Winners flowing...now it's Ascot!


13 June 2016


TRILLIUM Place has been in flying form since Derby day - with no fewer than eight winners from its last 19 runners.
Miss Sugars and Pellucid became the latest names to a long list of recent triumphs for the yard with debut successes in the two divisions of the maiden auction at Thirsk this afternoon.
Trainer David Simcock said: "The horses are in good order - no complaints at all. They've just bloomed and seem to have come to themselves."
But the racing bandwagon moves on this week to arguably the toughest proving ground of all - Royal Ascot.
David expects to be there on each of the five days but heavy rainfall in the last 72 hours has not helped the claims of many of the stable's intended runners.
One horse who would prefer better ground is Lightning Spear who will run in the meeting's opener - the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes.
He showed up well in the Summer Stakes at Ascot last year, finishing second to Arod.
David said: "He is a very talented horse. I wouldn't have minded good ground but we've always looked at him as better on fast ground. He's a talented horse all the same - he's no back-number."
The trainer has two declared for Wednesday's Royal Hunt Cup - Glory Awaits and Can't Change It. The latter made a very pleasing seasonal bow when winning at Goodwood last month, while Glory Awaits was fourth of 19 in a Listed handicap at York's Dante meeting.
David said: "Glory Awaits has got a little bit of soft ground form and is well handicapped. It's the lottery that is the Hunt Cup but he is good order and ran very well last time. He is quite tough when it comes down to it and we'd be very hopeful of a good run." 
Dragon Mall has been declared for the Group 3 Jersey Stakes but is very much a ground concern.
David added: "I doubt he'll be running."
There will a further Ascot preview later in the week, looking at some of the other runners set for Berkshire.