David outlines Royal Ascot team

08 June 2012


ROYAL Ascot is only ten days away and David is getting a strong team of horses together for the summer highlight. Al Khawaneej is being prepared for a tilt at the Ascot Stakes on Tuesday. The son of Arch is two from two since joining David and was the impressive winner of his last start at Goodwood. David said: “We've been delighted with Al Khawaneej's progress. He is not a horse who shows us a massive amount at home but I don't think his type of horse does. The two and a half mile trip is further than he has ever gone before. Will he stay? You don't really know until they have actually run over the distance." David is hoping to be double-handed in Wednesday’s Royal Hunt Cup with both Mabait and Trade Storm being targeted at the prestigious handicap. Mabait put up an improved performance to be third at Chester last time out while Trade Storm was last seen finishing a solid seventh in the Listed Hambleton Stakes at York’s Dante Meeting. He said of the pair: “Mabait and Trade Storm will head to the Royal Hunt Cup. Mabait is a well handicapped horse and showed his first bit of form in 18 months when he ran at Chester the Saturday before last. Trade Storm seems to have come on nicely for his run at York.” On the same day, David is also hoping to saddle two runners in the Sandringham handicap. Both Hello Glory and Miss Azeza are being aimed at the mile contest for fillies’ only. Hello Glory was beaten 11 lengths into third on her return in the Listed Michael Seely Stakes at York. Both the winner, Laugh Out Loud and the runner-up Electrelane, have gone on to take Group 2s so the form of the contest could hardly have turned out any better. Miss Azeza will be making her seasonal debut having been off the track since finishing seventh in a Listed race at Salisbury last September. Prior to that she had won on her debut at Ffos Las. David said: “All being well, Hello Glory and Miss Azeza will go for the Sandringham (Listed Handicap). I wasn't happy with Hello Glory at the beginning of the season and the first two pulled a long way clear of her in the Michael Seely at York. But they have both gone on and won Group 2s since and the other positive for Hello Glory is that she will go to Ascot with a lovely racing weight. “Miss Azeza will be coming back from a long lay-off - her last run was at Salisbury in the Dick Poole last summer - and it will be a big ask for her.” On Thursday, Ghost Protocol is under consideration for the King George V Handicap. The son of Cockney Rebel was third at Goodwood on his last start and looks sure to be suited by the step up to a mile and a half. The following day, Ottoman Empire could contest the Listed Wolferton handicap. The son of Pivotal returned to his best when third at Epsom last weekend. David said: “Ghost Protocol will run in the King George V Handicap and Ottoman Empire is on course for the Wolferton (Listed Handicap). He put in a great run at Epsom last Friday - it was very encouraging. If he can repeat that at Ascot, he should again be competitive.” Also on Friday, course specialist Noble Citizen is likely to head to the Buckingham Palace Stakes. The seven-year-old often runs his best races at the Berkshire track, including when winning a competitive 6f handicap last summer. His trainer said: “Noble Citizen is being aimed at the Buckingham Palace handicap and he is another who showed signs of form last time. He was a running on second from a very uncompromising position at Goodwood.”