Battle royal for Godolphin

Ahmad Ajtebi rides Calming Influence to victory in the Godolphin Mile at Meydan.

Calming Influence takes on some of the world's top milers today when he makes his first start in Europe since November in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. The five-year-old son of King's Best gave Mahmood al Zarooni his first win when quickening well to land the Group Two Godolphin Mile on Tapeta at Meydan Racecourse but the Godolphin trainer knows he and his jockey Ahmed Atjebi face a tough task to repeat that victory today.

"Calming Influence is well and fit but it looks like it is a very tough renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes this year," said al Zarooni."He won nicely out in Dubai and he is in good form at the moment, but he hasn't run since March and there might be a question mark over him running well over a straight mile - he loved the bends around Meydan." Calming Influence lines up against nine others in the Ascot dual, including Breeders' Cup Mile heroine Goldikova, last year's winner Paco Boy and Rip Van Winkle, who scored over a mile at Ascot in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last year. However, Aidan O'Brien has voiced genuine concerns about Rip Van Winkle.

"Rip Van Winkle is in good form and we think that he has done really well from three to four and definitely gone the right way," the trainer told The Racing Post. "But because he hasn't had a run this year, we are genuinely worried about his fitness, as most of our horses usually come on a good bit from their first run." Godolphin has won the Queen Anne Stakes seven times, through Charnwood Forest (1996), Allied Forces (1997), Intikhab (1998), Cape Cross (1999), Dubai Destination (2003), Refuse To Bend (2004) and Ramonti (2007).

Meanwhile, Roayh will aim to build on a promising start to his career in the Group Two Coventry Stakes over six furlongs at the same English venue today. The two-year-old Speightstown colt, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, made most of the running to beat fellow Godolphin runner Greek Islands by an eased-down two and a quarter lengths in a six-furlong maiden at Leicester earlier this month. He was fifth on his debut over the same distance in a Nottingham maiden last month when he raced prominently prior to fading inside the final furlong.

"Roayh won well at Leicester last time out and came back in good form from that race," bin Suroor said. "He has improved and needs to have as this is a much tougher race." Roayh, the mount of Frankie Dettori, races against 14 colts, including impressive debut winners Strong Suit and Elzaam as well as Irish raiders Zoffany and Samuel Morse, who are both unbeaten in two starts.

* Agencies