Prince of Wales Stakes Preview

PLANTEUR was a well beaten fourth in last year’s renewal of the Prince of Wales Stakes but he can make the grade this time around and continue his impressive form for trainer Marco Botti.

The five-year-old by Danehill Dancer was well fancied when sent off an 11/2 shot at the 2011 Royal meeting but was caught napping some way out by winner Rewilding and close second So You Think who re-opposes here.

Prolific predominantly on French soil, Planteur has always carried a lot of class but it was obvious after that performance that the horse ran flat and was in need of a sizeable break.

Planteur was kept off the racecourse for the remainder of the 2011 campaign and subsequently made the switch to Botti’s yard at the beginning of 2012.

And since making the transition to the Italian handler, Planteur has shown glimpses once again of his true self and reports from Botti’s stable suggest that the horse is still improving.

His fine third in the Dubai World Cup in March marked a definite return to form and that effort was followed up by another strong placing at Longchamp in April.

Botti has since had chance to work with and freshen up his stable star who he believes to be his best chance of a winner at Royal Ascot this year.

Planteur evidently has a few pounds to find with So You Think on official ratings, but can do so if ridden positively by jockey Christophe Soumillon in what should be a strongly run affair.

So You Think will be well in the thick of things if able to run up to his best and Aiden O’Brien’s charge has won four Group One races since joining Ballydoyle.

Nevertheless, he has been beaten on both visits to Ascot so far and could be vulnerable up against Planteur who is clearly working his way into contention at top level.

O’Brien may however regard Carlton House as the main danger to So You Think and the Michael Stoute trained four-year-old made an impressive return to action at Sandown just less than three weeks ago in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes.

Carlton House comfortably accounted for Colombian on that occasion and should confirm superiority with John Gosden’s horse again, nonetheless it is doubtful whether he will quite have the necessary finishing speed to be effective in this company over track and trip as twelve furlongs potentially looks to be his ideal.

The up and coming Farhh leads a Godolphin two pronged attack on the contest but he will have to improve further despite impressing to date in routing his way through handicap company, whilst City Style should find life too difficult based on his best form to date.

French raider Reliable Man has reasonable place prospects, along with Wigmore Hall who can outrun his hefty odds under the guidance of Jamie Spencer.

But it is Planteur who is taken to land the victory, with Botti’s prized recruit expected to battle home off a strong, consistent gallop which should definitely be ensured with the likes of Colombian known for front running tactics.

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20/06/2012     © Frixo 2024