'Sir Michael is happy with him' - all eyes on Bay Bridge in Prince of Wales's

Wednesday: 3.40 Royal Ascot
Prince of Wales's Stakes (Group 1) | 1m2f | 4yo+ | ITV/Sky

Just ten days after landing a sixth victory in the Derby with Desert Crown, Sir Michael Stoute appears to hold the ace in the Prince of Wales's Stakes pack as he bids to land the first £1 million race to be run at Royal Ascot with Bay Bridge.

No stranger to success in the Prince of Wales's with four wins to his name, Stoute is chasing a third win in the last five years having triumphed in the Group 1 contest with Poet's Word in 2018 and Crystal Ocean the following year.

Bay Bridge, favourite for last year's King Edward VII Stakes at this meeting before a foot abscess ruled him out, has the look of the archetypal improving older horse from the Stoute yard,progressing through the handicap ranks last and making an explosive comeback in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Ascot last month.

His five-length defeat of Mostahdaf that day sent him soaring to the top of the Prince of Wales's market and the team behind Bay Bridge report him to be in fine shape for his first tilt at the highest level.

"It's very exciting and very nerve-wracking," said owner-breeder James Wigan. "It's a step up for him but he deserves to be there and we keep our fingers crossed.

"Ryan Moore rode him on Saturday and Sir Michael is happy with him. He's a big horse but he's a very good mover. It's faster ground that he's run on before but he's certainly very good on good ground, so we'll see.

"Having seen what happened in Dubai, we're worried about Japanese competition and it is sure to be a true test," he added.

Wigan enjoyed Breeders' Cup success with his homebred mare Dank in 2013, but heading into a Group 1 at Ascot with the hot-favourite is something else for a man entrenched in the bloodstock industry.

"I've certainly not had a horse with a Group 1 possibility at Ascot before," he added. "I had planned to send Bay Bridge to the foals sales but he knocked himself just before the sale and he never went to Newmarket. It's wonderful to race a horse like him."

'We really want to win at Royal Ascot with a Japanese horse'

After global success in the last 12 months in America, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, Japan chase a first Royal Ascot success with Shahryar, who brings high-class form to the Prince of Wales's Stakes for trainer Hideaki Fujiwara.

Winner of the Japanese Derby, Shahryar was one of five winners on Dubai on World Cup night in March for Japan, defeating the likes of Yibir, Pyledriver, Alenquer and Hukum in the Sheema Classic.

Shahryar: beat Yibir to the Sheema ClassicCredit: Edward Whitaker

Hiroyasu Matsumoto, farm manager for his breeders Northern Farm, said: "He had experience of travelling before when he went to Dubai, and the experience there was very beneficial for coming to Royal Ascot.

"We really want to win at Royal Ascot with a Japanese horse. It's always been a dream and it's a great honour to be running here. Many people think that the Arc is the pinnacle, but I think that the best sire-making races are in the UK."

Quick ground should play to his strengths and he is only rated a pound below Bay Bridge on official figures and Matsumoto thinks he is getting better with age.

He added: "His optimum distance is anywhere between 2,000 and 2,400 metres [1m2f to 1m4f], and so far as the ground is concerned it's maybe better for him if it's firm. The older he gets the better he gets, and we are really looking forward to Royal Ascot."

State Of Rest aiming for maiden Group 1 victory in Britain

State Of Rest is out to add a first Group 1 win in Britain to a CV which already boasts top-level strikes in the United States, Australia and France.

A granite-tough competitor, State Of Rest was closing at the finish when beaten just a neck in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last month, having won the Prix Ganay three weeks earlier.

A winner of the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes and the Cox Plate last year, State Of Rest is as reliable as a Rolex and doesn't know how to run a bad race.

State Of Rest triumphed in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate in OctoberCredit: Vince Caligiuri

"He's in good nick since his good run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup," said trainer Joseph O'Brien. "This is obviously a competitive race but he will enjoy the quick ground and we're hoping he can run very well. We're looking forward to it."

Lord North has potential to repeat 2020 winning performance

Lord North is chasing a second victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes having run out an emphatic winner of the race when it was staged without racegoers in attendance in 2020.

He missed last year's royal meeting and the majority of last year due to a serious throat infection but has returned close to his best in 2022, forcing a dead-heat to win a second Dubai Turf in March and finishing one spot behind State Of Rest in a barnstorming Tattersalls Gold Cup last month.

Connections believe he may have been drawn into the heat of battle earlier than ideal at the Curragh but he was beaten less than two lengths and has finished outside the first two just once in four starts at Ascot.

Lord North: winner of the 2020 Prince Of Wales's at Royal AscotCredit: Megan Ridgwell (Getty Images/Pool)

"He sat a bit close to a ferocious pace set by High Definition at the Curragh last time but ran well there considering he was back off a break," said joint-trainer Thady Gosden.

"Obviously, it looks a strong race with Bay Bridge in there who looked very smart at Sandown and we hope the ground is not too quick for our fellow."

'It's the right time to have a go at this level of competition'

Only two mares have triumphed in the Prince of Wales's Stakes this millennium and it took females of the calibre of Ouija Board (2006) and The Fugue (2014) to score.

That perhaps highlights the task facing the Gianluca Bietolini-trained Grand Glory, although she has some strong form to her name, including when finishing only a length and a half behind Shahryar when fifth in last year's Japan Cup.

She beat Breeders' Cup winner Audarya when landing the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet in August and failed by only a nose to follow up that victory in the Prix de l'Opera on Arc day.

Grand Glory: after landing the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet in AugustCredit: Frederic Vernichon

At the top of her game following wins at Listed and Group 3 level this year, connections have decided to supplement for the Prince of Wales's at a cost of £70,000, with Mickael Barzalona taking over from regular rider Cristian Demuro, who rides Shahryar.

Bietolini said: "Mickael Barzalona has been to ride the mare and she is truly in top form. The opposition is very high level; Bay Bridge made a big impression at Sandown and the others are all confirmed Group 1 performers.

"At this point I'd take something in the first three. It's the right time to have a go at this level of competition."

Read more of Wednesday's Royal Ascot previews:

2.30 Royal Ascot: Karl Burke: I really do think she has the potential to be a special filly

3.05 Royal Ascot: Can Nahanni recover from Derby horror show to give Appleby back-to-back wins?

4.20 Royal Ascot: Will Mother Earth's course form prove decisive or is that too simple?

5.00 Royal Ascot: Trainer quotes and draw analysis for a red-hot Royal Hunt Cup

5.35 Royal Ascot: Are we dealing with a potential 'good thing' in the shape of Little Big Bear?

6.10 Royal Ascot: Could Royal Ascot's newest race break the rule for races over a mile?

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