The Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the third of four Breeders’ Cup Challenge races at Royal Ascot, offers Japan a chance for their first-ever winner at the meeting – though Sir Michael Stoute might have something to say about that
Prize-m
oney for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes has soared to £1m for the first time for 2022 – and the G1 feature might be the scene of another notable breakthrough as Shahryar is out to become the first Japanese-trained winner at the showpiece meeting.
The four-year-old, by some measure the most accomplished Japanese-trained Royal Ascot contender, faces four rivals in a select field for the Wednesday highlight, which is the third Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge contest at this week’s royal meeting.
Also part of the 35-race British Champions Series, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes is often the number one race of the entire meeting in terms of pure quality, habitually achieving the highest ratings, and this year’s race features runners who have already won at the top level in Australia, Dubai, France, Japan and the US.
Japan’s formidable status on the international stage was underlined by a Breeders’ Cup double at Del Mar last November, and Shahryar was one of no fewer than five Japanese winners on the Dubai World Cup card when beating last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Yibir in a deep field for the Sheema Classic.
Throw in recent exploits in Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia – and not forgetting a Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate in Australia – and there is every reason to respect Shahryar’s chances.
Although none of the eight previous Japanese-trained horses to have run at Royal Ascot finished closer than sixth, Shahyar’s form places him in a different league to his predecessors.
Last year he won the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) before finishing third to Triple Crown winner Contrail in the Japan Cup, and connections expect him to enjoy the likely fast ground at Ascot. Although he is cutting back in trip a couple of furlongs to 1m2f, he will be feared by all those associated with the four European opponents, classy as they are.
Bay Bridge has been market leader here since his highly impressive five-length win in last month’s G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes, but he is stepping up another two grades here and meeting much tougher opposition.
Handled with typical patience by Sir Michael Stoute, whose four winners of this race include Poets Word (2018) and Crystal Ocean (2019), he has won his last five races, moving up in class each time and showing a fabulous change of gear to sprint five lengths clear last time.
At world #29, three-time G1 winner State Of Rest is the highest placed of these on TRC Global Rankings. Winner in the Saratoga Derby Invitational last year, he went on to land the Cox Plate – Melbourne’s premier weight-for-age contest – while Lord North won the Prince of Wales’s two years ago and is a dual G1 winner in Dubai. The field is completed by supplementary entry Grand Glory, a French-trained mare who finished on the heels of Shahryar in the Japan Cup.
The winner will receive an automatic fees-paid berth in the $3m Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on November 5, in which Bay Bridge’s trainer is already a multiple winner with Pilsudski (1996), Kalanisi (2000) and Conduit (2008 and 2009).
Mind you, the Prince of Wales’s / Breeders’ Cup Turf double has not been completed in the same year since Fantastic Light won both races in 2001.
Contenders
Bay Bridge (Sir Michael Stoute/Ryan Moore) – improved with every race and winning fifth start in a row when highly impressive over this distance in the G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown; probably has plenty more to offer.
Shahryar (Hideaki Fujiwara/Cristian Demuro) – won last year’s Japanese Derby and took his earnings past £5m when landing G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in a bunch finish; cuts back from 1m4f; has been in UK a fortnight to acclimatise
State Of Rest (Joseph O’Brien/Shane Crosse) – has added two more major prizes since landing G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational, beating some of the best in Australia in Cox Plate and accounting for a small field in Prix Ganay at Longchamp; narrowly beaten latest.
Lord North (John & Thady Gosden/Frankie Dettori) – good winner from Addeybb in 2020 Prince of Wales’s; lightly raced since owing to a lingering throat infection, but has won the Dubai Turf twice (dead-heated the second time).
Grand Glory (Gianluca Bietolini/Mickael Barzalona) – G1 winner at Deauville last year from former Breeders’ Cup winner Audarya, and good fifth in Japan Cup; won both starts this year and supplemented at a cost of £70,000.
Shall we talk about it?
Hideaki Fujiwara, trainer of Shahryar: “After the Sheema Classic we agreed the next target must be the races with the highest profile in the world, and I believe the Prince of Wales's is the ideal spot for the horse.”
Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of Bay Bridge:“He performed very well at Sandown, where he was very impressive, but he is now taking on tougher opposition so it’s going to be interesting. He showed promise from the first time he won and he’s continued to progress. I don’t think fast ground will be a problem.”
Joseph O’Brien, trainer of State Of Rest: “He's a Cox Plate winner and he's trained well since he went close in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. It's obviously very competitive, but he's capable of running a big race.”
John Gosden, joint-trainer of Lord North:“He’s a grand horse, but he needs to be ridden a little differently to Ireland last time. He’ll be happier back at Ascot, where he won the Prince of Wales’s two years ago, but he’s not a young horse any more, although he still enjoys his racing.”
Gianluca Bietolini, trainer of Grand Glory:“Unfortunately Cristian Demuro is already committed to Shahryar but I’m pleased to have Mickael Barzalona, as he has a high regard for Grand Glory and knows the track well.”
Graham Dench’s verdict
Bay Bridge has been heavily supported since his five-length win in Sandown’s Brigadier Gerard Stakes and there is every chance he has more to offer, but he is up two grades here and facing much tougher opposition. Preference is for SHAHRYAR, who looks by far the best challenger Japan has ever sent to the meeting. He will love the drying ground and appears to have been underestimated in the markets.
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