Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot

The Diamond Jubilee over 6 furlongs at 16.45 CET is the top race on the final day of the Royal Ascot meeting. This race used to be known as the Cork & Orrery but has been upgraded to Group One and has become the centrepiece of Saturday´s racing since the decision was made - for the Queen´ s Golden Jubilee- to extend the meeting with a fifth day. The Queen has lived on and celebrated her Diamond Jubilee last year (i.e. 60 years on the throne), hence the change of name.

With 18 runners this is a very international field, with France,Ireland, the UAE and Australia all represented. The brilliant Australian mare Black Caviar won last year from Moonlight Cloud, with Soul (Saeed bin Suroor/ Silovestre de Sousa) fourth, Society Rock (James Fanshawe/ Kieren Fallon) fifth, Krypton Factor (Fawzi Nass/ Luke Morris) sixth and Sirius Prospect (Dean Ivory/ Jim Crowley) seventh. Society Rock blew his chance with a very slow start, but would normally have been very close to the first two; he won this race in 2011 and assuming he has no problems at the start this time, ought to win again. Obviously he is not 100% reliable, but he is the best horse in the field and started off 2013 with a good win at York. Connections are optimistic and so are we.

Australians have a good record in these big sprints, so the mare Sea Siren (John O´Shea/ Ryan Moore) múst be respected; she has the best jockey aboard, but she is no Black Caviar. Henri-Alex Pantall has frequently had long-shots placed in big races (including here yesterday) but it would still be a miracle if Gammarth (Fabrice Veron) were to be in the frame here. Krypton Factor is more of a Meydan specialist, and possibly not quite as strong as he was a year ago, so if there is to be no British winner, then it can only be another one from Ireland in our opinion. Gordon Lord Byron (Tom Hogan/ William Buick) looks clearly the best of their runners; he won the Prix de la Foret last year, but this field looks stronger and he has twice finished behind Society Rock. He could well be placed, but basically everything points to Society Rock, and if he gets off on terms, he should win.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Bunker - Somewhat - Friendship
2. Race: Mount Athos - Ektihaam - Universal
3. Race: Society Rock - Gordon Lord Byron - Sea Siren
4. Race: Duke Of Firenze - Gabriel`s Lad - Rex Imperator
5. Race: Rye House - Ustura - Lahaag
6. Race: Shahwardi - Chiberta King - No Heretic