From the Queen to first-season sires, some pedigree angles at Royal Ascot

One of the biggest weeks in Flat racing kicks off on Tuesday, with everything bloodstock enthusiasts could wish for including runners by first-season sires and international stallions being represented. We take a look at some of the potential bloodstock angles that could pop up at the royal meeting.

Dartmouth back for more honours

There would be no bigger cheer this week than a winner for the Queen, and homebred Naval College could line up to give his sire Dartmouth a first winner in the King George V Stakes on Thursday.

A high-class son of Dubawi, Dartmouth ran out a brave winner of the Hardwicke Stakes at the meeting in 2016, defeating a field that included Highland Reel, Wicklow Brave and Simple Verse, and - now housed at Shade Oak Stud - has had his gelded son place twice from three starts for his legendary trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

Dartmouth: the Queen's Hardwicke Stakes winner could yet sire a Royal Ascot winnerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Naval College is out of the Listed-placed Selkirk mare Sequence, a dual winner for Stoute during her own career and a half-sister to Derby and Arc hero Sinndar.

Dartmouth won eight races for the Queen, including the Yorkshire Cup and Ormonde Stakes, as well as placing in the Canadian International and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

First-season sires bidding for success

Plenty of bloodstock eyes will be on the first-season sire runners and how they get on this week.

The Coventry Stakes on the first day will see the impressive York winner Bradsell attempt to make it two from two for Nunnery Stud resident Tasleet, while Harry Angel's Harry Time, who is due to be sold at the Goffs London Sale, also bids to make it two from two.

Also in the contest are Holguin, one of 18 individual scorers for Whitsbury Manor Stud revelation Havana Grey, and Waiting All Night, Phil Cunningham's homebred by Rajasinghe, the winner of the race in 2017.

Bradsell attempts to give first-season sire Tasleet a Royal Ascot winnerCredit: Shadwell

Wednesday's Queen Mary Stakes includes warm favourite Love Reigns, Stonestreet Stables' daughter of Coolmore's champion juvenile and July Cup winner US Navy Flag; James Garfield's National Stakes winner Maria Branwell; a pair of Havana Grey fillies in Katey Kontent and Maylandsea; and the Tasleet duo of Carmela and Omniqueen.

The Windsor Castle Stakes runners by first-season sires include Kessaar duo Bolt Action and Silencer; the Havana Grey trio of Eddie's Boy, Rocking Ends and Star Of Lady M; Guiteau, by James Garfield, and US Navy Flag's Kaasib.

Triple Crown hero Justify has a strong contender in the exciting Statuette for the Albany Stakes on Friday, while Ibiza Love (US Navy Flag); Sydneyarms Chelsea (Sioux Nation); Cathy Come Home (Expert Eye); Lady Bullet (James Garfield); She's Hot (Sioux Nation); Double O (Kessaar) and Top Of The Class (Zoustar) are also entered.

Sioux Nation's impressive Lingfield scorer Lakota Sioux holds an entry in the Chesham Stakes on Saturday as does Mendelssohn's Congo River.

Can international stallions strike on first day?

The King's Stand Stakes is a glorious example of the international appeal of Royal Ascot and as such the field for the bonanza sprint has plenty of international pedigrees for everyone to enjoy.

As things stand, three of the top four runners in the market are by sires based in Australia and America in Nicconi, Uncle Mo and Into Mischief.

Australian trainer Chris Waller watches his assistant Charlie Duckworth lead Nature Strip around the parade ring before galloping at Ascot10.6.22 Pic: Edward Whitaker

Nature Strip: flagship bearer for his sireCredit: Edward Whitaker

Nicconi, who is based at Widden Stud, is best known for Nature Strip's barnstorming exploits but has also produced the likes of Doomben Cup winner Above Deck and other Group-winning runners such as Mr Martini, Redaspen and Schilling.

Uncle Mo and Into Mischief need less introduction, with the Ashford Stud and Spendthrift Farm stalwarts both standing for six-figure fees and the sires of a plethora of superstars including King's Stand rivals Golden Pal, a dual winner at the Breeders' Cup, and Man Of Promise.

Who will take overall sire honours?

Last year's title went down to the wire as Frankel pipped Dark Angel with three winners, two seconds and a third to the latter's three winners and a third, while Dubawi, Night Of Thunder and Mayson led the chasing pack with two winners and some placings between them.

Among Frankel's leading contenders are Homeless Songs and Inspiral, the pair heading the market for Friday's Coronation Stakes, while last year's Wolferton Stakes winner Juan Elcano returns for more in the race on Tuesday.

He will be represented by Baltic Bird, Nahanni and Emotion in the Queen's Vase on Wednesday, and Sibila Spain in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes the same day.

Dark Angel strikes a pose at Yeomanstown StudCredit: Patrick McCann

Dark Angel's team is set to include Queen Anne Stakes contender Real World, who faces a stiff task against Baaeed but was second to that rival in the Lockinge Stakes; King's Stand Stakes runner Khaadem; last year's Coventry Stakes victor Berkshire Shadow and dual Group 1-winning juvenile Angel Bleu in the St James's Palace, as well as Battaash's brother The Antarctic and French 1,000 Guineas heroine Mangoustine among a host of likely contenders later on in the week.

Dubawi and Sea The Stars should not be ruled out of contention either, with 2,000 Guineas hero Coroebus an odds-on shot in the St James's Palace, while also on team Dubawi are Creative Force (Platinum Jubilee), Life Of Dreams (Ribblesdale) and the lightly raced Eldar Eldarov (Queen's Vase).

Sea The Stars is likely to get off to the best possible start with the mighty Baaeed in the Queen Anne, while other potential candidates for top honours include Stradivarius, who is going for a joint-record fourth success in the Gold Cup; Ribblesdale contender Sea Silk Road; Hampton Court Stakes runner Reach For The Moon and the returning dual Classic second Mojo Star.