Elite field strong Ascot team
Elite Racing Club are likely to to have a team of six supporting their main hope Soviet Song at Royal Ascot at York next week.
The successful syndicate saw their colours carried to victory at the Royal meeting two years ago when New Seeker lifted the Britannia Handicap and the five-year-old, trained by Clive Cox, is to bid for further glory.
“He’ll probably go for the Royal Hunt Cup over a mile but if the ground is soft he could switch to the Buckingham Palace Stakes over a furlong shorter,” said Elite’s racing manager Matthew Budden.
“He had no chance from his draw at Lingfield last time but on his Lincoln form when he was second to Stream Of Gold he should be knocking at the door.”
Last season, however, Elite had a frustrating time at the Royal meeting with three second places – Soviet Song in the Queen Anne Stakes, Dancing Bay in the Queen Alexandra and Brecon Beacon in the Chesham. All three will bid to go one better.
On Dancing Bay, Budden said: “We’ve had great fun with him. As well as second in the Queen Alexandra last year he was second to First Charter in the Lonsdale Stakes at York. He’s going for the Queen Alexandra again.
“Brecon Beacon will probably go for the Britannia where he’ll have his fair share of weight but he’s a tough and consistent performer.”
Elite’s team is completed by Eisteddfod in the Wokingham Handicap, Oceans Apart, who will go for either the Queen Mary or the Albany Stakes, and Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap hopeful Rehearsal.
"Eisteddfod won well at Goodwood last time. However, he had an 8lb penalty for that victory,” said Budden.
“He did really well for us last year wining four times including the Ayr Silver Cup.
“Nelson de Souza may ride him. He can claim 5lb and that will go some way to negate the penalty.
“Oceans Apart was a bit unlucky not to beat Flashy Wings on her debut but she was then beaten 10 days later at Haydock.
“We don’t know if it was the soft ground or if that race came too quick for her but she came back to win at Windsor last time.
“She’ll be entered for both the Queen Mary or the Albany Stakes.
“If she goes for the Queen Mary it will mean taking on Flashy Wings again. Both were making their debuts when they met and I’m not saying we would have beaten Flashy Wings but our filly was a shade unlucky.
“Rehearsal has been running over hurdles since joining Len Lungo. He started off really promisingly on the Flat with Clive Cox but then lost his way.
“He’s been gelded and will go for the Duke Of Edinburgh. He’s rated 90 which hopefully is not a bad mark.”
