Racecards
15:45 Ascot
Longines Sagaro Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £60,000 added
- Winner: £34,026
- 2nd: £12,900
- 3rd: £6,456
- 4th: £3,216
- Form 60/3121-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 117
held up behind, smooth headway on outside over 2f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, ridden clear inside final furlong, comfortably
- Form 3/23112-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer W J Haggas
- Jockey G Baker
led, driven and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased inside final furlong
- Form 035016-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
held up in 4th, headway 3f out, challenged over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace in 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
- Form 3405-50
- Age 7
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey R L Moore
held up in rear, driven and outpaced over 2f out, never able to challenge
Earth Amber
21- Form 12/270-2
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Kieren Fallon
tracked leader, challenged 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner inside final furlong
- Form 28123-3
- Age 7
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer M Winters
- Jockey Richard Hughes
tracked leading pair, driven over 2f out, ridden and one pace over 1f out, no impression in 4th final furlong
- Form 2/4032-6
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
held up towards rear in touch, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, soon ridden and one pace, never on terms
Verdict
A race won by Estimate last year, who went on to beat Simenon in the Gold Cup here. The latter has every chance on that form as he returns from Meydan. Estimate later flopped in the Quipco Long Distance Cup over track and trip when Harris Tweed was only beaten a nose in soft ground. He'll prove tough to get past in this, but TAC DE BOISTRON is fancied to take up where he left off last year. Marco Botti's charge won the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak over 2m at Longchamp in October and is a leading contender for the top staying prizes this season, especially with some cut in the ground. Richard Hughes presence on Irish raider Missunited catches the eye but she has a bit to find with Harris Tweed on collateral form and also the selection on form in France. Oriental Fox steps up from handicaps while both Earth Amber and Cocktail Queen have a tough task at the weights.
Formwatch
Tac De Boistron (FR) 4-1fav (9-4) won at Longchamp(FR) 1m 7f Grp 1 (1) hvy in Oct beating Going Somewhere (9-2) by 5l, 15 ran.
Harris Tweed 8-1 (9-7) Led after 2f, driven over 1f out, stayed on well, edged left close home, caught post, 2nd of 12, ns behind Royal Diamond (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Oriental Fox (GER) 8-1 (9-10) Towards rear, driven 4f out, chased leaders under pressure 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 6th of 33, 5l behind Scatter Dice (8-8) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Simenon (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) last of 15, 8l behind Certerach (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 2m Grp 2 (1) gd in Mar.
Earth Amber 14-1 (8-10) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 5f out, led approaching final 3f, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, stayed on, always just held, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Flying Officer (8-12) at Nottingham 1m 6f Listed stks (1) sft.
Missunited (IRE) 4-9fav (9-8) Tracked leader in 2nd, led before halfway, pushed along and headed over 2f out, no impression in 3rd 1f out, kept on one pace, last of 3, 6l behind El Salvador (9-10) at Limerick 1m 4f stks hvy.
Cocktail Queen (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 9, 6l behind Cubanita (9-0) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gd.