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Seven international stars not to be missed at Ascot

BY NICHOLAS GODFREY 2:40PM 14 JUN 2015

International racing expert Nicholas Godfrey guides you through the most exciting horses who have travelled from all over the globe to run at Royal Ascot next week

1. ABLE FRIEND

Joao Moreira riding Able Friend Hong Kong 2014
PICTURE: Getty Images
Queen Anne (Tuesday)
Trainer: John Moore (Hong Kong)
Jockey: Joao Moreira

Able Friend's A-game, featuring a thrilling turn of foot, is quite something to behold.

Apart from his first couple of minor races in Australia, Able Friend has only ever run at Sha Tin racecourse in Hong Kong since being transferred there in 2013.

In the two years since - he is now approaching the end of his five-year-old campaign - the son of Shamardal has established a magnificent record, winning 11 of his 16 starts, including a six-timer this season involving four Group 1s, all of them under his charismatic jockey Joao Moreira, the hugely talented Brazilian known as the Magic Man.

2. BRAZEN BEAU

Brazen Beau: will have two autumn starts, then come over for Royal Ascot
PICTURE: Getty Images
Diamond Jubilee (Saturday)
Trainer: Chris Waller (Australia)
Jockey: Craig Williams

Purchased by Darley over the summer, this three-year-old shot to the head of the formidable Australian sprint division with a breathtaking victory in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on March 14.

Although he was getting weight from older horses in that 6f event, his RPR of 126 is more than enough to make him a major factor wherever he runs.

Chris Waller is favouring the Diamond Jubilee, for which he is 4-1 favourite; Australia will also be represented by the Gai Waterhouse-trained Wandjina (Damian Oliver), while Robert Smerdon's Group 1 winner Shamal Wind is Ryan Moore's mount in the King's Stand.

3. CALIFORNIA CHROME

California Chrome
PICTURE: Matt Wooley/EquiSport
Prince of Wales's (Wednesday)
Trainer: Art Sherman (USA)
Jockey: William Buick

The reigning American horse of the year was right at the top of the Royal Ascot shopping list and here he is, fresh from a solid effort in the Dubai World Cup and a couple of months stationed with Rae Guest in Newmarket.

Connections deserve some kind of reward for their exciting decision to come here but he faces a tall order in the Prince of Wales's, for which he is a 10-1 shot.

4. CRITERION

Criterion-360
PICTURE: Getty Images
Prince of Wales's (Wednesday)
Trainer: David Hayes (Australia)
Jockey: Chad Schofield

Any rain would help a horse whose biggest career successes have all come with a bit of cut.

He has a knack of winning when the big money is up for grabs and recorded his biggest success in April in Sydney's richest race, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, where he beat Red Cadeaux by two and a half lengths on soft ground.

Made favourite for the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin 15 days later, he looked a shade one-paced.

On the plus side, he is said to be thriving at John Gosden's, having spiked a temperature soon after his arrival.

5. CYCLOGENISIS

John Velazquez 17/06/2012
PICTURE: Alex Evers/EquiSport Photos
Commonwealth Cup (Friday)
Trainer: George Weaver (USA)
Jockey: John

A late addition to the US team, this unbeaten three-year-old was supplemented at a cost of £35,000.

Cyclogenisis raced twice on turf as a two-year-old, winning a Saratoga maiden by three lengths and the Laurel Futurity Stakes by nearly six; last month he easily won a stakes race on the Presque Isle synthetics.

"He's three-from-three, but he's never run in a Graded race and hasn't really been tested yet, so we've decided to give it a shot to see if he's Group 1 class," says trainer George Weaver.

John Velazquez (pictured) rides this one; he's also booked for the Graham Motion-trained Miss Temple City in the Coronation Stakes.

6. HOOTENANNY

Hootenanny-360
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Commonwealth Cup (Friday)
Trainer: Wesley Ward (USA)
Jockey: Frankie Dettori

It wouldn't be Royal Ascot without Wesley Ward, who has assembled his biggest-ever team with 11 possibles.

The likely standard bearer is Hootenanny, who routed a big field in last year's Windsor Castle Stakes.

Carrying the colours of the Coolmore team, he was also second to The Wow Signal in the Prix Morny (hated ground) before Frankie Dettori harnessed his speed for an emphatic victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

That was a mile but he is better at shorter and he scored with consummate ease on his Keeneland seasonal debut.

The meeting's new Group 1, the Commonwealth Cup, could almost have been framed for him. Finnegan may prove best of the Ward two-year-olds.

7. SPIELBERG

Tenno Sho Autumn (G1) Spielberg 02/11/2014
PICTURE: Masakazu Takahashi
Prince of Wales's (Wednesday)
Trainer: Kazuo Fujisawa (Japan)
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon

A fast finisher whose career has been interrupted by leg problems, Spielberg was sidelined for 14 months following the Japanese Derby of 2012 before a string of minor victories at his favourite track, Tokyo, in the second half of 2013.

Hit the mark in Grade 1 company in November when he flew home to beat a top-class field in the Tenno Sho (Autumn).

After coming fourth on his prep run in April, Spielberg is in line for a summer campaign in Britain taking in both the Prince of Wales's Stakes and the Coral-Eclipse.

He is joined by stablemate Super Moon (who goes for the Hardwicke) in lining up at Royal Ascot next week.