Racecards
15:05 Ascot
Hardwicke Stakes (group 2) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f
- Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 3121-62
- Age 8
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey Dean McKeown
tracked leading pair, 3rd and ridden early straight, weakened final furlong
- Form 5124-36
- Age 7
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey M Dwyer
led after 2f, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out
- Form 1212-12
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey Richard Hughes
held up in 6th, 5th straight, effort to chase leading pair when not much room over 1f out, one pace final furlong and lost 3rd final 100 yards
Enforcer
22- Form 21-6453
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer W R Muir
- Jockey Kerrin McEvoy
took keen hold, held up in last pair, 7th straight, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on to take 3rd final 100yd, never able to challenge
- Form 5/115-75
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey Mick Kinane
pulled hard, reluctant leader for 2f, tracked leader after but still pulling, led approaching 2f out, soon hung right, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 333-731
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey R Hills
dwelt, took keen hold early and held up in 5th, 6th straight, headway to track leading pair over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well
- Form 3140-12
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey Kieren Fallon
keen hold, tracked leading pair, 4th straight, ridden to lead over 1f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, stayed on under pressure
- Form 6272-45
- Age 9
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey A Munro
held up in last pair, last and driven along straight, moderate headway but no chance
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Shawanda can stamp her class on this race, with Mountain High, Maraahel and Day Flight out to give her a test in this Group 2 contest. Although Godolphin have yet to make any impact at all in the big league this season, that could be all about to change as Shawanda makes her first appearance for the boys in blue. The daughter of Sinndar captured two Group 1's, the Irish Oaks and Prix Vermaille when trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, and only came unstuck when sixth in the Arc. She has thrived in Dubai, and if Godolphin are to make up for lost time and rack up a few Group races, she is the one to help them do it. Mountain High, Hard Top and Maraahel all represent Sir Michael Stoute, the latter bidding to go one better than when second to another of today's rivals, Bandari 12 months ago. Fallon partners Mountain High who needs to step up a gear from his Goodwood Listed second to Blue Monday, while Maraahel limbered up by beating just three opponents in a Chester Group 3. Last year's winner Bandari has been way out of form, but Enforcer proved that he is capable of lining up at this level when third to Shirocco in the Coronation Cup at Epsom. He may stay on to fight for a place along with Day Flight, but they and the rest have it to do against the class animal here Shawanda.
Formwatch
Collier Hill 22-1 (8-11) Close up, challenged 3f out, kept on well, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Heart's Cry (8-11) at Nad Al Sheba 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) std in Mar.
Bandari (IRE) 9-4 (9-5) Led, took field to stand's side in straight, headed 2f out, weakening when soon squeezed out and immediately beaten, last of 6, 8l behind Notnowcato (9-3) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) sft in May.
Day Flight (8-11) Led to over 1f out, kept on when headed, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Arcadio (8-11) at Baden-Baden 1m 3f Grp 2 (1) sft in May.
Enforcer 66-1 (9-0) Held up, stayed on to chase leading pair just inside final furlong, ran on to press for 2nd near finish, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Shirocco (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd.
Hard Top (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) Mid-division, stayed on late, 5th of 10, 7l behind Policy Maker (8-11) at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Maraahel (IRE) 4-11fav (9-0) Slowly into stride, headway to lead after 1f, headed over 7f out, led again over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Chester 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf in May beating Counsel's Opinion (9-0) by 3l, 4 ran.
Mountain High (IRE) 10-11fav (8-12) Tracked leader, led 2f out, headed just inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Blue Monday (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 2f lst stk (1) sft in May.
Self Defense 6-1 (8-12) In touch on outer, effort to chase leaders 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 9, 9l behind Akarem (9-1) at Ascot 1m 4f lst stk (1) sft in May.
Shawanda (IRE) 3-1 (8-8) In touch, slipped through to lead 3f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 6th of 15, 6l behind Hurricane Run (8-11) at Longchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.