Neil Morrice takes a look at four UK dark horses who could impress in the coming weeks. Featured here are AL ASIFAH, CAERNARFON, QUEEN ME and GOLDEN MIND!
AL ASIFAH Royal Ascot, June 22nd
AL ASIFAH surrendered her unbeaten record in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes as one of the most heavily bet favourites at the meeting. After a tardy start she raced wide into the straight, and though seemingly going well appeared to hit a wall at the quarter pole and faded. Any questions over her ability to see out the mile and a half were answered in the affirmative, and she should prove a different proposition returned to a mile and a quarter.
CAERNARFON Royal Ascot, June 22nd
Also handicapped by a slow start was CAERNARFON, who turned for home in the Group 2 Hampton Court Stakes with only one behind her. Though making ground all the way up the short home straight the filly kept running out of racing real estate and was unable to get into the money. Beaten only just over five lengths, she should have finished in the first three, and was in no way disgraced in this first outing against males.
QUEEN ME Royal Ascot, June 22nd
QUEEN ME outran her odds of 28-1 to finish just out of the money in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup. After taking a keen hold she kept on to confirm her future lies over sprint distances. It’s always hard for three-year-olds to reach for the stars in the major sprints but she is talented, and could prove an exception to the rule.
GOLDEN MIND Royal Ascot, June 23rd
The North fielded some interesting juveniles through the week but none more so than GOLDEN MIND in the Chesham Stakes. Though not having a lot of space when making his challenge, he quickly corrected himself and finished strongly to be denied by less than a length by the winner Snellen. Richard Fahey has a useful prospect on his hands who could rock up in the Superlative Stakes over seven furlongs at the Newmarket July meeting.
