Architect Tips shares his preview and ante-post tips for the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, the feature race on the fifth and final day at Royal Ascot 2022.
Platinum Jubilee Stakes
The Platinum Jubilee Stakes is a Group 1 sprint contest over six furlongs and takes place on the fifth and final day of Royal Ascot.
It is one of the biggest sprint events in racing and attracts stars from around world and the roll of honour has seen the likes of Black Caviar, Dream Of Dreams and many more take the spoils, while Blue Point - by contrast - became only the second horse in history to complete the sprint double at the meeting having landed the King’s Stand just four days earlier.
This year’s renewal has a more open feel than some recent editions with last year’s winner currently on the sidelines and no standout favourite for guidance. That said, the market has potential Aussie-raider Home Affairs installed as the 5/1 ante-post favourite.
He will be Chris Waller’s first runner in Britain since 2015 when his Brazen Beau was beaten a half-length by the Wesley Ward-trained Undrafted in this race, formerly known as the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
He’s a two-time Group 1 winner on home soil but he seems priced up by default in my view as he was well-beaten when last spotted and has work to do to trouble some of the English, American and Irish runners. I’m happy to look elsewhere.
I would much rather take a chance on his stablemate and eight-time Group 1 winner Nature Strip (8/1), who last seen taking the TJ Smith Stakes for the third consecutive time, though, he’s likely to run in the King’s Stand on the opening day. He won the world's richest turf race The Everest at Randwick last year and has continued to dominate his home region, where he’s pretty much won everything.
It’s possible he could feature in both events and try to emulate Blue Point but I would hold fire until closer to the time if your wanting to back him, as his participation here is not guaranteed. He’s an exceptional sprinter and whichever race he turns up in, he’s going to be a serious contender.
Wesley Ward’s two-time Royal meeting winner Campanelle, who landed the Queen Mary in 2020 and last year's Commonwealth Cup, albeit awarded the latter race in the stewards' room, is available to back at a best price 7/1.
She’s won five of her eight career starts and is well-suited to the Berkshire venue but as much as I would like to see her win, I think she’s vulnerable this time round, especially with the likes of Dragon Symbol letting the form down since, who has looked far from his best this term. It’s no doubt Wesley will have her spot on for this task though, and if she can produce her best, she’s sure to finish in the frame.
Platinum Jubilee Stakes 2022 Ante-Post Tips
However, the one who I am attracted to at a double-figure price is Owen Burrows’ MINZAAL (best price 16/1) who’s only entry at Royal Ascot is this contest. This four-year-old, who’s open to considerable improvement, shaped with a good impression on his return in the Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes, where he kept on nicely to take third.
He was behind Highfield Princess that day but was conceding fitness and I can envisage him being revved up for the big occasion at Royal Ascot. He’s always been held in high regard by connections and he showed his class, albeit without quite winning, when third in the Champion Sprint Stakes back in October over course-and-distance.
He was returning to the track last-time-out after quite a long absence and was reported to be ‘rusty’ beforehand so he’s bound to have improved since and that was a solid return to action against race-fit rivals.
A strongly-run affair at a track that plays to his strengths will suit this strong-travelling type, who ran a blinder at this course last year on just his second start of the season and Jim Crowley, who rides this track effectively, is likely to be the man in the saddle too. This looks as though it’s been a long-term plan and on the evidence of what we have seen of him so far in his career, he makes plenty of each-way appeal at generous odds.
Another British representative with a fair each-way chance is the William Haggas-trained filly, SACRED (best price 12/1), who returned a very impressive winner of the Group Two Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on her final start last term under Tom Marquand.
The only two times she’s been below her best have been at the highest level but her record otherwise reads an excellent 122211 and that includes Group Two and Group Three wins. She benefited from a strong gallop to see off a useful field when last spotted, showcasing her electric turn of foot and while she’s also entered in the Duke Of Cambridgeshire, connections might take the plunge here instead which is more suitable.
Her valuable experience of Ascot will stand her in good stead as she was beaten just three parts of a length when second to Campanelle in the Queen Mary on her second career start, so it’s not like she has masses to find with the former over this trip, which is better for her, and she’s nearly double the price of Wesley Ward’s leading contender which is an insult.
This race is likely to be run at a frantic gallop which will suit this filly, who likes to be delivered late and, with this outing being only her third start at the highest level, she surely has improvement in the locker and could be ready to produce her biggest performance yet.
