Group 1 Treble for Royal Ascot Opener

This afternoon in the UK sees the opening of the traditional Royal Ascot week, with the meeting boasting three Group 1 events. First of the trio is the Queen Anne Stakes run over 8 furlongs where Palace Pier is likely to prove the week’s shortest-priced favourite at $1.40. By boom Invincible Spirit sire-son Kingman, Palace Pier has won 7 of his 8 starts, including three at the elite level, but will have to be at his very best to match the 11-length margin put up by Frankel (Galileo) in the Queen Anne when he tackles last year’s Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Order of Australia (Australia). Just over an hour later, it’s the turn of the sprinters when $3.00 chance Battash (Dark Angel) attempts to defend his King’s Stand (5 furlongs) title. This is his first start in 2021 after going undefeated last year. Last, but not least, a 13-strong field of 3YOs is headed by the Jim Bolger-trained Poetic Flare (Dawn Approach) in the Gr1 St James’s Palace Stakes (8 furlongs). Raced by Bolger's wife, Poetic Flare is a luke-warm $4.50 favourite ahead of Shadwell Estate’s Frankel colt Mostahdaf and Ballydoyle’s Battleground (War Front), a veritable blueblood out of celebrated Galileo mare Found.