Architect Tips finds value outside the three favourites in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, the feature race on the fifth and final day of Royal Ascot 2022.
Platinum Jubilee Stakes
This year’s renewal looked like having a more open feel than some recent editions when last year’s winner retired from racing through injury. However, Aussie-raider Home Affairs - a 5/1 ante-post favourite just two weeks ago - has now emerged as the clear market leader at best price 2/1.
He will be Chris Waller’s first runner in Britain since 2015 when Brazen Beau was narrowly beaten by the Wesley Ward-trained Undrafted in this race, formerly known as the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
Second favourite is Charlie Appleby’s Creative Force (10/1), who won the Group 1 Champions Sprint over course-and-distance and the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at this meeting last year. He needs to put aside a below-par effort in Meydan but remains the highest-rated runner of the British bunch and can’t be taken lightly.
Rounding off the top three favourites we go back to Ward, whose two-time Royal meeting winner Campanelle (Queen Mary in 2020 and last year's Commonwealth Cup) comes in at a best price 11/1.
She’s won five of her eight career starts and is well-suited to the Berkshire venue but 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 Tips
Despite the claims of the three favourites, the one I am attracted to at a double-figure price is Owen Burrows’ MINZAAL (best price 18/1). 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 after 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 2 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 2 and Group 3 wins. 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.
