There is plenty of Group action to enjoy across Europe on Saturday and Ascot hosts an exciting card which features the Group 3 Bengough Stakes.
The 6f Group 3 Bengough Stakes (3:00) has attracted a field of ten, headed by Commanche Falls. The Michael Dods-trained six-year-old continued his excellent season with a Listed victory in the Garrowby Stakes at York in early September, beating the re-opposing Juan Les Pins by three-quarters of a length. It was not his first Listed or Group success this year, having also scored in the Listed Dash Stakes at the Curragh before completing a double in the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury. The anticipated good ground will be perfect for the gelding and his previous form at Ascot is good, having finished third in this race last year.
Multiple course and distance winner Dark Trooper is an interesting prospect stepping up into Group 3 company, having recorded four straight victories this season. Although the three-year-old has never been tried at Stakes level before, he impressed with a two-and-a-quarter length success in the Shergar Cup Sprint back in mid-August and will benefit from a four-pound weight allowance as a three-year-old compared to Commanche Falls.
WIN: COMMANCHE FALLS
Al Aasy is expected to be a short-priced favourite in the 1m4f Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2:25) with proven Group 3 form this season. The six-year-old has been lightly campaigned over the last few years with only two runs in 2021 and one outing in 2022. Although disappointing on seasonal reappearance at Newmarket's July course, he recorded a double in the ten-furlong Listed Steventon Stakes at Newbury and the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park before stepping up in trip at Leopardstown. Although beaten half-a-length into second by Adelaide River in the Group 3 Kilternan Stakes, Al Aasy is a five-time winner over twelve furlongs and appeared to relish these conditions when winning the Listed Buckhound Stakes over course and distance in 2022.
His main opposition is likely to be fellow Shadwell-owned Israr, who surprised many with an easy four-and-a-half length victory over Adayar in the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket's July course in mid-July. The four-year-old ran too poorly to be true when sixth of seven in the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton Park on the all-weather and it is anticipated that the return to turf should spark the John and Thady-Gosden trained colt back to form.
WIN: AL AASY
Connections of Emaraaty Ana have made the decision to drop the gelding back to five furlongs for the 5f Listed Rous Stakes (1:50) rather than re-oppose with Commanche Falls in the six-furlong Bengough Stakes. Although the seven-year-old has been switched between the two distances throughout his career, he has solely been campaigned over six furlongs this season and picked up valuable placings in Listed and Group company. It will be Emaraaty Ana's first run over five furlongs since a third in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes in 2022 and his second in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in November over five-and-a-half furlongs makes him an obvious market leader.
The two-pound weight allowance could be a help to Andrew Balding's Nymphadora who recorded a good level of form when beaten a neck into second by Thunderbear in the Group 3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes at Newbury when last seen. Her form this season indicates she falls short of top-level company, but the Listed win at York in July suggests a victory here would be well within the filly's remit.
WIN: NYMPHADORA
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1: NYMPHADORA
RACE 2: AL AASY RACE
RACE 3: COMMANCHE FALLS
RACE 4: QUINAULT
RACE 5: FARHH TO SHY
RACE 6: MOUNTAIN PEAK
