George Boughey believes Bow Echo’s “best days are ahead of him” after he was among the confirmations today for a blockbuster renewal of the St James’s Palace Stakes, one of three G1 highlights on the opening day of Royal Ascot, Tuesday, 16th June.
Unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile, Bow Echo justified his lofty reputation with a dazzling comeback in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, in which he beat Gstaad by almost three lengths.
Gstaad is set to reoppose for Aidan O’Brien after franking the form with a dominant display in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, while Francis-Henri Graffard’s G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains victor Rayif hopes to become the first French-trained winner since Sendawar in 1999.
Further spice is added by the Charlie Appleby-trained Talk Of New York, who skipped the Classics in favour of the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown Park, which he won emphatically by five and a half lengths.
Speaking at a media morning organised by Ascot Racecourse, Boughey said: “We were hopeful that Bow Echo would be competitive in the Guineas, but for him to put on the show that he did was a bit of a surprise to us. He took the race well and, within a couple of days, he needed to be back out and in full work. I think he has taken a notable step forward.
“We have always been very comfortable with his training, but he has looked an improved physical in the mornings, while his work has undoubtedly got stronger. This is the time of year where the [Classic] generation is changing. Horses will be improving and it will be a question of who is improving the fastest.
“It was interesting when we worked Bow Echo on the July Course the other day. It was Good to Soft ground, possibly on the softer side of that, and I was apprehensive the night before. In the end, he was electric. He is a stronger model now and able to cope with slower conditions. He is an unbeaten Guineas winner but, for me, it looks like his best days are ahead of him.
“To have the three Guineas winners in the St James’s Palace Stakes and Charlie Appleby’s horse as the fourth string, it will make for a pretty big spectacle on day one. Gstaad probably has to rate as the main danger, although the French form with Rayif is an unknown quantity.
“I thought the Heron Stakes winner was impressive. There was a big rep on the horse in the spring. I hope they go that gallop again next week because that would suit us, which I think they will because they want that horse to relax.”
Billy Loughnane, who has partnered Night Of Thunder colt Bow Echo in all of his starts to date, added: “He is showing all the right signs. He did a real nice piece of work on Friday. He is strengthening up all the time and I think there is more maturing to come as the year goes on. He has such a beautiful mind and takes everything in his stride.
“I am not worried about the different test at Ascot in terms of track, while I am excited to take the other horses on. Gstaad was good in Ireland after Newmarket, where I don’t think he did much wrong either. Talk Of New York is something of an unknown – he is an imposing horse who was very impressive at Sandown. You also have the French horse to consider as well.
“I am looking forward to seeing what draw we get, as then we will be able to work out more of a plan. The St James’s Palace Stakes has the makings of a great race – this is what you want at Royal Ascot – and hopefully Bow Echo is good enough to win it.”
Boughey also issued updates on his other leading hopes for Royal Ascot, including progressive sprinter Rosy Affair, who bids to give Oaks-winning owner Shapoor Mistry another major success in the G1 King Charles III Stakes.
The trainer said: “Rosy Affair drops back to five furlongs on Tuesday. I have been wanting to do that for a while because she shows loads of pace at home. The quickest we have ever had a horse go over five furlongs was her yesterday. She used to miss the kick but, now she is a five-year-old, she has learnt how to sprint.
“Survie goes for the Wolferton Stakes. It is not typically a race for the fillies but, with the Hoppings Stakes and Pretty Polly Stakes being so close, I feel it looks a nice spot for her. She stepped terribly from the gate and hated the track in the Dahlia Stakes. She missed the kick at Kempton the time before as well, so we have worked intensely with the Withefords on her stalls work and she seems so much better now.
“Protection Act is progressing in his work. We left him in the St James’s Palace Stakes, but he is going to go for the Hampton Court Stakes. Nobody knows, me included, quite what level he is up to. He has a brilliant mind for the game and was only just ready to start at Goodwood, when he beat a horse who was subsequently third in the Irish Guineas. I wish he had come to hand a little sooner in the spring and he has certainly improved for the run.
“In terms of the juveniles, Libertango worked nicely this morning. She was a good winner against the boys at Leicester on debut and will go for the Albany Stakes. Byzantine won at Yarmouth, perhaps fortuitously, but his work had been good and he could go for the Chesham. Havana Lightning, a nice filly by Havana Grey, also won at Yarmouth and could go for the Queen Mary.”
US trainer Wesley Ward goes in search of a 13th Royal Ascot success, with his seven-strong team featuring G1 Commonwealth Cup contender Outfielder and five juvenile fillies.
A close fourth behind some accomplished rivals in last season’s G1 Prix Morny, Outfielder has returned this year with a pair of authoritative Stakes victories at Turfway Park and Churchill Downs.
Blake Heap, assistant to Ward, said: “All the horses shipped well and everything is going good. Some of them had a nice breeze today, while others did the same yesterday. It feels like we have a pretty good team this year.
“Outfielder did not get to come to Royal Ascot last year as he had a little issue with a shin, so the timing was not right, but everything has gone perfect for him this year. He is a good-minded horse, so the occasion should be no trouble to him. He knows what is going on.
“Ez Tina is doing very well. She scratched her leg in the swimming pool, which we are keeping an eye on. It has not healed up completely, although it does not seem to bother her. Her work yesterday was awesome – she outworked Outfielder. To me, that piece of work would be pretty hard to beat.
“Ruiva is a beautiful filly – she has a great head on her. She won on the dirt first time out, but we worked her on the turf at Keeneland alongside Fanshell Beach and they both worked great. They worked on the outside of the turf course and clocked a very fast time.
“Ruiva worked with Shining Moment this morning and both fillies breezed well. Shining Moment has had two races and looked real professional last time at Churchill Downs. In her debut at Keeneland, she went fast early with another filly and then Tom Morley’s filly [More Champagne] came to beat them.
“I thought Fanshell Beach and Through The Years worked nicely today. They had a little head-to-head, which is what we wanted. Through The Years won great up in New York [at Aqueduct]. One trainer thought their runner in the race was a champion – he was really excited – but she beat them easily.
“Bacio is a wild man as he is always full of himself. He is doing as good as he can be. He is going for the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes.”
Zac Lloyd, rising star of the Australian weighing room, is set to have his first rides at Royal Ascot. The 22-year-old was Sydney’s Champion Apprentice in successive seasons and has already notched six G1 victories, including the coveted Golden Slipper on Guest House earlier this year.
Lloyd said: “I know a couple of people here – Billy Loughnane and David Egan – so they have welcomed me. It is a new experience, which I am really enjoying, particularly observing the way things are done up here.
“I sat on Fanshell Beach this morning, who is likely to go for the Queen Mary Stakes. It was great to meet Wesley’s assistant trainer, Blake, and find out how Americans like to do things. They think she has a nice chance, so I am looking forward to getting on her.
“Riding up here cannot do you any harm, whether you do well or not. I will certainly take something from it either way. Kerrin McEvoy, Craig Williams and James McDonald all did it – and they are three of the top guys in Australia. It is nice to follow the same path while expanding your horizons a bit.”