Royal Ascot 2019: Nicola Currie to end 32-year female drought

Royal Ascot 2019. 

The start of more stories than you can shake a stick at. Trainers, jockeys, owners and the pageantry and pomp of the Royals. 

There is one thing that you may not see this year because it has been as rare as hen's teeth in previous times. So what am I talking about? The title of the post gives it away, hey. It's the lack of wins for female jockeys. 

In fact, there has been only one female jockey won at the Royal meeting. Girl, has it been that long between drinks? It's been 32-years since Gay Kelleway rode Sprowston Boy to victory in the Queen Alexandra Stakes. 

Is it really that long ago?

Sadly, it seems that Royal Ascot isn't female friendly when it comes to winning rides unlike this year at Cheltenham when Lizzie Kelly, Bryony Frost & Rachel Blackmore all tasted victory. 

Even Hayley Turner, who has won over 800 races on the Flat, has had to play second fiddle at Royal Ascot. Readers may remember she went so close to winning when riding Margot Did for Michael Bell in the Albany Stakes in 2010. 

Last year, Hollie Doyle was runner-up in the Sandringham Handicap. 

What's happening?

Looking at data detailed by the Guardian newspaper, in all 115 rides since 1989 by female jockeys only 10 have hit the frame. The average starting odds being nearer 50/1. 

What does this tell us? Basically, the female jockeys - bar a few exceptions - are riding no-hopers. 

Even Frankie Dettori would struggle to win if he was riding Eeyore the donkey. 

Is this just another sign of sexism in the Sport of Kings? 

It's not so long ago women in the Royal Enclosure where seen as an appendage of their husband when it came to the names on their badges. However, it should be noted that the majority of male jockeys don't even get to ride at the Royal meeting let alone win a race. It's a similar story for apprentice jockeys of both sexes. 

It is a course for the elite jockeys, much to do with the huge prize money on offer, which makes a great payday for those who are led into the winner's enclosure.  

Nicola Currie is this year's leading female apprentice and a rare talent. Jamie Osborne has given her the ride on Raising Sand in Wednesday's Royal Hunt Cup. 

In one of the most competitive races of the week, this son of Oasis Dream, in the ownership of Nick Bradley Racing 22 & Partner, odds of 12/1 look to hold some value. This 7-year-old bay gelding is a course specialist. He won a £100,000 contest last October. Currie has ridden this talented horse on his last four outings and knows him well. 

Could this be the second female winner at Royal Ascot?

Tuesday's 2YO Update (30th April)

Monday detailed a couple of debut winners. 

Strive For Glory won on the line for Robert Cowell. It looked a poor race with the second favourite a non-runner and odds-on favourite stuck behind a wall of horses. It's all good for Group Horse but I must admit I didn't fancy the horse to win as the trainer has a poor strike rate with debutantes. I feel it won by circumstance. However, most winners are about circumstance. 

At Windsor, Emten won well for Jamie Osborne and the Melbourne 10 Racing syndicate. There is little doubt the stable fancied this two-year-old to go well. The betting was a little misleading as this good-looking filly was on the edge of a betting guide which suggested a big run. She won pretty easily. It's a good sign when Osbourne's juveniles win on debut and I can imagine she will be heading to Royal Ascot. 

Tuesday

Three two-year-old races on the day. Just a quick look to detail the significantly entered juveniles. 

1:30 Nottingham - 

Just the sole significant entry going. Richard Hannon's two-year-olds are never the easiest to assess and a few fancied of late have looked in need of the experience. Beignet is quite a well-bred filly being sired by Canford Cliffs and out of a decent mare in Cake, who did well for the stable winning on her first two starts and far from disgraced when fifth in the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) beaten less than two lengths. Beignet ran well on debut at Brighton, but couldn't hold the late charge of Paul Cole's winner. This drop back to 5f will help and that race brings valuable experience. Cole's victor is probably a fair juvenile with size and scope so I can see the form of the first two holding up. A few debutantes are in opposition, and if they are fancied in the betting could, from a statistical point of view, put down a challenge. I would take a watching brief but expect Beignet to run a sound race. 

2:25 Brighton - 

Another Hannon two-year-old with form. Audio is the only significantly-entered juvenile in this race. This son of Equiano cost 24,000 guineas at the yearling sales. His debut effort was difficult to assess in ways. Electric Ladyland won carrying a penalty, while Saeed bin Suroor's favourite Dark Of Night fluffed his lines with a slow start. Audio wasn't overly fancied in the betting, which may suggest he was in need of the run. Also, he was racing wide for the whole trip which couldn't have helped his cause. Audio should go well in this restricted race type although it is difficult to assess that first start. 

2:45 Yarmouth - 

A couple of significantly-entered juveniles here. Mark Johnston's Don't Joke is expected to improve for his first start. He was fancied to go well on debut at Bath but could never get to grips with the pace of Zulu Zander, who was carrying a penalty, for an easy win at Leicester the time before. It was a fair debut if not a little bit tricky to assess. I imagine the experience will be a plus and this better ground may be more to his liking. 

The other entered juveniles is Robert Cowell's Taste The Nectar. The stable had a winner on Monday when Strive For Glory won at Newcastle. This American-bred daughter of More Than Ready cost $65,000 when purchased at the Keeneland yearling sales. It is positive that this filly holds an entry of some note. However, the stable have a poor strike rate with their two-year-old debutantes which doesn't bolster confidence. I would have to take a watching brief of this filly but hope she goes well. 

Jeremy Noseda's Fleeting Princess doesn't have any entries at this time but could prove the biggest danger. If priced 11/4 and less SP could take some beating.