Cirrus Des Aigles misses Royal date
Monday 18 June 2012
Corine Barande-Barbe has not declared Cirrus Des Aigles in Wednesday's Prince of Wales's Stakes.
The six-year-old, who was as short as 9-4, showed his liking for the Berkshire track when winning last year's Champion Stakes and enjoyed a fine start to this season, landing the Dubai Sheema Classic and the Prix Ganay on his return to Europe.
He suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Golden Lilac in last month's Prix d'Ispahan, and trainer Barande-Barbe is now considering the next target. The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud next Sunday is the most likely.
It means that So You Think will now become the fourth odds-on chance of the five-day meeting, after Stan James went 10-11 about Fame And Glory last week.
Frankel is a best-price 1-6 for tomorrow's Queen Anne Stakes, while Black Caviar is a 1-3 chance for Saturday's Diamond Jubilee.
So You Think is set to face 10 rivals as he bids to make amends for last year's defeat in the ten furlong race.
Aidan O'Brien's former Australian ace suffered a shock loss at the hands of Rewilding in the second-day showpiece 12 months ago and connections will be hoping the six-year-old can put the record straight.
After four reverses in a row, So You Think registered his ninth Group One victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup with a six-length romp at the Curragh last month.
His stablemate Robin Hood, who was third that day, is likely to be used in the role of pacemaker again.
Carlton House carries the hopes of a notable triumph for The Queen, who has not missed a day's racing at the Royal Meeting since 1945.
Third in the Investec Derby last summer, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt made a successful return after a long lay-off in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown three weeks ago and bids to give Her Majesty her 21st success at Royal Ascot.
Big Blue Kitten is a fascinating runner from the American stable of Chad Brown, while France is represented by Reliable Man, trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre.
Godolphin are double-handed with the unbeaten three-times raced Farhh from Saeed bin Suroor's yard and Mahmood Al Zarooni's City Style.
Planteur, Colombian, Sri Putra and Wigmore Hall complete the line-up.
Aidan O'Brien's other two entries, Excelebration and Windsor Palace, were also absentees.
They are due to take on Frankel in Tuesday's Queen Anne Stakes.
William Hill offered Evens about So You Thinkand the firm's Lucy Rhodes, was expecting a clear-cut victory this time around.
“With the late defection of Cirrus Des Aigles, his biggest challenger in the betting, the path looks clear for So You Think to recoup for last year’s narrow defeat, while a royal winner would set the Jubilee celebrations alight”
William Hill - Prince Of Wales’s Stakes: Evens So You Think, 7-2 Carlton House, 7-1 Farhh, 8-1 Planteur, 12-1 Reliable Man, 20-1 Colombian, 25-1 City Style, 25-1 Wigmore Hall, 33-1 Sri Putra, 50-1 Big Blue Kitten, 200-1 Robin Hood (EW 1/5 1,2,3)
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