Royal Ascot set for silent start in Sir Henry's memory but fireworks will follow at Cecil's favourite meeting

By Gavin Beech

PUBLISHED: 13:26 EST, 17 June 2013 | UPDATED: 03:24 EST, 18 June 2013

It is most unusual for a Royal Ascot meeting to begin in silence, but that's exactly what will happen on Tuesday as the sport of kings mourns the loss if it's king, Sir Henry Cecil, who passed away last week.

Sir Henry's record-breaking 75 Royal Ascot winners over four decades may never be surpassed and the Berkshire track will stage a minute's silence in his honour after the Queen has arrived on the opening day. 

Friday's Queen's Vase, a race won by Cecil a remarkable eight times, will also be run in Sir Henry's memory.

Legend: Sir Henry Cecil, pictured with the great Frankel, will be honoured with a minute's silence at Royal Ascot

Legend: Sir Henry Cecil, pictured with the great Frankel, will be honoured with a minute's silence at Royal Ascot

Royal company: The arrival of the Queen will commence the remembrance for Sir Henry (right)

Royal company: The arrival of the Queen will commence the remembrance for Sir Henry (right)

After the calm comes the storm and US-raider Animal Kingdom, who won the world's richest race in March, the $10m Dubai World Cup at Meydan, is out to give the bookies a bashing in the opening Queen Anne Stakes.

Vanquished Investec derby favourite Dawn Approach bids to get his career back on track in the St. James's Palace Stakes and provide a much needed fillip for part-owner Sheikh Mohammed, whose Godolphin operation continues to rebuild its reputation in the wake of the Mahmood al-Zarooni drugs scandal.

Talking of drugs scandals to have rocked the sport, Frankie Dettori, back from his six-month ban for cocaine use, continues his rehabilitation with four rides on the opening day, the pick of which looks to be on unbeaten Thunder Strike in the Coventry Stakes. 

World Domination: Animal Kingdom is looking to triumph in the Queen Anne Stakes after winning in Dubai (above)

World Domination: Animal Kingdom is looking to triumph in the Queen Anne Stakes after winning in Dubai (above)

Back from the brink: Dawn Approach is looking to get his career back on track in the St. James's Palace Stakes

Back from the brink: Dawn Approach is looking to get his career back on track in the St. James's Palace Stakes

Changing channels

This is the first year the royal meeting will be broadcast on Channel 4 and the five-day jamboree will officially be the most extensively covered race meeting in UK TV history, with all 30 races broadcast live on terrestrial television for the very first time. 

More foreign raiders aim to plunder Berkshire gold when South African sprinter Shea Shea tries to land the Kings Stand Stakes for globetrotting trainer Mike De Kock.

There won't be a dry eye in the house if Lady Jane Cecil-trained Tiger Cliff can win the two-and-a-half-mile Ascot Stakes, one of the longest races of the week.

The highlight on Wednesday is a mouth-watering rematch between Tattersalls Gold Cup 1-2, Al Kazeem and Camelot, in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes.

Get your lucky pin out for the 33-runner cavalry charge that is the Royal Hunt Cup, which may end up turning into three different races as the runners usually split into groups on each side and in the middle.

Thursday is Ladies' Day and the focus will be firmly on the most famous lady in the house, as The Queen has a seriously good chance of winning the feature race of the day, the Gold Cup at 3.45pm.

Estimate, a filly trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by top pilot Ryan Moore, is the horse tasked with providing the monarch with a winner in the year of the 60th anniversary of the Queen's Coronation.

Fine form: Ladies Day will be one of the main attractions on Thursday

Fine form: Ladies Day will be one of the main attractions on Thursday

Racegoers attend Ladies Day at Royal Ascot

Racegoers attend Ladies Day at Royal Ascot

The most prestigious fillies' race of the week is the Group One Coronation Stakes on Friday and this year's renewal promises to be an absolute cracker as 1000 Guineas heroine Sky Lantern bids to confirm superiority over runner-up Just The Judge, who has since gone one better in the Irish equivalent at The Curragh.

They look the two main protagonists at this stage, although if the weather takes a turn for the worse later in the week, Viztoria would become a huge threat. Earlier that afternoon the spotlight falls on Joyeuse, who is a half-sister to the mighty Frankel. Lady Cecil's exciting filly bolted up at Lingfield on debut and is sure to be a popular choice in the Albany Stakes.

 

More...


Add your comments

Comments (0)

No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

Add your comment

You have 1000 characters left.
Libellous and abusive comments are not allowed. Please read our House Rules.
For information about privacy and cookies please read our Privacy Policy.
Terms