Royal Rhyme

Royal Rhyme only finished fifth of 10 behind Auguste Rodin in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, but it might be worthwhile keeping him on side as we move more deeply into the season.

Smartly away from his inside draw, Karl Burke’s horse was prominent from early, leading the main group of runners at a fast pace behind the two pace-setters Snobbish and Hans Andersen.  He moved to the front early in the home straight but, while he travelled well at that point, the hold-up horses were assembling behind him.  He wasn’t helped when Auguste Rodin headed him and moved across onto the rail in front of him but, while he weakened inside the final furlong as the two French horses moved into second and third, he was only just caught by Alflaila for fourth place.

It was a fine run by the Lope De Vega colt on ground that should have been faster than ideal for him.  A seriously progressive individual last season as a three-year-old, he will be of heightened interest when the ground gets easier as we move into the autumn.  He has run six times on ground described as good to soft or softer, and he has won five times, his only defeat under those conditions coming in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last October.

Ascot, 19th June 2024

© Sportinglife.com 24th June, 2024