Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Tips: Charyn To End Season In Perfect Style
It has been a long hard season for some of the best milers around, and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is the last big domestic prize they can go for. One horse has been the definitive top miler this campaign and Billy Grimshaw thinks keeping things simple is the way to go this time...
I'm fairly sure my reaction back at the start of the season to a visit from my future self stating CHARYN will be the best miler in Europe would - after the initial shock of being greeted by a time travelling more bearded version of myself - be incredulity. I was a doubter of the horse before things kicked off and thought he was a distinctly average runner for Roger Varian. How wrong I was!
I dare say I wouldn't be the only one who has been surprised by Charyn's huge step forward from three to four, and looking back through his record there is actually a case to be made he could well be unbeaten in 2024 coming into this race. He has run six times this season, finishing first in four of those including in the Queen Anne here at the Royal Meeting, but even in his two losses (Lockinge at Newbury when Audience stole the race and then when given a poor ride by SDS at Longchamp last time out) he has battled adversity admirably.
To rack up a season with six runs and no blips is hugely impressive and it has been a mighty training performance by everyone involved with the horse at the Varian yard to keep him performing at the top of his game for so long. Some will decry this pick at these odds with the potential he could now be over the top, but what price would he be in here if his record this year was six wins from six? He sure as hell wouldn't be anything like 7/4!
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Charyn at four is almost certainly at the peak of his powers right now and while some will be supporting the three year old Henry Longfellow in here as he is still improving, I don't see any reason he should close the Longchamp gap of over three lengths on Charyn here. The ground in France was soft, it'll be soft again at Ascot and we know the favourite handles things when the mud is flying or if the surface is firm. Ryan Moore may well give Henry Longfellow a classic ride to pinch the race from the front, but I don't see much appeal personally.
Tamfana is the closest market rival to Charyn on the back of her good Sun Chariot success at Newmarket a fortnight ago. Like Charyn, she is unlucky not to have a better record this year and it is now fairly plain to see she was the best horse in the 1000 Guineas back in May, however I'm not entirely convinced she is up to the level of the colts and despite being given weight here by the favourite, I think she'll be well held by the dashing grey.
Dylan Cunha has worked miracles with the ex unraced Ballydoyle inmate Prague and on the back of his facile Joel Stakes success I think I'd actually fear him most in this race. He's well bred, still learning on the job and clearly thriving - while the ground is also no worry. He could make some appeal to those who like an each-way play, however Charyn is the solid horse who I've for some reason avoided all season. Not today, he's in the staking plan!