Racecards
15:40 Ascot
Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £225,000 added
- Winner: £127,598
- 2nd: £48,375
- 3rd: £24,210
- 4th: £12,060
- Form 5112-1
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer D R Lanigan
- Jockey G Baker
led, clear 2f out, pressed over 1f out, headed 1f out, kept on same pace in 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with leading duo but kept on for clear 3rd
- Form 13130-1
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer Mrs A J Perrett
- Jockey P J Dobbs
tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out
- Form 1153-11
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey O Peslier
held up in mid-division, smooth headway on outside over 2f out, tracked leading pair inside final 2f, challenged in 2nd approaching final furlong, led 1f out, stayed on gamely
- Form 11413-1
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey R L Moore
held up in mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened inside final 2f
- Form 1531-48
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey J A Heffernan
took keen hold early, soon settled in 4th, effort on outside in 3rd over 2f out, soon edged right, went 2nd and rider dropped whip 2f out, every chance 1f out, chased winner hung right and stayed on throughout final furlong, always just held
- Form 84312-1
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer R Varian
- Jockey Andrea Atzeni
held up towards rear, ridden and headway on outside into modest 4th over 1f out, no chance with leading trio
- Form 14233-2
- Age 7
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey W Buick
slowly away, in rear, went moderate 6th in closing stages
- Form 36153-1
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey James Doyle
held up in last trio, pushed along 3f out, switched left over 2f out, soon one pace and no real headway, ridden and beaten inside final 2f, went modest 5th approaching final furlong
- Form 1111-24
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer R M Beckett
- Jockey Oisin Murphy
took keen hold early, soon tracking leader, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and lost 2nd 2f out, ridden inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out
- Form 42230-4
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey L Dettori
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Sir Michael Stoute looks to add to his tally of six wins in the last 10 runnings and has strong claims of doing so with EXOSPHERE. He beat Simple Verse four lengths in the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on his first start over 1m4f and there should be more to come over today’s trip. Stablemate Dartmouth is also still improving having won a couple of Group 3 races this year and Beautiful Romance is another on the up having landed a Group 2 at York on her reappearance. Eagle Top found one too good in last season’s renewal before going close in the King George here. He was also behind Astronereus at Newbury last time but the much travelled Highland Reel has won Group 1’s at Arlington and Sha Tin and is not out of this. Wicklow Brave was beaten by Dartmouth at Chester last month, Mount Logan was behind Exosphere last season and Almodovar has his first start in pattern company.
Formwatch
Almodovar (IRE) 4-1 (9-7) Made virtually all, quickened clear well over 1f out, edged left, ran on strongly, impressive, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (3) pol in May beating Sarsted (8-11) by 6l, 11 ran.
Astronereus (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Tracked leading pair, quickened between horses and went 2nd 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, readily, won at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May beating Ayrad (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Dartmouth Evensfav (9-3) Made all, set steady pace until quickened tempo 3f out, ridden and strongly pressed final furlong, stayed on gamely, won at Chester 1m 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May beating Wicklow Brave (9-0) by nk, 5 ran.
Exospheric 17-2 (9-0) Travelled strongly, close up, headway 2f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on, comfortable, won at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Apr beating Simple Verse (9-2) by 4l, 6 ran.
Highland Reel (IRE) (9-0) 8th of 13, 10 1/2l behind Werther (9-0) at Sha Tin 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) Yielding in Apr.
Mount Logan (IRE) 2-1 (9-0) Tracked leading pair, ridden to challenge over 1f out, upsides entering final furlong, stayed on to lead final 150 yards, held on, won at Goodwood 1m 4f lst stks (1) gd in May beating Sweeping Up (8-9) by nk, 6 ran.
Wicklow Brave 4-1 (9-0) Held up tracking leaders, headway and switched left to inside over 1f out, ridden to challenge when rider dropped whip inside final furlong, finished well into 2nd towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 5, nk behind Dartmouth (9-3) at Chester 1m 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May.
Beautiful Romance 5-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 2nd 2f out, soon ridden to challenge, led 1f out, stayed on well, in command in closing stages, won at York 1m 2f Grp 2 fll stks (1) gf in May beating Koora (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Simple Verse (IRE) 5-1 (8-11) Held up in 5th, pushed along and unable to quicken over 3f out, headway on outside over 2f out, went 4th entering final 2f, no impression when edged left final furlong, 4th of 8, 7 1/2l behind Postponed (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gs in Jun.
Eagle Top 4-6fav (9-0) Took keen hold, slowly into stride, held up last, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden and no response over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 5 1/2l behind Astronereus (9-0) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May.