ASCOT’S big race on Wednesday will see the billionaires battle it out for a share of £1million.
It’s Luxembourg owned by John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Co taking on the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed’s Derby hero Adayar for Godolphin.
Legendary owner Tabor knows what it takes to land a Royal Ascot winner – and he could have another in the form of Luxembourg
Although Templegate thinks the winner could be someone else entirely.
Here, our man goes through each runner in the 4.20pm contest, rates them out of five stars and reveals his tip at the bottom.
Prince of Wales’s Stakes runner-by-runner guide
ADAYAR 4
CHARLIE APPLEBY’s star colt hit the headlines when springing a 16-1 surprise in the 2011 Derby.
He proved that was no fluke when heading here a month later to land a powerful victory in the King VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.
He was ahead of top performers like Mishriff and Broome that day which saw him sent off a fancied runner for the Arc where he was a creditable fourth in ground that was too soft for him.
Maybe they went to the well once too often by going for the Champion Stakes here that October where he struggled.
We didn’t see him again for almost a year when he dropped to minor company to score over this trip before a length second in his second crack at the Champion.
He warmed up for this with a smooth Group 3 success over this trip at Newmarket last month and looks set to do himself justice again over a course and distance that clearly suits well.
BAY BRIDGE 3
SIR Michael Stoute has shown his legendary patience with this talented five-year-old who started off winning a couple of handicaps before moving up the ranks to finish 2021 with a Listed success at Newmarket.
He then took the Brigadier Gerard Stakes before being sent off a shade of odds-on for this race 12 months ago. He may have found the ground on the fast side as he had to settle for second under Ryan Moore.
He then disappointed when backed for the Coral-Eclipse in July where he could beat just one rival home.
Stoute wisely gave him a break until the Champion Stakes where he caused something of a shock in taking the spoils just ahead of Adayar and My Prospero in what was a bunch finish on his favoured soft ground.
Stoute sent him across to France for his comeback this season where he was a solid third in the Group 1 Ganay.
That was followed by another good effort as he got within half a length of Luxembourg in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Provided the ground isn’t too quick he’ll go very close again.
CLASSIC CAUSEWAY 1
IT’s coming up to a year since this American raider last got his head in front but his best form has come over this distance on quick ground.
That was when winning the Grade 1 Belmont Derby last July on just his second run for top trainer Kenneth McPeek. He has struggled to back up that effort seven times since, including when dropped in grade this season.
Rattling fast ground might give him a chance but his recent form looks well short of the others and he is rated 10lb and more below his rivals here.
LUXEMBOURG 3
THIS son of Camelot has plenty of high-class form on his CV including a win ahead of Bay Bridge in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh last month.
It has to be said that he got things his own way out front there under Ryan Moore but there was no luck about it.
He started his Group 1 career with an impressive Futurity Stakes win in the mud as a two-year-old.
He found a mile on the short side when a decent third in last year’s 2,000 Guineas before coming into his own at this distance.
He won a Group 3 at the Curragh before stepping forward to take the Irish Champion Stakes in testing conditions.
He wasn’t able to back that up in the Arc at Longchamp where the longer trip and bad luck in running went against him.
His Curragh win last month answered any questions about his form and he is another major player, especially if there’s any rain around to soften the ground.
MOSTAHDAF 2
HE’s having his third crack at a big Royal Ascot win after coming up short in the St James’s Palace Stakes before a decent second in the Hardwicke last season.
Every time he’s tried the highest level, the John and Thady Gosden hope has just failed to deliver.
His best efforts have been at Group 3 level where he won over this trip in Saudi Arabia in February before finding the Dubai Sheema Classic too much.
We haven’t seen him since that Meydan effort in March but the Gosdens will have him fit.
This trip suits but he needs to find more to lower the colours of these quality rivals.
MY PROSPERO 4
WILLIAM HAGGAS’ colt is crying out for a return to this distance after a good comeback fourth in the Lockinge at Newbury last month.
He looked a bit ring-rusty but stayed on strongly in the closing stages.
He has few miles on the clock and was involved in a bunch finish for this last year.
He was a neck away from Coroebus in third and returned to this course and distance for another excellent effort in the Champion Stakes in October just behind Bay Bridge and Adayar.
It was a cracking battle between the three but My Prospero is a year older now and a year stronger.
He has always threatened to win a big one like this and can hit peak form.
Templegate’s tip
MY PROSPERO looks set to prosper in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (4.20).
This son of Iffraaj has been knocking on the door in Ascot Group 1 contests and warmed up for this with an excellent fourth in the Lockinge over a mile that’s too sharp for him.
He looks the type to come into his own as a four-year-old for trainer William Haggas and can improve over his ideal trip.
Adayar returned with a good win at Newmarket and the 2021 Derby winner looks to have his career back on track.
Luxembourg won the Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh last month and is another big threat along with Bay Bridge who chased him home in Ireland.
Five of the six runners are within just 2lb on ratings so it will be a thriller.
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