Kenzai Warrior bidding for Ascot redemption

Ashley Iveson
June 16, 2020 3:45 pm

Talented colt had run to forget in 2000 Guineas.

Roger Teal is keeping his fingers crossed Kenzai Warrior can put his 2000 Guineas nightmare behind him by claiming Royal Ascot glory in Wednesday’s Hampton Court Stakes.

The son of Karakontie was considered by some as a lively outsider for the Newmarket Classic after winning a Salisbury novice event and the Group Three Horris Hill Stakes at Newmarket as a juvenile.

However, Kenzai Warrior effectively lost all chance within a few seconds of the stalls opening on the Rowley Mile and finished ninth of the 15 runners without really having a race.

“He’s been absolutely fine since the Guineas – he came out of it as fresh as paint,” said Teal.

“It obviously didn’t go to plan on the day. He just got himself a bit over-excited, I think he was a bit shocked when the stalls opened and he’s fly leapt and stumbled and that was that.

“He came back not very proud of himself, but hopefully he can redeem himself on Wednesday.”

Kenzai Warrior steps up to 10 furlongs for this Group Three assignment, and Teal added: “He seems in very good form and I think the step up in trip will suit him – he’s more of a galloper than a speedster.”

Frankie Dettori will don the colours of the Queen aboard the Sir Michael Stoute-trained First Receiver, who disputes favouritism with Kevin Ryan’s Juan Elcano.

Aidan O’Brien’s Russian Emperor is set to turn out just eight days after being touched off by Cormorant in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown, while Andrew Balding sends Classic Trial victor Berlin Tango into battle.

Mascat (Ralph Beckett), King Carney (Charlie Fellowes) and O’Brien’s apparent second string New World Tapestry complete the octet.

Day two of the Royal meeting gets under way with Silver Royal Hunt Cup – a consolation race for the Royal Hunt Cup itself later in the afternoon.

Richard Hannon’s Ouzo and the Mark Johnston-trained Maydanny are among the leading hopes for the former, while John Gosden’s pair of Alrajaa and Lord Tennyson are joined in the latter by Andrew Balding’s Bell Rock and Montatham from William Haggas yard, among others.

The King George V Stakes is another fiercely competitive handicap, this one run over a mile and a half.

The lightly raced Kipps is at the head of the betting for Hughie Morrison, ahead of Roger Charlton’s Win O’Clock and Charlie Appleby’s Bright Melody.

Listed honours are up for grabs in the five-furlong Windsor Castle Stakes. Popular American trainer Wesley Ward fires a couple of darts in Sunshine City and Sheriff Bianco, but the market leader is O’Brien’s impressive Navan winner Chief Little Hawk.

Collide is on a hat-trick for Hugo Palmer in the concluding Copper Horse Handicap.