Jim Crowley: This filly is certainly no forlorn hope
Jockey and Coral ambassador Jim Crowley discusses the chances of his two rides at Royal Ascot on Friday.
Mostahdaf was absolutely brilliant on Wednesday! I’d hoped the race would pan out like that, with the American horse and Luxembourg making the running, and I could then sit off the pace and work my way into the race, but races rarely unfold as you hope, and the turn of foot he showed to put the race to bed did surprise me.
We have Anmaat for the Coral-Eclipse and Hukum for the King George, all being well, so it makes sense for Mostahdaf to be aimed at the Juddmonte International. Ten furlongs is his trip and obviously I’m excited to get on him again. I’m also delighted for Sheikha Hissa, she was there to see it, and we have another stallion prospect for Shadwell.
Wow… devastatingly good 😮
Mostahdaf cruises five lengths clear in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes 🥇
pic.twitter.com/VvfQifMbEI— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) June 21, 2023
I haven’t ridden this filly before, so she looks a lovely ride to have picked up. Having won her maiden as a two-year-old, she went on to be second in the Lowther and third in a Group Three at Ayr, so I can see why connections had a go at the 1,000 Guineas this season.
She just didn’t stay the mile at Newmarket, but that’s the great thing about the Commonwealth Cup, it means the three-year-olds can try the Guineas mile, and if they don’t stay, they have this sprint Group One as another target.
She has plenty of speed, we’re drawn next to Sakheer so there should be plenty of early pace, and trainer Kevin Ryan has already sent out Triple Time to win at a big price this week, so this filly is certainly no forlorn hope and could easily run well at a big price.
Ajero was second in this race 12 months ago. I wasn’t on board that day, but I was when he followed up by winning at Glorious Goodwood. He’s had a couple of runs so far this season, things didn’t pan out for him at York last time, and he lost a shoe, so I’d hope he can leave that behind him here.
He was rated 91 when we won at Goodwood and he’s five pounds higher now, so he’s not had much respite from the handicapper, but we know he goes well here, and if he can run to his best form, he would have an each-way chance at least.
Jim
