LOS ANGELES (4.20) is on the A-list for Aidan O’Brien and Ballydoyle in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
The top class Camelot colt has his own little fan club with members in admiration of his will-to-win and striking physique.
Third to Bluestocking in last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Los Angeles has bettered his three-year-old form this season.
Always doing enough to hold Group One winner White Birch in the Mooresbridge Stakes, a race run at the next level down, my selection showed he had improved by putting more distance between himself and that rival subsequently.
Facing defeat by the smooth-travelling Anmaat at the Curragh, Los Angeles dug deep into his reserves to claw back the advantage in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Classy filly Kalpana was third to rubber-stamp the form and O’Brien’s star can confirm he is right out of the top drawer.
On a line through Sosie, Los Angeles has the beating of Wathnan Racing recruit Map Of Stars, but he should be fighting for a place along with his old rival Ombudsman and 12 length Middleton Fillies’ Stakes heroine See The Fire in a deep race.
The Scout’s prediction:
1 Los Angeles
2 Ombudsman
3 See The Fire
HORSE BY HORSE GUIDE
1 Anmaat
Forced Los Angeles to pull out all the stops for Group One honours in Ireland. An excellent run considering handler Owen Burrows had been unable to work him on grass in the build-up, the seven-year-old should sharpen up for his first racecourse appearance in 218 days. Fast ground is a bit of a concern, however, given previous training hold-ups.
2 Certain Lad
Few nine-year-olds are seen at this level and it is new to Jack Channon’s charge, capable of solid form but expected to have his limitations exposed in such lofty company.
3 Continuous
St Leger hero of 2023 on-course to be on pace-making duty for Los Angeles.
4 Facteur Cheval
Has a record of 1-11 in Group One events and makes his second appearance at the royal meeting, having raced against the track bias when sixth to Charyn in the Queen Anne Stakes. Significantly closer to that horse on British Champions Day, when given a more patient ride, the bay steps up in trip but is likely to find a few too good.
5 Los Angeles
Few come tougher than the three-time Group One hero who is adaptable in terms of the playing surface and distance, equally as comfortable at a mile-and-a-half. Looks an even better model this campaign, holding off a posse of top class rivals at home ground the Curragh. Fancied to do even better still at this stiffer circuit.
6 Map Of Stars
One of the big chances of the week for owners Wathnan Racing, an operation continuing to strengthen their ranks. Only seen on ground with cut so far, the Sea The Stars offspring has plenty of talent and ran Sosie close when going up to the highest level in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp. Should be thereabouts.
7 Ombudsman
Made his racecourse debut at around this time last year, graduating from novice wins at Newmarket and Leicester to Listed success at Deauville. Had Map Of Stars back in fourth in the Prince D’Orange Stakes and was well-backed to remain unbeaten in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes. Could not concede 3lb to smart middle-distance performer Almaqam when the winner got the run of the race. An interesting runner with more to come.
8 Royal Champion
Made one attempt in the grade, when failing to figure in the Qipco Champion Stakes. Has a mountain to climb.
9 See The Fire
Added into the mix at a cost of £70,000 following a double digits display against her own sex in York’s Middleton Stakes. That earned the chestnut a career high rating of 119 which gives her a chance of upsetting shorter-priced rivals with the fillies’ allowance applied.
Rest of Wednesday’s card
STICK with STAYA (2.30) to keep her perfect record intact in the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes on day two of Royal Ascot.
George Scott believes his filly has the best chance of all of his runners this week and looks streetwise for a juvenile.
At five furlongs, flat racing’s youngest operators have to apply themselves in the correct way, breaking on terms from the gates or it could all be over in a flash.
A breeze-ups purchase at 375,000 guineas for owners KHK Racing, Staya was ridden with plenty of confidence at Yarmouth, where she was nudged out to collect a novice event by two lengths.
Carrying plenty of condition, Havana Grey’s daughter has the right mind for the job as well as the potential to go close up in grade.
Played at double figure prices by some shrewd ante-post players, ASMARANI (3.05) is into 9-2 with William Hill for the Queen’s Vase.
Francis Henri-Graffard gave the horse belonging to Aga Khan Studs just one entry for this fixture, where the team savoured victory with Calandagan in the King Edward VII Stakes a year ago.
Their latest contender has the pedigree of a stayer and his action suggests quicker ground might actually suit, with his Prix Hocquart effort advertised by the winner since.
The day’s best bet is ONE LOOK (3.40, Nap), fancied to make the most of the 3lb she gets from Cinderella’s Dream in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.
A mile is my selection’s minimum but she came through to press Porta Fortuna – a better filly than these – and go down fighting in the Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh.
It was One Look’s best performance to date and although she lacked a gear change there, will be battling on in this with plenty of early competition for the lead.
My Cloud has sneaked into the Royal Hunt Cup for the same owners as Staya and has had more luck by drawing box 32.
Horses from stalls 20 or higher have taken seven editions run on decent ground from 2010 onwards – and several more started from a double digit berth.
A rating of 97 plus is another positive and US Graded winner on fast ground ANCIENT ROME (5.00) has a chance if firing on all cylinders.
Beaten half-a-length by Quddwah on the mile round course last summer, the six-year-old has Jamie Spencer back on board and his mount is off a good mark for a trainer who has successfully targeted this.
RAINBOWS EDGE (5.35) carries the royal colours of King Charles, up 5lb after overcoming trouble when on the way to a course and distance first.
Then ROGUE LEGEND (6.10) sets the standard in the Windsor Castle Stakes for One Look’s trainer Paddy Twomey and jockey Billy Lee.
THE SCOUT’S SELECTIONS
2.30 Staya
3.05 Asmarani
3.40 One Look (Nap)
4.20 Los Angeles (nb)
5.00 Ancient Rome
5.35 Rainbows Edge
6.10 Rogue Lege