Bay Bridge is fancied to hit the target on his debut at the highest level in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes (3.40).
Sir Michael Stoute's top-rated runner motored home to defeat the talented Mostahdaf 20 days ago.
With that run under his belt, further progress is likely from Ryan Moore's mount on Wednesday of Royal Ascot.
He holds strong claims of defeating Japanese hopeful Shahryar, a quality performer on his day.
Australia's leading light Nature Strip powered away his King's Stand rivals on the opening afternoon, but this time the international runner may have to play a supporting role.
Newsboy's tips for day two of Royal Ascot 2022
2.30
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 DRAMATISED
2 OMNIQUEEN
3 LOVE REIGNS
DRAMATISED is fancied to build on a most promising start to her career at Newmarket in April.
The daughter of Showcasing – dam Katie’s Diamond was a Listed winner for Dramatised’s trainer, Karl Burke – went off the 9-4 favourite against seven rivals in a fillies’ maiden over five furlongs on the opening day of the Guineas Festival.
And Danny Tudhope’s mount justified her position at the head of the betting in some style, leading after a furlong and powering four lengths clear of Malrescia (winner of both starts since) by four lengths.
My selection is far from the finished article – Dramatised made a sluggish exit from the starting stalls and ran green when given the instruction to extend – so the scope is there for a big step forward as she steps up in class today.
Wesley Ward’s has won the Queen Mary Stakes four times, which makes wide-margin Keeneland scorer Love Reigns of interest, while Omniqueen and All The Time are others capable of getting involved.
3.05
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 ELDAR ELDAROV
2 BALTIC BIRD
3 PERFECT ALIBI
ELDAR ELDAROV is fancied to take his career to tally to three wins from as many starts.
The son of Dubawi cost £480,000 at the breeze-up sales in the spring of 2021, but didn’t make his debut for Simon and Ed Crisford until last October.
There was plenty to like about that first effort, however, as Eldar Eldarov – the colt’s Russian-born namesake is a mixed martial arts world champion – powered clear of seven opponents to land a Nottingham maiden over an extended mile by five lengths.
David Egan’s partner made his return to action in a 10-furlong novice stakes at Newcastle at the end of last month, and carried a penalty to a two-and-a-quarter-length call from Post Impressionist.
The form of that race has worked out well – the third, seventh and ninth home hit the bullseye next time – and his pedigree suggests Eldar Eldarov can shine now that he moves up to a mile and three-quarters.
Derby seventh Nahanni had plenty go wrong at Epsom and is respected, along with the steadily progressive pair Baltic Bird and the Queen’s Perfect Alibi.
3.40
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 BAY BRIDGE
2 SHAHRYAR
3 LORD NORTH
BAY BRIDGE is expected to continue his upward curve and make a winning debut at Group 1 level.
Many a word has been written about Sir Michael Stoute’s prowess when it comes to training older horses – the six-time Derby winner is not exactly a mug with three-year-olds, either – and Bay Bridge is the latest example.
A four-race unbeaten sequence in his Classic season took Bay Bridge from a novice-stakes score at Newcastle in April through handicap successes at Newbury and York to a Listed triumph at Newmarket last October.
New Bay’s son made his return to the fray in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown Park 20 days ago and was explosive in victory.
The market suggested another personal best was on the way – Ryan Moore’s mount went off a well-backed 7-4 second favourite – and the jockey oozed confidence in the slipstream of 6-5 jolly Mostahdaf on the run to the final furlong.
Once given the office, Bay Bridge stretched clear to beat his rival by five lengths in the style of a horse who was more than capable of holding his own when pitched in against the best, and there is more to come.
Japanese-trained Shahryar adds great interest to Wednesday’s feature race after his win in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March.
He is feared most, ahead of 2020 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes hero Lord North and State Of Rest.
4.20
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 SAFFRON BEACH
2 BASHKIROVA
3 PRIMO BACIO
SAFFRON BEACH looks a worthy favourite to get back to winning ways.
The daughter of New Bay will always have a special place in Jane Chapple-Hyam’s heart, having given the popular Newmarket trainer the first Group 1 triumph of her career when landing the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket last October.
That victory – by an impressive three-length margin from her 1,000 Guineas conqueress, Mother Earth – didn’t come out of the blue, either.
A non-stayer when eighth in the Oaks at Epsom in June, Saffron Beach underperformed in Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes the following month but an impressive score in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes at Sandown Park in August had put my selection back on track.
Saffron Beach was anything but discredited when fourth, beaten three and a half lengths, to Dubai Turf dead-heaters Lord North and Panthalassa at Meydan in March on her comeback.
Eased in grade and back against her own gender, William Buick’s mount is expected to gain a fifth career win.
Mother Earth, the improving Bashkirova and, at bigger odds, Primo Bacio are the most convincing candidates for the minor medals.
5.00
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 LEGEND OF DUBAI
2 BOPEDRO
3 BLESS HIM
LEGEND OF DUBAI can win this most prestigious of handicaps en route to a crack at Group-quality opposition.
The son of Dubawi is certainly bred to compete at the highest level – his mother is the dual Group 1 heroine Speedy Boarding.
Legend Of Dubai evidently hasn’t been an easy horse to get to the track – the four-year-old has just five starts under his belt – but there’s no doubting what’s under the bonnet.
Successful in a Ffos Las novice event over a mile and a half last August, the Andrea Atzeni-ridden bay stepped back to a mile for a winning return in a valuable handicap at Newmarket’s Guineas Festival.
Legend Of Dubai travelled with purpose before streaking clear of Carolus Magnus to score by four and a half lengths, and has any amount of untapped potential with which to tackle an 11lb rise in the weights.
Dangers lurk at every corner in the Royal Hunt Cup, with Dark Shift, Sinjaari, Bless Him and Bopedro just four names worth throwing into the melting pot.
5.35
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 BOLT ACTION
2 LITTLE BEAR
3 WODAO
BOLT ACTION could scarcely have done any more on his debut and is fancied to remain unbeaten.
The £160,000 breeze-up purchase started 9-4 second favourite in a field of six for a five-furlong novice stakes at Leicester 15 days ago.
And to say he was impressive is an understatement – Bolt Action and David Egan sauntered up to challenge 10-11 favourite New Definition at the furlong pole before streaking away to win by four lengths.
The evidence of that performance is that Roger Varian’s colt has barely scratched beneath the surface – and that he can take high rank among the two-year-old speedballs.
Aidan O’Brien-saddled favourite Little Bear scored with consummate ease at Naas second time up and has to enter calculations, along with American challenger Seismic Spirit and Navan winner Wodao.
6.10
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3
1 IMPROVISED
2 FARHH TO SHY
3 HAZIYA
IMPROVISED will carry 10lb more in future handicaps, and is poised to take advantage.
After defeats over six furlongs at Newmarket and Ripon on her first two outings of 2022, David O’Meara’s daughter of Raven’s Pass stepped up to seven for a Listed event at Musselburgh 10 days ago.
Improvised was among the unfancied ranks at 18-1 but kept on strongly for a two-length second to all-the-way score Snooze N You Lose.
The handicapper has taken that form literally, putting Kieran Shoemark’s up from a rating of 84 to a new figure of 94 and, under conditions that suit, Improvised can go one better before her new mark kicks in.
In a wide-opening close to proceedings, Spirit Of The Bay, Farhh To Shy and Haziya sit at the top of a long-looking shortlist.
