A strong international flavour in this year’s Golden Eagle.
The blueprint was set last year by Obamburumai who showed a devastating turn of foot to win the Golden Eagle (1500m) and the raiders have come again this year.
Ascoli Piceno brings similar form to Obamburumai, but she's better.
Obamburumai was rated 112 on the R&S ratings prior to coming here having run third in the Group 1 NHK Mile Cup, in what was a fairly weak edition.
Ascoli Piceno has run better than 112 on four occasions, second in the NHK Mile Cup two starts back which was actually her lowest rating run in four starts. Last time out she won a Group 3 at Nakayama, running to 118 on the R&S scale.
She also has a Group 1 win at two under the belt and rates highly here, however the wide draw and likelihood that she goes back from that draw will make things a bit trickier.
The other international runner with very good ratings is Lazzat. He's unbeaten in six starts, last seen winning the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest (1300m) at Deauville, running to an R&S rating of 122.
The key thing I loved about that win, often contrary to French racing, is the time. He's run a very strong time figure there on fairly good ground.
He's relished wet ground in the past, winning a Group 3 on ground that was as wet as it gets before the meeting was abandoned, but the going was fine last time and a rating of 122 would just about win this.
I will say that form hasn't worked out all that well in England, with a few going to the Champions Sprint Stakes and failing to win, but it also ties in with the William Haggas trained Lake Forest, who was beaten by Elite Status last time who was well beaten at Ascot.
Lake Forest is interesting. He's never run over further than six furlongs but has been staying on strongly late, giving the indication he'll want a truer test. He's rated 116 and wouldn't shock.
Of the local hopes, the blueprint has been set in five running's of the Golden Eagle. No horse coming through The Everest has won the race, and only one has placed- Sunlight.
That's not to say that can't change, but it's a concern. The horses coming through the big, fast mile races have done much better. The horse to fit the bill this year is Tom Kitten who has run to ratings of 118 and 116 at his past two behind Ceolwulf.
That puts him right in the mix here from a soft draw, and I'd rather be with Tom than the likes of Joliestar out of what was a fairly slowly run Everest.
Pretty keen to be with the international form here, and back both Ascoli Piceno and Lazzat. They have the best ratings over this sort of trip and arguably have more upside than a lot of their rivals too.
The barrier draw, while not ideal for the Japanese filly, has seen her drift too much in my opinion. Lazzat posted a big rating to win the Maurice de Gheest last start, and that's a strong race.
Only Moonlight Cloud, Muhaarar, Advertise and Space Blues have posted a better winning rating in that race this century which is outstanding company to be in.
Backing Ascoli Piceno and Lazzat to take the cash.
Golden Eagle 2024
Top tip: #19 Ascoli Piceno
Also backing: #12 Lazzat
