Royal Ascot Saturday - Over And Out

And so, we have the final day of Royal Ascot for 2025, though worry not racing fans, we have plenty more top quality racing coming over the months ahead. Before then, let’s see if we can sign off with another winner or two, starting in the Chesham Stakes over seven furlongs at 2.30pm where we see the two different ends of the buying power spectrum  – with Jack Jones 8,000gns yearling Zooter taking on Treanmore, who cost Godolphin €2,000,000. Much as I would love the little guy to win this, I am afraid it’s the “boys in blue” who look the likelier to come out on top after the son of Frankel won by four lengths on his only start at Newmarket, with trainer Charlie Appleby saying after the race that …” there should be an abundance of improvement to come”. If that is the case he oud be as pretty special colt, but this is a big race and he has the likes of Monets Of Joy and Humidity in opposition, who could make him pull out all the stops.      

Treanmore 2.30pm Royal Ascot

Ka Ying Rising - not at Ascot but the horse who followed him home is!

Value is looking particularly hard to come by this Saturday with the bookmakers tighter than a drum on most races, but at 5/1 or so I am happy to take an each way chance on Satono Reve in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs at 3.40pm. Lazzat is not passed over lightly, but the suggestion is a true international having won eight times, the latest at Chukyo (Japan) in the Grade One Takamatsunomiya Kinen in late March. The six-year-old son of six-time Grade One winner Lord Kanaloa has had one race since when second to Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong, considered by many to be the best sprinter on the planet, and if he can repeat that level on his first start outside of the Far East, then he would be a force to reckon with under Joao “Magic Man” Moreira, one of the greatest jockeys of recent years.      

Satono Reve Each Way 3.40pm Royal Ascot

Saracen looks an interesting each way option ahead of the Jersey Stakes at 4.20pm and a look at his form tells me he has a decent chance of hitting the frame at the very least. An easy maiden winner on debut for Joseph O’Brien when coming home four lengths clear of Pickersgill, he returned for the season at Newbury when third in the Group Three Greenham Stakes in April, beaten by Jonquil and Rashabar at the line after hitting a flat spot before running on when the race was over. The winner went on to be beaten a head in the French 2000 Guineas (Group One) at Longchamp, while the runner-up was fourth in both the Irish 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes, both Group Ones, suggesting the form has a way above average look to it. Lightly raced, he is entitled to come on for the run and lest we forget, this is a Group Three and his form has a Group One look about it.

Saracen Each Way 4.20pm Royal Ascot