Racecards
15:40 Ascot
Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 3f 211y
- Going: Good (Good to Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £225,000 added
- Winner: £127,598
- 2nd: £48,375
- 3rd: £24,210
- 4th: £12,060
- Form 125-714
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey F Norton
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along 3f out, switched left over 2f out, weakened soon after, lost shoe
- Form 202-421
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer R Varian
- Jockey Andrea Atzeni
held up in 6th on outside, pushed along 3f out, switched left and headway towards outside over 2f out, 2nd inside final 2f, went right and led over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well
- Form 36/0131-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer C Appleby
- Jockey James Doyle
stumbled badly leaving stalls and almost unseated rider, then took keen hold in last pair, headway when forced wide on home turn, soon bumped and chased leaders 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 52120-1
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey P J Dobbs
tracked leader, led going well 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, chased winner, held when lost 2nd final 100 yards
- Form 0521-18
- Age 6
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey S De Sousa
raced keenly, tracked leaders on outside, pushed along 3f out, hung right from over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 3144-13
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer V Luka Jnr
- Jockey C Soumillon
badly hampered start, held up and behind, headway on outside over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on into 2nd final 100 yards, not reach winner
- Form 4369-13
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer S Kirk
- Jockey Oisin Murphy
led, pushed along and headed 2f out, soon lost 2nd, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
- Form 2437-32
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey R L Moore
held up in 5th on inside, no real impression when hung right from over 2f out, weakened
- Form 1123-16
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey L Dettori
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Masar is having his first run since landing last year’s Derby at Epsom. He reportedly impressed in a recent racecourse gallop but is facing battle-hardened rivals who are also mostly proven at the highest level. Mirage Dancer probably has a little to find but his yard has won two of the last three runnings with similar types and have already had a winner in one of the big middle-distance races this week. Southern France won the Queen’s Vase here last year and was later third in the St Leger. He ran Stradivarius to under a length in the Yorkshire Cup last month and has every chance on that form, though may find a couple of these have more speed. DEFOE pounced late to beat Kew Gardens in the Coronation Cup at Epsom when several of today’s rivals were behind. That announced his arrival on the big stage and he can follow up here if the gaps come in time again.
Formwatch
Communique (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, lost 2nd inside final 2f, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 7 1/2l behind Defoe (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in May.
Defoe (IRE) 11-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up in last pair, good headway on inside over 3f out, soon tracking leaders, went between horses over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, led final 110 yards, stayed on strongly, won at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in May beating Kew Gardens (9-0) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Masar (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Held up in mid-division and always travelling well, smooth headway on outside 3f out, led 2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jun beating Dee Ex Bee (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Mirage Dancer 4-6fav (9-1) Held up in 4th, closer in 3rd halfway, led on inside travelling strongly inside final 2f, pushed clear over 1f out, comfortably, won at Goodwood 1m 4f lst stks (1) gf in May beating Danehill Kodiac (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Morando (FR) 8-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along 5f out, soon lost place, weakened, 8th of 9, 15 1/2l behind Defoe (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in May.
Nagano Gold (8-13) 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Petit Fils (8-13) at Longchamp 1m 4f Grp 3 stks gs in May.
Salouen (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, plugged on in 3rd, 3rd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Defoe (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in May.
Southern France (IRE) 11-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, hard pressed over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, held final 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Stradivarius (9-4) at York 1m 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in May.
Lah Ti Dar 11-4fav (8-11) Raced keenly, tracked leaders until lost place and pushed along on downhill run, last and struggling over 3f out, modest 6th towards finish, 6th of 9, 14l behind Defoe (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in May.