Betting
KESTENNA: Royal Ascot port of call for previous Kempton heroine
Former Kempton star Kestenna bids for Royal Ascot glory this Friday
February’s Sunbury-on-Thames winner Kestenna heads to Royal Ascot on Friday for the Sandringham Stakes as she bids for a third career success.
The John & Thady Gosden trained three-year-old landed back-to-back wins at Wolverhampton and Kempton in the winter before being turned over at short odds on her return to the Surrey track in April.
She then finished a creditable fifth on her turf debut in the Oaks Farm Stables at York last month and the only substantial piece of form from that contest has been positive since.
Opening on a handicap mark of 97, she partners Frankie Dettori who, up until Wednesday evening, had already clocked up two winners at the Royal Meeting in Berkshire.
At the declaration stage for the £75,000 contest, which is the fifth of the day on the penultimate afternoon of flat racing’s biggest stage, the Pride Of Dubai daughter rivals Aidan O’Brien’s Friendly at the head of the market.
The latter mentioned remains a maiden after eight starts and partners Ballydoyle retained rider Ryan Moore aiming to shed her winless tag.
Former Kempton silver medalist Glesga Gal is seeking the hat-trick and is a prominent figure in the betting for Hugo Palmer, while duel winning rider in this race Hayley Turner is aboard Richard Spencer’s Professional Widow.
