Racecards
15:45 Ascot
St James's Palace Stakes (group 1) (Class 1)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £250,000 added
- Form 821-306
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey C O'Donoghue
chased leaders in 4th, pushed along 4f out, ridden 3f out, weakened quickly over 2f out
- Form 215-128
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer B J Meehan
- Jockey J Fortune
held up in touch, good headway on inside well over 2f out, tracked leading pair 2f out, switched left over 1f out, soon challenging, took narrow lead inside final furlong, kept on well until headed final 75 yards and held near finish
Evasive
45- Form 311-6
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey R L Moore
held up in rear, headway 2f out, ridden and switched left over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to challenge leaders
- Form 56331-2
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey K J Manning
held up, came wide into straight, effort on inside and hung right from over 2f out, soon one pace and weakened final furlong
- Form 23512-0
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer K R Burke
- Jockey Jim Crowley
tracked leaders, chased winner and every chance 2f out, still pressing leaders over 1f out, not pace of front pair inside final furlong
- Form 1114-51
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
tracked leader, led over 2f out, hard ridden 2f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, rallied gamely and stayed on under strong pressure to regain lead final 75 yards
- Form 1514-3
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey L Dettori
held up in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out
- Form 10-1372
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
took keen hold, held up in rear, switched left and driven on wide outside over 2f out, no impression
- Form 6184-40
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey J A Heffernan
pushed along and soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened rapidly and soon eased
- Form 41110-3
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Richard Hughes
close up on outer, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out, eased when no chance over 1f out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
MASTERCRAFTSMAN was back to his brilliant best when landing the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh last month and is given the vote to win another Group 1 to land the St James's Palace Stakes ahead of Delegator and Evasive. The selection was rated the best two year old around last season winning four times including two Group 1 races and a Group 2. He came unstuck at Longchamp on his last outing as a two year old and was no match for Sea The Stars in the English 2000 Guineas. He was however good enough to win the Irish equivalent and if he can recapture that form he will be difficult to beat. Delegator set tongues wagging when landing the Craven Stakes at Newmarket in April. He ran a great race to finish second to Sea The Stars in the Guineas but disappointed in heavy conditions at the Curragh behind the selection last time out. Jimmy Fortune has replaced Jamie Spencer who had been criticised for his riding of the horse in the past and with conditions now back in his favour he warrants plenty of respect. Evasive improved into a tidy two year old last season and was not discredited to finish sixth in the Guineas last month but he will need to improve if he is to trouble the market leaders. Mastercraftsman won well last time and now confidence has been restored he can land another Group 1 race.
Formwatch
Born To Be King (USA) 8-1 (8-10) Led, headed after 2 1/2f out, 2nd halfway, 4th 3f out, ridden in 5th 2f out, no extra, 6th of 8, 11l behind Deauville Vision (9-6) at Curragh 1m 2f Listed stks gd.
Delegator 3-1 (9-0) Well off pace towards rear, closed 3f out, ridden under 2f out, soon no impression and no extra in 4th from over 1f out, 8th of 9, 18l behind Mastercraftsman (9-0) at Curragh 1m 3yo Grp 1 hvy in May.
Evasive 13-2 (9-0) With leader, led 3f out, headed over 1f out, soon short of room and switched right, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Sea The Stars (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 3yo (1) gf in May.
Intense Focus (USA) Evensfav (9-3) Tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd on outer halfway, smooth headway to challenge early straight, led 1 1/2f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, headed 100 yards from finish, no extra close home, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Recharge (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 3yo Grp 3 gd in Mar.
Lord Shanakill (USA) 14-1 (9-0) Broke well, soon steadied, raced keenly, held up, effort over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened 2f out, 12th of 15, 17l behind Sea The Stars (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 3yo (1) gf in May.
Mastercraftsman (IRE) 6-4fav (9-0) Soon chased leaders in 3rd, closed in 2nd from 3f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, clear from over 1f out, stayed on well, impressive, won at Curragh 1m 3yo Grp 1 hvy in May beating Rayeni (9-0) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Orizaba (IRE) 9-2 (8-10) 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Oiseau De Feu (8-10) at Chantilly(FR) 1m stk gs.
Pure Poetry (IRE) 6-1 (8-10) With leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, battled on gamely when hard pressed throughout final furlong, headed near finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Premio Loco (9-8) at Goodwood 1m Listed stks (1) gd in May.
Set Sail (IRE) (9-2) 15th of 17, 29l behind Le Havre (9-2) at Chantilly(FR) 1m 2f stk gs.
Soul City (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Chased leader, close 5th from 3f out, no impression under pressure from under 2f out, kept on same pace without threatening from over 1f out, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Mastercraftsman (9-0) at Curragh 1m 3yo Grp 1 hvy in May.