Royal Ascot Day 2: Acapulco, Cladocera, Rizeena and other horses to watch

Volatile became a rare Scandinavian winner at Meydan in February when he won the Meydan Classic and he takes his chance in what looks a very competitive Jersey Stakes, writes Geoffrey Riddle.

Volatile, ridden by jockey William Buick, won at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai in February. Pawan Singh / The National
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Here are five horses to watch out for on Wednesday at Royal Ascot:

Volatile – Jersey Stakes

Sweden is not a well-known racing jurisdiction in Britain, but racegoers in Dubai will know Volatile well. Jessica Long’s gelding became a rare Scandinavian winner at Meydan in February when he won the Meydan Classic and he takes his chance in what looks a very competitive Jersey Stakes.

Acapulco – Queen Mary Stakes

US trainer Wesley Ward has come to Royal Ascot with a huge team, but of all his 10 horses it is the filly Acapulco that has been the subject of most discussion. Ward revealed this week that she has been working so well in America that should she reproduce her form from training, no horse he has ever trained could live with her. Bold words.

Cladocera – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes

Cladocera’s run behind Solow in the Dubai Turf at Meydan on World Cup night was disappointing. The four-year-old filly had won the Cape Verdi and Balanchine at Meydan, but days before World Cup night trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre revealed she had come to the end of her tether. Freshened up back in Chantilly, she looks a threat to hot favourite Integral.

Rizeena – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes

When Rizeena won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot 12 months ago, her overjoyed octogenarian trainer Clive Brittain performed a jig in front of a capacity crowd in the winners’ enclosure. Not much has gone right since for Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook’s filly, but she remains a class contender.

Dark Emerald – Royal Hunt Cup

There were few more romantic stories than the emergence of Dark Emerald during the course of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, but Brendan Powell’s runner, who cost just €18,000 (Dh74,411), racked up two wins and two places before being outclassed on World Cup night. Fran Berry takes the ride in the 30-runner cavalry charge over 1,600 metres.

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