Kevin Stott’s Blog: Turning up the Heat for Auguste Rodin

It’s been quite a frustrating week, with a few near misses but no winners just yet. I’ve got some nice rides lined up at Ascot, though, so I’ll be hoping that some of them can add to my tally for the season.

Saturday, Ascot

First up on Saturday is Miami Heat in the maiden (1.15pm). He was well beaten on his debut at Pontefract, but looked as if further would be better for him in time. He will have to take quite a step forward for this, but both the going and the track are completely different this time, so we could see a totally different horse. He will likely improve from his first run anyway, but these Ascot maidens are never easy to win.

Next is Komat in the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes (1.50pm). She is one of two runners for Amo Racing here, and I’ve chosen her over La Guarida because of the quick turnaround from the Super Sprint at Newbury. Let’s hope I’ve made the right choice! Komat ran a huge race over course and distance in the Albany, she was just a bit outpaced but ran on really well. The slower ground will be perfect for her as she won on debut in soft ground. She’s certainly not without a chance.

In the Group 3 Valiant Stakes (2.25pm) I’m on Zenga. She won at Wolverhampton last season and hasn’t really appeared to progress since then, but I thought that she looked the likely winner of her last run at Pontefract when David Egan unfortunately lost his stirrup which scuppered their chances. Had that not happened, she would have won, I think. Here, she does have a lot to find on ratings and it is a competitive race, but she could be better than she has shown.

Then it’s on to the Heritage Handicap (3.00pm) with Baradar. He is given cheekpieces for the first time here, and he loves a bit of cut in the ground. He’s run well at Ascot before in the Victoria Cup and I’m happy enough with our stands-side draw. It’s interesting that the top two in the market have been drawn lower but, at Ascot, you want to be drawn on one side or the other rather than in the middle. I just want a nice lead for him and, given that, he should have a big chance.

The big race of the day, I ride King Of Steel in the King George VI (3.40pm). We’ve been given stall three, which should be fine, and I want to try and get a good position early on and let him relax. It’ll be interesting to see how he goes on the softer ground, which I think he will enjoy having won in similar conditions on his debut. He’s in great form at home and Roger Varian is delighted with him. Having a course and distance win on his CV is a massive plus and fingers crossed we can now reverse that Derby form on Auguste Rodin!

Last of the day is Major Partnership in the mile handicap (4.50pm). I’ve actually won on him before, in Dubai a few years ago, so know him well enough. He’s done most of his racing out in Dubai, but returned to the UK this year for a win at Nottingham, followed by a good enough run for sixth of 15 over a mile at Sandown. He probably did too much too early in that race, going pretty strongly from the front end, so he did well to finish up. I’m looking forward to getting back on him and seeing what he can do at Ascot.