22nd June 2012

Royal Ascot Betting: Society Rock to chase home Black Caviar in Diamond Jubilee

3.45 Ascot: Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) (6f)

One of the most eagerly anticipated races of the whole week at Royal Ascot is the Diamond Jubilee Stakes; the course has been sold out for weeks once the participation of the Sprint Queen Black Caviar was confirmed. The heroine of Australia will start a red-hot favourite for the Group 1 contest and the best price available at the moment is 1/4 with Ladbrokes.

The fact that the mare has travelled around the world to get here is not that amazing as Choisir managed that fete in 2003, it’s the unbeaten record that stretches 21 victories and the claims from the Aussie’s that this horse is the best sprinter in the world and the best that has ever been. Strong statements indeed but very hard to argue with when you look at her record back home.

The 6yo mare has destroyed any rival that has been put in front of her and trainer Peter Moody has been very bullish about her chances and reckons the competition here may not even be up to the standards in Australia and its just a matter of turning up. That remains to be seen and it looks like she will get soft ground for her UK debut which will be the worst ground she has ever raced on although ten of her victories have been on good to soft. That looks the only chink of light for her opposition here as she has drawn stall 15 against the rail which is probably an advantage for her and the purists among us will hope she wins in style.

So what of the opposition? Last years winner Society Rock lines up and will get the same conditions so must be rated as some sort of danger. Johnny Murtagh takes the ride once again and is drawn just two stall away from the favourite so should be able to keep tabs on her at the outset. Moonlight Cloud is most peoples idea for the forecast, the 4yo filly has won 6 of her ten starts but has been beaten on both occasions she has raced in the UK. Last time she led all the way in a Group 3 contest and looked very impressive, she’s drawn in stall 5 and will bid to make all and get Black Caviar off the bridle.

The second highest rated horse in the race is Krypton Factor, he won the Group 1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai in good style an brings some top quality form to the table, the major doubt here is the ground, he was disappointing in soft ground last time and that may well blunt his speed at the business end of the six furlong trip. Kieren Fallon has ridden him for the last dozen races and does so again here. The Cheka could be one for those looking a big priced selection each way; he was campaigned over 7f last season but was switched to sprinting recently and has been a revelation winning the Camidge Trophy at Doncaster and then finishing runner up in the Duke of York Stakes behind Tiddliwinks, he’s rated 111 now but to put that into perspective its 21lbs behind Black Caviar’s mark of 132!

This will be a terrific spectacle whatever happens and possibly not the best race for the punters as the price on Black Caviar wont interest many. Bookmakers are betting without the favourite and of course we have some decent sprinters in the field that will be starting at massive odds so the each way market will be popular. Its impossible to oppose the mare and I hope she wins by 5 lengths, we need superstars in our industry and the crowds back home in Australia will be watching the race in their thousands. Society Rock looks a safe enough bet to make the frame with conditions to suit and is worth a nibble in the without the favourite market also.

Selections;

1pt EW Society Rock 12/1 Boylesports

2pts Society Rock W/O Black Caviar 7/2 Paddy Power

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