Royal Ascot 2025: Selections for Friday

Day 4 at Royal Ascot is highlighted by the Coronation (G1) and Commonwealth Cup (G1), both of which appear top-heavy in terms of depth.

After some mixed results with our top selections on Thursday (one win, two unplaced, and one scratched at the gate), my British betting bankroll stands at $479.80. I will place win wagers equal to 5% of the outstanding balance on the following top selections. The first play on Friday will be for $24.

Race 1: Albany (G3), 9:30 a.m. ET

There haven't been many shockers on top in this six-furlong dash for two-year-old fillies in recent years, but perhaps this edition will be different.

Trainer Richard Hannon, like his namesake father, has a reputation for developing capable juveniles. He has two entered here, with #16 Tahalel (20-1) a potential improver in her second start. Although Hannon is on record saying she might prove better over seven furlongs, Tahalel fared well enough first out at Haydock, outfinishing a next-out winner for second after getting bet down to 6-5. The winner, #5 Fitzrella, had the benefit of a prior good run against males and went unchallenged on the front end. Tahalel rated but simply couldn't quicken to catch the winner.

Tahalel should come on from that in a more pace-laden race, and hopes must have been reasonably high when Al Shaqab plunked down more than half a million for her as a yearling last summer. Also worth noting is that she's by Blue Point, a three-time Group 1 winner at the Royal meeting.

The aptly-named #7 Green Sense (6-1) makes a lot of sense after two strong runs in Ireland for Joseph O'Brien, a three-length maiden win at the Curragh back in April, and then a close second in a Group 3 at Naas when she made the front perhaps a bit too soon.

#14 Signora (5-1), being from Coolmore, will take a lot of money. She finished 1 3/4 lengths behind Green Sense in the aforementioned Group 3 contest, which served as her debut. By Frankel and out of a Queen Mary (G2) winner, she's simply bred to win at this fixture, but won't offer much in the way of value.

Hannon's other entry #8 Indigo Dawn (30-1) and second-time starter #4 Fairy Oak (20-1) are longer shots to consider in vertical exotics.

Race 2: Commonwealth Cup (G1), 10:05 a.m. ET

This traditionally formful six-furlong test for three-year-old colts and fillies has attracted a field of 22, superfluous when you consider who the marquee names are.

#9 Shadow of Light (9-5), arguably England's top two-year-old last year when taking the Middle Park (G1) and Dewhurst (G1), showed a mile wasn't totally out of his reach on debut this term when a rock-solid third in the 2000 Guineas (G1), only a length behind stablemate Ruling Court and about half that margin in back of Field of Gold. The latter, of course, looked otherworldly when reversing that form Tuesday in the St James's Palace (G1).

By any measure, Shadow of Light has few discernable weaknesses going into this and will take some beating.

I had seriously considered the longer-priced #8 Jonquil (8-1), but I'm not sure if this talented Juddmonte homebred will be quick enough to beat the top selection over six. Despite winning the Greenham (G3) nicely and missing by a short margin to Henri Matisse in the French 2000 Guineas (G1), it's understandable, given the competition, why connections chose not to aim him for the St James's Palace. However, he's never run this short before, which limits his minor upset appeal.

Juddmonte's other entry, the filly #14 Babouche (4-1), has a trio of Group wins over males, including the Phoenix (G1) and the last-out Lacken (G3), both over six. Her one prior trip to England resulted in a relatively dull fourth in the Cheveley Park (G1), but that was over ground softer than she might have preferred. She's unlikely to have such an excuse, if that was indeed one, in this spot.

Race 4: Coronation (G1), 11:20 a.m. ET

With the English and Irish Guineas winners not making this party, that leaves French 1000 Guineas (G1) heroine #11 Zarigana (8-5) the filly to beat. A descendant of the legendary Zarkava, Zarigana is unlucky not to be undefeated after losing a head bob in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) last fall. But she's come out running this year with back-to-back wins, albeit narrowly and with her classic score decreed by the Longchamp stewards after she was interfered with close to the finish.

Zarigana possesses a strong late kick, and while not the standout that her owner's Tahiyra was in this race two years ago, she figures to be formidable.

#3 Chantilly Lace (12-1) won a key maiden on debut at Salisbury last October, but wasn't seen again until the 1000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket in early May. While she had every right to perform worse than she did, her 2 1/4-length loss to the imposing Desert Flower suggests she will get even better with more experience. I look for her to take a significant step forward in this spot.

#6 Falakeyah (3-1) has looked a very exciting prospect after a mere two starts, including a dominating score in the Pretty Polly S. at Newmarket last time over 1 1/4 miles. Her relative class will be tested, and the cutback of two furlongs is not insignificant with a short price looming.

#8 January (15-1) futilely chased Desert Flower multiple times at two and presumably has a far better race in her than what she showed in her Irish 1000 Guineas (G1) comeback.

Race 6: King Edward VII (G2), 12:35 p.m. ET

Although this race tends to attract Derby (G1) starters or those who didn't quite make the cut in the trials for that classic, I'm not especially taken with those here who fall under either umbrella.

Provided Zarigana comes through in the Coronation, #11 Zahrann (5-1) could cap a big day for the legendary Aga Khan stable. This son of Night of Thunder is 2-for-3, including an eye-catching, last-to-first score in the King George V Cup (formerly the Nijinsky S.) at Leopardstown when stepping up to this 1 1/2-mile trip last time. He's less exposed than many here and remains with upside.

#1 Amiloc (2-1), a gelding ineligible for any of the classics, enters undefeated from four starts. His score in the Cocked Hat S. at Goodwood last time was unexpectedly dominant, given how much he came under a ride before the straight and momentarily looked more likely to finish up the track than first. Clearly talented, but he can't afford to go through such similar motions in this stiffer test.

#8 Puppet Master (7-2), the Lingfield Derby Trial winner for Coolmore last month, is a logical contender, while #9 Regal Ulixes (20-1) is sure to stay the trip while taking a stiff hike in class.