The Albany Stakes is a Group 3 contest run over 6f. It takes place at 14:30 on Friday 23rd June, which is the fourth day of Royal Ascot 2023. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

NR⁽¹⁴⁾

232

Snafiya

T: George Boughey

9-2

Consistent without progressing and there's no obvious reason why she'll be reversing last-time-out Ripon placings with Pretty Crystal, who was making her debut; the cheekpieces tried then are now removed.

18⁽¹⁶⁾

Soprano

J: William Buick

T: George Boughey

9-2

104

At 6-4, she was expected to do the business at Newmarket's Guineas meeting in early May (5f, good) and duly delivered in what's traditionally an informative maiden; came under pressure mid-race but found plenty to be strong through the line, beating the subsequent Hilary Needler winner (ninth in the Queen Mary); it's hard to fault a debut performance like that and she's strongly considered.

13⁽⁸⁾

Porta Fortuna

J: Frankie Dettori

T: Donnacha Aidan O'Brien

9-2

113

Scraped home by a neck in both her races, latterly repelling the late charge of newcomer Navassa Island in a Group 3 at Naas (6f, good); it was encouraging to see the principals pull clear and she's evidently decidedly useful; hard to discount and Frankie takes over.

7⁽¹¹⁾

Komat

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

9-2

Up to the task on her Redcar debut (5f, soft) but, from off the pace, she couldn't lay a glove on the principals at Vichy (5f Listed, very soft; the winner ran eighth in the Queen Mary); needs to step up to take this but she looks ready for the extra furlong.

12⁽¹³⁾

Persian Dreamer

J: Kevin Stott

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

9-2

104

Most impressive at Newmarket (5f, good to soft); below that level in a York 5f Listed race (in which the horse she hammered first time out came second) when she was slowly away on good to firm and the leaders never came back; it's tempting to give her another chance to fulfil the promise of her debut win; 6f should be fine.

15⁽⁴⁾

Rating

J: Sean Levey

T: Brian Meehan

9-2

Has 4l to find with Jabaara on their Newmarket clash and the form of her improved third at Kempton seemingly confirmed limitations at this level.

6⁽¹⁸⁾

Jabaara

J: David Egan

T: Roger Varian

9-2

104

Took a tall home reputation with her to Newmarket a month ago (6f, good) and came home strongly to win going away, with a subsequent clearcut winner back in third; had to be switched from a covered position and made up her ground out wide in impressive fashion; trainer has won this twice and his latest winner won that same race en route.

4⁽¹⁰⁾

Flaccianello

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Richard Fahey

9-2

75,000gns yearling; her inexperience soon had her on the back foot at Catterick (5f, good to firm) but she came home well to win from Queen Mary seventh Lady Pink Rose by a length, going away; clearly useful and her trainer knows what's required to win 2yos races at this meeting.

8⁽⁹⁾

Mapmaker

J: Jason Watson

T: Darryll Holland

9-2

Both runs over 6f on good to firm; beaten at Redcar first time out but seemed wiser to the job in hand when prominent throughout for a 2l success at Newbury (runner-up was down the field in Wednesday's Queen Mary); debatable whether she's up to this rise in class and Kevin Stott presumably agrees having opted for the same owner's Persian Dreamer.

2⁽⁷⁾

211

Dawn Charger

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

9-2

101

Beaten by a smart one first time out and this filly went on to win her next two, a soft-ground 5f maiden here before brushing aside a penalty at Carlisle (6f, good); others have achieved more but she's likeable and heading in the right direction.

3⁽⁵⁾

Do It With Style

J: Gavin Ryan

T: Donnacha Aidan O'Brien

9-2

The horse she beat at the Curragh (6f, soft) has been comfortably held in her two maidens since, but this well-related daughter of Ten Sovereigns made up her ground in taking fashion and won comfortably; couldn't be ruled out.

11⁽¹⁷⁾

Passionately

J: Jason Hart

T: Amy Murphy

9-2

Made her debut on heavy ground in France (5f); debatable how much improvement she showed to win at Wetherby (extended 5f, good to firm; runner-up beat one home in the Queen Mary) and she looks outclassed against the potential in this field.

10⁽³⁾

Navassa Island

J: Colin Keane

T: M D O'Callaghan

9-2

113

Half-sister to last season's Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Lezoo and fetched 240,000gns this year; thrown into a 6f Group 3 at Naas (good) first time out and once in the clear she finished with the wind in her sails to push Porta Fortuna to a neck; that was a performance packed with potential and she has to be feared.

16⁽¹²⁾

Sarakana

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Ed de Giles

9-2

By a Derby winner but there's speed in the pedigree; did well to overcome a slow start to win at Haydock (6f, good to firm) and it was good to see the runner-up go in next time, albeit at an ordinary level; looks a minor player raised to this grade.

9⁽¹⁾

Matrika

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-2

Bred to be here as a half-sister to Coventry winner The Wow Signal; prominent from an early stage, she won fairly comfortably with her ears pricked at the Curragh (6f, good; third won since) and market weakness suggested that experience was needed; looks a nice prospect.

5⁽⁶⁾

Gushing Gold

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

9-2

On another day she could easily have made a winning debut at Leicester (5f, good to firm) where she saw her race out well after finding some trouble in running, and it was probably a good filly who beat her (pair clear); whether she's up to this severe rise in class is another matter.

1⁽²⁾

Carla's Way

J: James Doyle

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

9-2

107

£350,000 2yo; favourite at Doncaster (extended 6f; good) and made pretty much every yard of the running, comfortably accounting for one who next time won by 11l; Topspeed/RPR figures bode well and she's a scopey filly with a long stride; major player.

14⁽¹⁵⁾

Pretty Crystal

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

9-2

Smart pedigree; strong in the market prior to her successful debut at Ripon (6f, good to firm) and good value for her near 2l defeat of Snafiya; the close proximity of one who is now 0-5 holds the form down, but there's probably a lot more to come from this filly.

RACING POST TIP

Jabaara

This has the makings of a quality Albany with an array of unexposed winners, who looked so good on their debuts, locking horns. None created a stronger impression than JABAARA, who whistled home once seeing daylight at Newmarket, and formlines through the third that day bode well. Second choice is Persian Dreamer, who looked impressive first time out and a blind eye can be turned to her defeat at York. Matrika is third best after defying a market drift at the Curragh and winning newcomers from her yard usually turn out decidedly smart. Carla's Way turned some heads at Doncaster and she's a good looker with serious potential, while Porta Fortuna and Navassa Island are other major players after dominating an Irish Group 3.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2022	Meditate [4]	2	9-2	5/2	Aidan O’Brien, Ireland	Ryan Moore
2021	Sandrine [2]	2	9-0	16/1	Andrew Balding	David Probert
2020	Dandalla [14]	2	9-0	13-2	K R Burke	Ben Curtis
2019	Daahyeh [14]	2	9-0	4/1F	Roger Varian	David Egan
2018	Main Edition [15]	2	9-0	7/1	Mark Johnston	James Doyle
2017	Different League [13]	2	9-0	20/1	Matthieu Palussiere	Antoine Hamelin
2016	Brave Anna [16]	2	9-0	16/1	A P O’Brien	Seamie Heffernan
2015	Illuminate [13]	2	9-0	4/1F	Richard Hannon	Richard Hughes
2014	Cursory Glance [17]	2	9-0	14/1	Roger Varian	Andrea Atzeni
2013	Kiyoshi [20]	2	8-12	8/1	Charles Hills	Jamie Spencer
2012	Newfangled [12]	2	8-12	7/4F	John Gosden	William Buick

Key race stats

No more than two runs, ten winners in last ten runnings
Drawn 12 or higher, 9/10
At least 7lb off top-rated, 9/10 (exception was top-rated)
Ran in maiden/novice company last time out, 8/10
Adjusted Racing Post Rating of at least 98, 8/10
Distance winner, 8/10
By a sire with a stamina index of at least 7.4f, 7/10

Other factors

All of the last ten winners had scored last time out. The last maiden to succeed as Samitar in 2011.

What happened last year?

One of the more impressive juvenile winners of the week, Meditate kicked clear in the Albany and stayed on strongly to score by one and three-quarter lengths, with debut winner Mawj, who was sent off favourite, coming home in second. Meditate ended the season with success in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf, while Mawj added a Group 3 success to her CV before landing the 1,000 Guineas this season.

Albany Stakes

14:30 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats

What happened last year?

All Races