L of Escobar off 1lb higher next time. Our selection was hiked up 3lbs but I think he could be still nicely treated. Not much went right at Chester and he still almost won and he should be much better suited to a track like Ascot. A stiff mile will be perfect and I’d expect him to be ridden forward. 25/1 looks a very big price about this promising colt and at those odds, he is worth backing e/w.
