Lockinge Winner Lead Artist Primed for ‘Humdinger’ of a Queen Anne

[Wandering Eyes]

NEWMARKET, UK – In the words of John Gosden, a “humdinger” of a Queen Anne Stakes awaits those in attendance for the opening day of Royal Ascot, with Lead Artist appearing primed to spearhead a two-pronged attack from Clarehaven Stables after the son of Dubawi enjoyed a getting-to-know-you exercise with Colin Keane at the July Course on Wednesday morning.

With the trainer no longer having to ruminate on jockey arrangements for the Juddmonte bluebloods in his care, the attentions of the press pack swiftly switched to challenges outside of Gosden's control, specifically those which will be posed by the likes of Roger Teal, Richard Hannon and Charlie Appleby when the traditional Royal Ascot curtain-raiser gets underway at 2.30pm on Tuesday.

Lead Artist might have landed the first meaningful blow in the battle to be crowned leading older miler, with his victory in last month's G1 Lockinge Stakes, but Gosden is taking nothing for granted as the son of Dubawi prepares for the opportunity to confirm his Newbury superiority over the likes of Dancing Gemini, Rosallion and Notable Speech in the Queen Anne.

“It's a wonderful race,” said Gosden. “From the line-up in the Lockinge, you've got the first four again, all turning up. Will they finish in the same order? That's the exciting thing – they're all fabulous horses.

“Rosallion and Notable Speech, both of them, they're going to come on, aren't they? I think it's as good a Queen Anne as I've seen for a long time. We said that about the Lockinge but, now that they've got a race under their belt, it's quite a humdinger to start the meeting with.”

The ante-post betting for that “humdinger” is headed at a general 5/2 by Rosallion, last year's Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes winner who was having his first start for 11 months at Newbury.

Lead Artist, on the other hand, had the benefit of a previous run this season, albeit a disappointing one when he finished last of eight runners in the G2 Mile won by Dancing Gemini. According to Gosden, it was the combination of a lack of fitness and the rain-softened ground which derailed that Sandown effort, but the demands of Tuesday's contest are expected to hold no fears for the 9/2 fancy.

“I think it will suit him [running over a stiff mile], rather than a slick mile,” said the trainer who, along with son Thady, will also saddle last month's G1 Prix d'Ispahan runner-up Sardinian Warrior as the stable seeks a second Queen Anne win after that of Palace Pier in 2021.

“He got stuck in the ground [at Sandown]. It was good to soft and he doesn't like that, but he likes what we're going to get at Ascot, all being well. He was in need of the race as well [at Sandown]. He came there nicely and then it looked to me like he struggled on that ground. He turned it around [at Newbury], but it wasn't a surprise. Did I think he'd go and win? Not necessarily. I thought he'd run a huge race, though, which he did.

“We were pleased with him there. He's had a nice blow and that should set him up nicely for Tuesday. I think the idea was to come here so that Colin can have a feel of the horse and he knows him when he goes to Ascot. You don't want to be seeing them for the first time in the paddock,” Gosden added of Wednesday's exercise, before sharing his thoughts on Keane's recent appointment as Juddmonte's retained jockey.

“It's an exciting opportunity for him. He's a very talented jockey, a talented horseman, and he's an extremely nice fellow. The travelling is demanding on a jockey, but I'm sure he'll fit in very well once he gets to know all of the horses. I think, if you're on Ryanair, you might be seeing him. He'll be over riding work and things, like he's done today.

“He's a very classy jockey, obviously, or he wouldn't be a six-time champion in Ireland. The riding over there is tough – nobody gives a quarter to anyone.”

In another star-studded contest on day one of Royal Ascot, Keane will continue his association with Field Of Gold for Juddmonte and the Gosdens, having recently partnered the son of Kingman to victory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on the jockey's home patch.

The G1 St James's Palace Stakes is Field Of Gold's target on Tuesday as he tries to avenge his Newmarket defeat at the hands of Ruling Court. When you also throw into the mix a third Classic winner in Henri Matisse, successful in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, then it has all the makings of a race to savour.

“It's exciting, isn't it?” said Gosden. “It's what Ascot is all about. It looks like there will be a fabulous line-up of horses in a lot of the races, starting with the Queen Anne.

“There was no need for him [Field Of Gold] to come over here today. He obviously just ran in the Irish Guineas not that long ago. For these horses it's been a month – and one of them [Torito] a year – between races. He's fine and pointing towards the St James's Palace.”

Devil's Advocate, ridden by Tyler Heard, and Sweet William, with his devoted Rab Havlin aboard, made up the quartet of gallopers from Clarehaven in a separate exercise to that of Lead Artist and Listed Wolferton Stakes contender Torito.

Devil's Advocate is being targeted at the G3 Queen's Vase, according to Gosden, who also spoke fondly of Sweet William as he prepares to join stable-mate Trawlerman in the G1 Gold Cup.

“That was a great run [when third in the Yorkshire Cup], because a mile and six [furlongs] is on the sharp side for him,” the trainer said of Sweet William. “He enjoys the climb at Ascot and he's solid at two and a quarter [miles]. Two and a half [miles] takes you a little bit into no man's land, but we're very pleased with his preparation. He's worked well there and he's a wonderful character. He does everything in his own time, but I think the work here will just sharpen him up.

“Trawlerman won the Henry II, so he's pointing that way as well. They're different types of horses. One bowls along and the other tends to come with a strong late run. To that extent, they sort of suit each rather well because they're not both trying to do the same job.”

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