Los Angeles cut for Royal Ascot glory
THEY'LL MEET AGAIN: Los Angeles got the better of Anmaat in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month and the pair are on another collision course at Royal Ascot next week. Picture: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Los Angeles has been cut in the ante-post market on the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Economics ruled out.
The William Haggas-trained Economics had been seen as one of the main dangers to Aidan O'Brien's star, following a three-year-old campaign that saw him win the Dante Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes.
He was due to make his reappearance on day two of the Royal fixture, but Haggas told the he would not be running and was "out in the short term, but it's no big deal and hopefully he can be back in action soon".
In his absence Los Angeles is the 3-1 favourite from 7-2 with William Hill, with Owen Burrows' Champion Stakes winner Anmaat next best at 4-1.
William Hill spokesman Lee Phelps said: "News that William Haggas' Economics has been ruled out of Royal Ascot has shaken up the Prince of Wales's Stakes market.
"With one of his key competitors out, we have clipped Los Angeles from 7-2 to 3-1 at the head of the market.
"One horse we're now fearing could be a popular pick is Anmaat after a strong reappearance behind Los Angeles at the Curragh and the Champion Stakes winner could be the punters' pick at 4-1.
"Economics had been third in the betting, but that place now belongs to Wathnan Racing's French raider Map Of Stars (5-1)."
Meanwhile, Donnacha's O'Brien's star filly Porta Fortuna will return later in the year after being forced to miss Royal Ascot with a minor setback.
The Caravaggio four-year-old has twice run at the showpiece fixture and twice been victorious, winning the Albany in 2023 and the Coronation Stakes in 2024.
She is a multiple Group 1 winner alongside those successes, but will not add to her Ascot tally this term as an injury has sidelined her for the time being.
"She's had a bit of a setback, she's not going to make Ascot but hopefully it's nothing too serious," said O'Brien.
"We're hoping to have her back for the second half of the season. It's bad timing, but we'll give her all the time she needs and aim to have her back at her best towards the autumn.
"We won't take any chances with her, we'll do what's right by her — as we would with any horse, of course.
"She's been very special to us, she'll get all the care and attention she needs."
Another filly from the yard who will come to hand later in the year is Falling Snow, a daughter of Justify and dual Guineas winner Winter.
The grey made her debut at the Curragh last season, beating the subsequently Group 1-placed Ballet Slippers, but has not been seen since after a niggle delayed her return to action.
"She's on the way back, she had a bad muscle pull earlier in the season but she's done a few canters now," O'Brien said.
"She'll be back in work soon and again, she'll be one for the second half of the season.
"She's coming along well and she should be a nice filly for later in the year and into next season."
In further Royal Ascot news, Roger Teal has yet to decide who will ride Dancing Gemini in the Royal Ascot curtain-raiser, the Queen Anne Stakes, next week.
Just touched off in the Lockinge by Lead Artist, the four-year-old will lock horns once again with John and Thady Gosden's colt, as well as the likes of Rosallion and Notable Speech.
It will be a real case of jockey merry-go-round, however, as Colin Keane will be replacing Oisin Murphy on Lead Artist due to his new retained role with Juddmonte, while Ryan Moore, who rode Dancing Gemini at Newbury, could be required by Aidan O'Brien for Diego Velazquez.
The leaves the door open for either Rossa Ryan or Kieran Shoemark, who have both ridden Dancing Gemini to victory this season.
"There are three boys who have ridden him this season and we don't know which way the cards are going to fall yet," said Teal.
"One of them will be on board but I can't say which one yet, we'll just have to see what Mr O'Brien does with Ryan and Ralph Beckett with Rossa. Kieran is free so it will be one of the three."
