THOSE sitting either side of an Anglo Franco divide, ready to leap on the likely victory of Spinning World in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot today with relish, take note.
The colt was bred in America, is owned by a Greek family, represents the Irish Guineas form and is trained in France by an Englishman, Northumberland born Jonathan Pease.
The Nureyev chestnut, unbeaten in both his starts as a juvenile, ran a fair race when third to Ashkalani on his seasonal reappearance and was most unlucky when second to him in the one that mattered, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp.
Held up at the rear by Cash Asmussen, he encountered trouble in running when making headway early in the straight and flew inside the last 100 metres, just failing to catch the Aga Khan's colt by three quarters of a length.
A visit to the Curragh for the Irish 2,000 Guineas provided compensation, however, when Spinning World justified 7 to 4 favouritism, beating Rainbow Blues.
Settled nearer the leaders than in France, he was brought wide by Asmussen in the straight and was always travelling with comfort, quickening to lead a furlong from home for a two length win.
Comparing the form of different Classics is always an inexact science, but early indications are that the Irish race is better than the English equivalent won by Mark Of Esteem.
Three horses the winner, Even Top and Bijou d'Inde all finished in a heap, and the second and third have subsequently run poorly in the Derby and the Irish 2,000 respectively.
Saeed bin Suroor's Mark Of Esteem has also suffered from a high temperature since, forcing him to miss the Derby, which does not inspire confidence.
Most of those who witnessed the clash between Spinning World and Ashkalani at Longchamp came to the conclusion that the runner up would have won granted clear water, and he looks a good bet to set the record straight here.
The Godolphin team can take the opening race of the fixture, the Group Two Queen Anne Stakes, with Charnwood Forest. The Warning colt, trained by Henry Cecil last year, progressed into a really smart performer last year, winning two of his three starts and coming up against Bahri when second in the St James's Palace Stakes a year ago.
After Sheikh Mohammed and Henry Cecil went their separate ways last summer, he moved to Saeed bin Suroor, and gave every indication there was a good prize in him when running second in the Lockinge Stakes to Soviet Line at Newbury on his reappearance, keeping on gamely during the closing stages and going down by a neck.
Relatively lightly raced for a four year old, he is still capable of better and can get the Royal meeting off to a good start for his connations.
With 32 runners going to post, the Britannia Stakes (Handicap) represents a real challenge for the backer, which he will more than likely lose. But those desperate for an involvement could do worse than Winter Romance.
A neck second to Missile, who re opposes, at York on his reappearance, he ran out the emphatic winner of the valuable Tote Credit Silver Bowl at Haydock last time and is a good each way bet to follow up.
Paul Cole's Fletcher, winner of a Newmarket maiden on his race course debut, looks a value alternative to likely favourite Deadly Dudley in the day's juvenile event, the Group Three Coventry Stakes
Bookmakers William Hill make Michael Kinane an odds on favourite to land the London Clubs Trophy (formerly Ritz Club Trophy) awarded to the top jockey at the meeting. Prices 4-6 M Kinane, 9-4 Pat Eddery, 10-1 J Weaver, 12-1 J Reid, 20-1 O Peslier, W Carson, 25-1 C Asmussen.
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