Group Three Sagaro Stakes Ascot Guide 2023

Andrew Balding has two of the six runners in this contest with Coltrane and Nate The Great. The latter had a mixed season last year, winning three races at Newcastle and Newmarket (twice), with last success coming in Listed Rose Bowl Stakes over two miles.

Finished last on the two occasions he raced in this sort of company last season at Royal Ascot and Goodwood but drops to 1m 7f here and he has managed to do ok at this sort of trip in the past.

Failed to make his mark at this level last term but finished fifth 67 days ago at King Abdulaziz before heading here. More is required in this company and others boast better form.

Hugo Palmer sends seven-year-old Rajinsky to Ascot on the back of beating Trueshan at Nottingham last month in 1m 6f listed contest, when priced at 16/1 to claim career-best success. He hadn’t run at class one level in his career before that run, claiming seven successes at class two level and under.

He has had two runs here, performing well on both occasions to finish second in class three handicap (2020) and winning class three handicap in October 2021, four lengths ahead of Uber Cool.

Would be looking to back up career-best performance with arguably a better one here, not dismissed but Trueshan will go better than last time you would think.

Alan King sends Trueshan to the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot after his opening season run ended in a second-place finish at Nottingham last month, half a length behind fellow runner here Rajinsky. Hasn’t been out of the top three since 2021 and has recorded six wins since that sixth-place finish at Newcastle.

His last run here yielded success, winning a group two over 1m 7f ahead of Coltrane when priced at 11/8fav. He’s a proven stayer who is the one to beat here after that run on reappearance at Nottingham last month. Only two defeats last season behind Coltrane at Doncaster and behind Stradivarius and Kyprios at Goodwood.

The 121-rated seven-year-old has won three times here and can make it a fourth with another good run.

Six-year-old who had a good end to 2022, after having an indifferent time of it prior to four wins in his last five races. Hasn’t stepped into this company in his career yet, but gets his chance here after winning two class four handicaps at Musselburgh and Redcar inside a week in August last year, before winning his last race of the year at Pontefract (class two).

Made a winning return to action last month when claiming Musselburgh handicap by half a length before being sent to Ascot for the Sagaro Stakes and his first foray into grouped company. This demands much more, and it remains to be seen how he handles this company against some very good stayers.

Lightly raced four-year-old who claimed success on his only outing here, winning Listed Noel Murless Stakes over 1m 6f in September last year, half a length to second-place Giavellotto. That was his best career run to date, having won one other race in his career at Wolverhampton in a class five novice in August last year.

Was a decent fifth of in the Group Two Dubai World Cip at Meydan in March and having won here before, is one to consider with that good run in grouped company. There are some good runners here so it will be another tough test but cannot be discounted.