15:40 Ascot 18 Jun 2022
Hardwicke Stakes
Group 2 | Class 1 | 4YO plus
Winner £134,828 - 7 ran
kept out wide early, close 3rd until led 9f out and maintained strong pace, pushed along over 3f out, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly, impressive
raced in 4th, headway out wide edging right and switched left over 2f out, ridden and went 3rd inside final 2f, stayed on into 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
tracked leader until settled in close 3rd off the rail 9f out, pushed along out wide 3f out, went 2nd just over 2f out, soon ridden, never getting to winner and lost 2nd inside final furlong
reluctant loading, led 3f, tracked winner, eased out 3f out, ridden and lost 2nd approaching final 2f, lost 3rd inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up off the pace in last pair, wide in 5th home turn, never remotely involved
slowly away and switched right start, held up in rear, came very wide home turn, never a factor
held up off the pace in 5th, pushed along and outpaced over 3f out, soon weakened
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| Betfair SP | £8.10 |
| CSF | £36.49 (2, 6) |
| Tricast | £49.89 (2, 6, 3) |
| Win | £7.00 (2) |
| Place | £1.65 (2), £1.60 (6), £1.01 (3) |
| Swinger | £1.95 (2, 3), £4.35 (2, 6), £1.80 (3, 6) |
| Exacta | £35.60 (2, 6) |
| Trifecta | £79.00 (2, 6, 3) |
Expert Analysis
A race of rather variable standard over recent years, and this year’s renewal, a bit light on numbers and with the favourite and form pick failing to run to his best, is probably slightly substandard. The pace was a bit stop-start to begin with but was pretty true thereafter, the winner’s 101.2% finishing speed only slightly quicker than par.
BROOME (119 here, 117 previously) duly came on from his encouraging Curragh reappearance and went one better than he had the year before, soon leading (kept wide initially), driven approaching 3f out and staying on strongly, in little danger late on. He will do well to repeat the exercise in more strongly contested Group 1s but can at least be trusted to give his running more often than not.
MOSTAHDAF (114 here and previously) ran creditably enough in first-time cheekpieces to say he stayed 12f but merely kept on late having travelled comfortably and would likely be as good back at 10f. Twice a Group 3 winner, he has come up a bit short against better rivals on his last two appearances.
HURRICANE LANE (111+ here, 121 previously) shaped as if the race will do him good, likely to be back to his best sooner rather than later, travelling OK tracking the pace, making an effort over 2f out and closing only briefly before one paced and not unduly knocked about. He had a fine season as a 3-y-o, winning the Irish Derby, Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger before coming third in the Arc, all of which efforts came on easier ground than this (though not much easier in the case of the Irish Derby).
SOLID STONE (109 here, 112 previously) seemed beaten on merit more than anything else, awkward beforehand and prominent for a long way, rallying a bit late after being unable to go with the principals.
LAYFAYETTE (97 here, 109 previously) probably stays this far but under-performed on ground firmer than he usually encounters, slowly away and never really a threat.
AWAY HE GOES (93 here, 111 previously) is likely to come on for his first run since August, slowly away and always behind. He was second to Trueshan in last year’s Goodwood Cup.
LIVING LEGEND (90 here, 112? previously) had little room at the start and was held up as a result, making no progress. His Jockey Club Stakes win may flatter him, but there has been more to his heavy defeats since than just that.
Video Highlights
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Replay: 15:40 Ascot 18th Jun 2022
