Royal Ascot Trials Day

Ascot, Wednesday, 27 April: The new season will be ushered in today at the Royal Ascot track with two Group 3 trials.

The first highlight is the Sagaro Stakes (4th race/16.35 h/80,000 pounds/3209 m). Stradivarius could be succeeded by Princess Zoe (J. Sheridan). On her last appearance on this track in the Gold Cup (Group 1) she finished an excellent second. This year, the six-year-old was hit too hard in Riyadh. Tashkhan (Ben Robinson) will be making his first appearance after taking honours in the Long Distance Cup (Group 2) behind Trueshan and ahead of Stradivarius. Wordsworth (Ryan Moore) finished third in the Irish Derby, then showed his preference for the long way in the Grand Prix de Paris (Group 1) when second. Enemy (William Buick) prepared victoriously for today`s assignment at Musselburgh. Nayef Road (Joe Fanning) was in the picture behind Stradivarius last year.

The Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes (5th race/5.10pm/£80,000/1200m) is aimed at the Derby age group. Go Bears Go (Rossa Ryan) finished his maiden season second in the Breeders` Cup Sprint (Group 2). His most valuable win came in the Railway Stakes (Group 2) against Castle Star, who later finished second in the Middle Park Stakes. Hierarchy (Cieren Fallon) fought for the best places in the Breeders` Cup but ended up only sixth. He meets Wings Of War (Adam Kirby), with whom the three-year-old battled to victory in the Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2). Ehraz (Jim Crowley) and Space Cowboy (Ryan Moore) already showed some signs.