William Buick teams up with an old friend in a bid to land one of the few top races that still eludes him.
The champion jockey has never won the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) although he came agonizingly close two years ago on Godolphin’s Creative Force , who was caught in the last strides by 33-1 stablemate Naval Crown .
His main employer has nothing in the field for the June 22 contest so he is free to ride for Jane Chapple-Hyam, who had him on board when Saffron Beach scored her only previous top-level successes in 2021 and 2022.
Buick and Mill Stream warmed up by getting the best of a bunch finish to win last month’s 1895 Duke of York Stakes (G2).
The jockey said: “He did well to win. It was a messy race and he should have won by further. Ascot’s going to suit him and I think the sprint division is open at the moment. If you can mark up his Duke of York performance, he’s in with a shout.”
Chapple-Hyam, who is convinced that Mill Stream is an improved horse at the age of 4, said: “This has always been the plan since his win in the Duke of York and he’ll enjoy the quick ground.
“He’s been in super form since then, including when William came in to work him on the Limekilns. He’s in the same box as Black Caviar was in at home when she won the race, so hopefully it can prove a lucky box again.”
Can Rossa do it on Kinross?
Frankie Dettori could not get the job done in two attempts on Kinross and now Rossa Ryan gets the chance to make it third time lucky.
Seventh place is the best this high-class sprinter has managed in two cracks at the six-furlong dash, run on the course and distance over which he won the Champions Sprint (G1) in 2022 and was beaten just a neck last year.
Those were just two of many smart performances the 7-year-old has put up during a career in which he has won eight group races and earned £1.77 million.
As it was last year, this will be Kinross’ first race of the season, but trainer Ralph Beckett said: “He’s in good form and he’s ready to run.”
Ryan, who won the June 20 King George V Stakes on Going The Distance in the same Marc Chan colors, landed the Lennox Stakes (G2) at Goodwood the only time he has ridden Kinross in a race previously.
Beckett added: “He ran a bit fresh and saw a bit too much daylight when he was seventh a year ago, so we’ll be holding on to him longer and riding him to finish.
“Hopefully he’ll be competitive but it’s a difficult one as it’s really all about the second half of the year.”
Middle Earth, Continuous Vie in Hardwicke
Middle Earth bids to stamp his authority on the middle-distance group-race division when he goes head-to-head with St Leger Stakes (G1) winner Continuous in the 1 1/2-mile Hardwicke Stakes (G2).
Middle Earth wins the Aston Park Stakes at Newbury Racecourse
The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt was left trailing in Continuous’ wake when finishing only seventh in the season’s final classic at Doncaster last September.
However, the highly progressive son of Roaring Lion was all at sea on the very soft ground that day, and connections are optimistic about his chances of giving Continuous a serious battle this time on the quick ground he will love.
David Redvers, racing manager to Qatar Racing, who own Middle Earth along with Ciaron Maher, said: “He’s the horse we’ve all been looking forward to seeing most of all this week. Conditions and the track should suit him ideally. It’s very exciting and we’ll find out just how good he is on Saturday.”
Middle Earth’s only defeat in his last five runs was at Doncaster, and he produced a career-best performance when beating King of Conquest by a nose in Newbury’s Aston Park Stakes (G3) on his reappearance.
King of Conquest has since franked the form with a cozy Goodwood success, and Redvers added: “Middle Earth’s only poor run came in the St Leger. When he has had his conditions he has run superbly.
“Middle Earth looks like he is still improving. We think there could be plenty more to come from him. It’s a big day for the horse.”
Thady Gosden, joint trainer of Middle Earth, added: “He’s been in good order at home since his comeback win at Newbury since when this has always been the plan. It’s very competitive as you’d expect but he won over course and distance last year and is a top-of-the-ground performer.”
Continuous, the likely favorite from the Aidan O’Brien stable, will be making his first appearance since signing off a superb 3-year-old campaign with a fifth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) behind Ace Impact .
The highlight of Continuous’ career to date is his commanding 2 3/4-length success on testing ground in the St Leger, but more big days look likely in 2024.
He proved his ability to handle lightning-fast Ascot terrain when second to King of Steel in the King Edward VII Stakes (G2) at this meeting 12 months ago prior to romping home by 3 3/4 lengths in York’s Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2), which was also staged on good-to-firm going.
O’Brien said: “We’ve been happy with him and he’s just ready to start back now. The plan all along was for his first target to be the Hardwicke and we’ve stuck to that plan.
“He’s been away from home a few times and he’s coming along nicely. We feel there is more to come from him this season.”
Missed the Cut wins the San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Missed the Cut , the sole North American representative in the field, makes his Ascot debut for trainer John Sadler. Owned by Bee Zee, Lanes End Racing, St. Elias Stables, Edward Babington, Edward Hudson Jr., and Lynne Hudson, the son of Quality Road captured the San Marcos Stakes (G3T) and San Luis Rey Stakes (G3T) over the winter at Santa Anita Park before finishing second to Silver Knott in Keeneland‘s Elkhorn Stakes (G2T).
James Doyle will ride Missed the Cut, who is currently 11-1 on the morning line.
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