American runners at Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is the highlight of the British Flat racing season and part of what makes it special is the exciting mix of foreign-trained runners the elite meeting attracts.

One notable absentee from the American raiders this season is trainer Wesley Ward, a regular visitor who has never been shy of taking on Europe's finest with his speedy two-year-olds and some older sprinters.

He will not be represented this year as, for the first time in more than a decade, he has decided that the meeting comes too soon for his latest crop of juveniles.

There are still five US-trained contenders expected to take their chance at the famous Berkshire course this week, so let's look at their chances.

Lennilu

There's no official American interest on the first day of the meeting on Tuesday, but Stateside race fans will be taking a keen interest in the performance of Carl Spackler in the opening Queen Anne Stakes at 14:30.

The five-year-old by Lope De Vega will be having his first run for Australian trainer Ciaron Maher after winning eight of his 12 races in the States for the Chad Brown stable.

The first current American-trained runner to see the track is expected to be Lennilu, who is set to tackle the opening race of Wednesday's card, the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at 14:30.

The two-year-old Leinster filly is unbeaten in her two races to date for trainer Patrick Biancone and has already shown she is adaptable when it comes to going.

She won a maiden sprint at Keeneland on a dirt surface but then impressed when winning the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies on a firm turf track at Gulfstream Park five weeks ago. 

That success by three-and-three-quarter lengths marked her out as a talented filly and she is one of the best chances of an American success this week.

Jockey Luis Saez, who was on board for both her wins, is making the trip over the Atlantic to ride.

Tough Critic

There's another American runner in the final race of Wednesday's card, the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes for two-year-olds at 18:10.

Tough Critic is set to be the first of two runners for trainer George Weaver after the Caravaggio colt won his debut race at Keeneland.

He stayed on strongly over five-and-a-half furlongs in that maiden special weight race on a firm turf track, beating a Wesley Ward-trained favourite.

Flavien Prat was in the saddle that day and has been booked for the ride at Ascot.

Sandal's Song

Sandal's Song is set to line up in Thursday's opening Royal Ascot race, the Norfolk Stakes at 14:30.

The juvenile colt will be under new ownership after being purchased by big-spending Wathnan Racing in the last week.

By Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Mendelssohn, Sandal's Song won the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes on a firm turf surface at Gulfstream Park last month. 

That victory earned him an automatic place at Ascot and organisers will be delighted that trainer George Weaver's hopeful will be taking up the invitation.

Bibi Dahl

Bibi Dahl represents trainer Jorge Delgado and instead of taking on Lennilu in the Queen Mary, the American Pharoah filly will be going over six furlongs in the Albany Stakes at 14:30 on Friday.

She was runner-up to Lennilu on her Gulfstream Park debut, running on well to finish more than five lengths ahead of the third horse.

Having been bought by AMO Racing for $1.35 million, her team are hopeful she can turn into a high-class filly.

Shisospicy

The second race on Friday sees three-year-old American filly Shisospicy tackling the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs at 15:05.

Jose Francisco D'Angelo's filly will be a decent price in an elite field of sprinters, but she will have top jockey Oisin Murphy in the saddle.

The grey Mitole filly could go well having won three times in a row since switching from the dirt to turf racing. 

Her last victory was by more than four lengths in the Grade 3 Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill Downs, when she comfortably justified her 7/5 starting price to win more than £100,000 in prize money. 

That win was over only five and a half furlongs, but she ran over up to six and a half furlongs as a juvenile, so the trip should be no issue.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.