Novemba to rain at Ascot
WHEN the declarations were made for the Coronation Stakes (4.20pm) earlier in the week, I was desperately hoping that the German filly NOVEMBA would feature among the final field.
The challenges of travelling anywhere in the world at the moment are tough for all of us, but pale into insignificance when you consider the difficulties of moving a racehorse across post-Brexit Europe.
However, to my delight the German 1000 Guineas winner stood her ground and landed the ideal stall in one for a front runner on the round course.
She made every yard of the running in the German 1000 Guineas last month to run out an impressive seven and a half length winner in what was a good time.
If the rain does arrive that shouldn’t bother her as she proved she handles the surface as a two-year-old when a close second in a Baden-Baden Group Three.
Connections have stumped up the cash to supplement her and gone through the hassle of travelling her here.
She looks a rock-solid each bet at 12/1 with plenty of firms offering 4 places.
Of course, I have plenty of respect for Aidan O’Brien’s two fillies who bring Classic form to the table.
Mother Earth ran out an impressive winner of our 1000 Guineas and then ran a gutsy second in the French equivalent.
Empress Josephine won the Irish 1000 Guineas in bad ground so will relish any rain that falls.
Then there is Pretty Gorgeous who was the best of these as a juvenile and looked ring rusty behind Empress Josephine last time.
She is bound to step forward for that run and will certainly be a factor here.
If the rain doesn’t materialise then the likes of Snow Lantern and Primo Bacio come into this, but they definitely want a sound surface.
For that reason I will leave them out of my Quinella in the World Pool and go with Novemba, Mother Earth and Pretty Gorgeous.
POINTERS
Novemba e/w 4.20pm Royal Ascot
Quinella: Novemba, Mother Earth, Pretty Gorgeous