Magician will prove his worth as a miler

DESPITE his last-minute injury scare, Magician is taken to prove he is the best miler of his generation with victory in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

There were some slight doubts about the participation of the Irish 2000 Guineas winner late last week but with trainer Aidan O’Brien happy to run, there can be no doubts about his fitness now.

This Galileo colt was not a juvenile star but he appears to have really blossomed over the winter months and thoroughly impressed when strolling to victor over ten furlongs on his reappearance in the Dee Stakes.

While the form of that race has not worked out particularly well, Magician proved himself as a top-level performer when dropping back to a mile to win the Curragh Classic last month.

With his stablemate setting a strong pace, Magician swooped inside the final two furlongs to win by just over three lengths without coming under pressure. Animal Kingdom has been all the rage for the opening Queen Anne Stakes and the American raider is hard to oppose.

Spirit Quartz can give trainer Robert Cowell a second King’s Stand Stakes win in three years.

Cowell claimed the five-furlong prize with Prohibit in 2011 and Spirit Quartz has strong claims based on his fine reappearance run at Haydock and a subsequent win in France.

Frankie Dettori can complete his rehabilitation in the saddle with victory aboard Thunder Strike in the Coventry Stakes.

Richard Hughes has left the Woodcote Stakes winner in favour of fellow Richard Hannon-trained runner Championship, leaving Dettori to pick up a gem of a spare ride. Thunder Strike has won each of his three starts to date and after the unique Epsom track, he will be even better on his return.

Fountain Of Youth’s dam Attraction was twice a winner at the Royal meeting and he can maintain family honour in the closing Windsor Castle Stakes.

Away from Ascot, Saeed Bin Suroor’s Waverunner can strike in the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF Fillies’ Handicap at Thirsk while Spieta is the choice in Kempton’s Silver Blaze Wessex Cup Fillies’ Handicap.

Yojojo was a winner at Brighton last time and can repeat the trick in the Betfair Multiples Cashout “Do You? Don’t You?” Fillies’ Handicap.