Final Song eyes G1 glory at Royal Ascot meet
- 18 Jun 2021
Final Song aims for another bold showing over six furlongs when she tackles the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes on the fifth and final day of Royal Ascot on Saturday.
Last year’s G1 1,000 Guineas fourth has proved a revelation over sprint trips this year, winning the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint on Super Saturday at Meydan and finishing a half-length second at the same course in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup Night.
The Saeed Bin Suroor-trained filly, who is ridden by Frankie Dettori, faded to ninth after breaking slowly on her European return in the six-furlong G2 Duke Of York Stakes at York in mid-May.
Saeed Bin Suroor said: “Final Song ran some very good races out in Dubai over the winter but we were disappointed with her at York.
“She looks in good form at the moment, with the way she has been working in the mornings and how she looks. She has won on soft ground before, so conditions shouldn’t be an issue, and we are looking for another good run.”
Three Godolphin contenders for the G3 Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs include this year’s G1 2,000 Guineas fourth Naval Crown (William Buick).
His trainer Charlie Appleby is also responsible for Creative Force (James Doyle), who steps up in distance following three wins over six furlongs this season, most recently scoring by three lengths in a Newbury Listed race.
Storm Damage (Andrea Atzeni) made an exciting introduction at Kempton Park earlier this month, readily taking a seven-furlong novice contest, and the son of Night Of Thunder runs in the same race for Saeed bin Suroor.
Appleby said: “Naval Crown produced an excellent run in the 2,000 Guineas and dropping back to seven furlongs will suit. A repeat of his Newmarket performance should make him a leading contender.
“Creative Force has proved very consistent over six furlongs so far this season and heads into this in good order. He won with some cut in the ground at Newbury last time and we are hopeful with his breeding that he will stay this distance.”
Suroor said: “Storm Damage won nicely at Kempton and has improved for that race. This is a much tougher task but it is the right trip and we will see how he goes at this level.”
New Science (William Buick) bids to follow-up a winning debut in the seven-furlong Listed Chesham Stakes. The Appleby-trained juvenile made all as he comfortably took a Yarmouth maiden over the same distance on Friday, 28 May.
Appleby said: “New Science won well at Yarmouth and improved mentally for the experience. Ground conditions will obviously be very different here but his pedigree suggests he might be fine on it.”
Listed runner-up Raaeb (Jim Crowley) goes for Saeed bin Suroor in one of the most competitive sprint handicaps in the UK, the six-furlong Wokingham.
Global Heat (Oisin Murphy) was beaten a short-head by Volcanic Sky in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy in February and the Saeed bin Suroor-trained stayer tries the marathon distance of an extended two miles and five furlongs in the Queen Alexandra Stakes.
Tamborrada is a non-runner the Golden Gates Handicap due to the ground.
Clean Slate eyes Unicorn Stakes spoils
Improving three-year-old colt Clean Slate looks to continue his unbeaten start to 2021 on his G3 debut in the Unicorn Stakes over a mile on dirt at Tokyo on Sunday.
The Discreet Cat homebred, who is trained by Takashi Kubota and ridden by Hironobu Tanabe, posted a decisive win in a Nakayama maiden in January before quickening strongly from the rear to take a mile allowance race at Tokyo in May.
Meanwhile, G1-placed filly Soft Fruit bids to follow up a recent Stakes victory when she steps back up in class for the G3 Mermaid Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Hanshin, Japan, on Sunday.
