Duke Of Cambridge Stakes Guide 2022

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 15:20
5(6)
Ryan Moore

Mother Earth

J: Ryan Moore
T: A P O'Brien
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-2
OR: 111
Days: 32

Heading the betting for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien, Mother Earth only scored once as a 2 year old but did so in fine fashion.

Despite being beaten over the minimum trip by the speedy Frenetic, she moved up in trip and scored a group 3 handily over 6 furlongs.

She failed to win in the rest of the season but shaped nicely in some deep contests. Notably going close in the Fillies’ Juvenile Turf at Keeneland to be 2nd.

She returned to racing as a 3 year old in fine form and won the 1000 Guineas convincingly. A few placed efforts followed at group 1 level before scoring again at Deauville to record another big success.

Her season tailed off after that however and she failed to live with the colts and geldings at the end of the campaign.
Returning to racing in fine form as a 4 year old saw her score a group 3 on return against her own sex before being well put in her place by Baaeed in the Lockinge.

She’s better against her own sex and has the best form in the field.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 15:20
4(2)
Mickael Barzalona

Kennella

J: Mickael Barzalona
T: N Caullery
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-2
OR: 106
Days: 31

Trained over in France, Kennella had a busy season as a 2 year old trying to break her maiden. It took 7 attempts for her to get off the mark but after a string of 2nd placed efforts she finally got her head in front on deep ground at Deauville over 6 furlongs.

Held well upped to group company on her last outing as a juvenile, she has been campaigned at a decent level since. Being beaten in group races last season she fared well in group 1 and group 2 company over a mile to be placed both times.

Two efforts in listed company have come since but she’s been outpaced over 7 furlongs. Going back up to a mile will suit but she’ll have to improve on what she’s shown recently to get involved.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 15:20
8(4)
Daniel Tudhope

Thunder Beauty

J: Daniel Tudhope
T: David O'Meara
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-2
OR: 97
Days: 24

David O’Meara’s Thunder Beauty finds herself at the foot of the betting here. Starting life with Kevin Condon. Winning a maiden she went straight for group one company but failed to step up in grade.

She failed as a 3 year old to score for Condon however. Tried in listed company and group races, her form took a serious dip before she moved yards.

The move didn’t immediately trigger improvement and she was beaten in a handicap before a much better outing in listed company.

In both her outings this season she’s run ok in decent races. Coming 3rd in a group 3 over 7 furlongs at Lingfield before a 4th placed effort in a group 2 over a mile at the Curragh.

She looks like she’ll be well outclassed here.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 15:20
7(1)
Richard Kingscote

Primo Bacio

J: Richard Kingscote
T: Ed Walker
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-2
OR: 108
Days: 46

It took Primo Bacio four attempts to break her maiden. Trying over 6 furlongs and 7 furlongs she finally broke her maiden over the latter in a low level event at Lingfield.

Sent off at a massive 100/1 for the Nell Gwyn stakes, she outran those odds to be a decent 4th place. Moved up to a mile after that she scored a listed race with plenty in hand.

Sent for loftier targets after that she struggled in deeper waters and struggled to get seriously involved in group races.

Sent off favourite for a listed event at Goodwood on comeback, she failed to beat a rival home and weakened quickly out of proceedings.

She’ll need to come on majorly for that and doesn’t quite look of group 1 quality.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 15:20
6(3)
Sibylle Vogt

Novemba

J: Sibylle Vogt
T: P Schiergen
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-2
OR: 113
Days: 20

A German filly who had a relatively quiet juvenile campaign. Scoring in novice company before going close in a group 3 race.

She made a name for herself in the German 1000 Guineas when easily making every yard of the running and bullying her opposition into the ground to win by a wide margin. Brought over to Ascot off the back of that she ran a great race to be 4th in the Coronation Stakes.

Her form wasn’t great for the rest of the season but she put in a valiant placed effort in France to round out the season.

Well beaten on comeback, she shaped like she needed the run at Baden-Baden and should come on for that effort. Likely just below the quality needed to win, she’ll tee up the race for fast finishers.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 15:20
2(7)
Aurelien Lemaitre

Sibila Spain

J: Aurelien Lemaitre
T: Christopher Head
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-5
OR: 111
Days: 38

A very interesting daughter of Frankel, Sibila Spain won her debut over 10 furlongs as a 3 year old in a dazzling performance.

Sent for bigger targets off the back of that she struggled in group company but ran decent races to be placed 4th in a brace of group 1 races. Dropped in grade she won a listed race before an average display back up in group 1 level.

Unable to live with the Revenant on seasonal return, she managed to win at Saint-Cloud in a group 2 over a mile. She looked smart over the shorter trip and might just fare better in deeper waters now trying a mile.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 15:20
3(8)
Tom Marquand

Bashkirova

J: Tom Marquand
T: William Haggas
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-2
OR: 106
Days: 11

A sharp rise in the ranks for Bashirova saw her win her maiden over a mile and back that up easily under a penalty on the all weather last year.

Throw into handicap company off the back of that saw her score well off a mark of 92. Moved into listed company off the back of that she didn’t stay 10 furlongs and weakened back into 7th place.

Returning this season over a mile, she was narrowly beaten by Mrs Fitzherbert at Goodwood. She built upon that effort to justify favouritism and score a group 3 at Epsom on Derby Day. Making smooth late headway and quickening clear smartly.

She’s got to improve again for this level but she might just have the scope to take her form to another level.

Ascot - June 14 2022
Ascot 15:20
1(5)
William Buick

Saffron Beach

J: William Buick
T: Jane Chapple-Hyam
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-7
OR: 115
Days: 81

A quite lightly raced filly, Saffron Beach made two outings as a juvenile and scored both times. Winning a maiden easily over 7 furlongs before scoring a group 3 narrowly.

A good outing in the Nell Gwyn Stakes saw her run a valiant 2nd before filling the same place in the 1000 Guineas behind Mother Earth.

Saffron Beach didn’t manage to put it all together till the end of her 3 year old season when winning a group 3 at Sandown easily and ending the year by handily reversing the 1000 Guineas form with Mother Earth.

A comeback run over in Meydan over 9 furlongs she ran well enough to be 4th and will come on for the outing. Dropping back to a mile will suit and she’s got the better of Mother Earth before.