Black Caviar to Face 20 Ascot Rivals

Photo: Nigel French AP

Black Caviar will take on a maximum of 20 rivals in the Group I Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday.

Fellow Australian Ortensia, set first to run in the Group I King's Stand Stakes on Wednesday (EST), is set to oppose Black Caviar as the wonder mare bids to stretch her unbeaten record to 22 races.

James Fanshawe-trained Society Rock will bid to repeat his win in the race 12 months ago, while leading British sprinter Bated Breath and French raider Wizz Kid and Moonlight Cloud are also among the entries.

Champion trainer Aidan O'Brien has left in Crusade, Reply and After.

Dunaden and Red Cadeaux, who ran the 2011 Melbourne Cup quinella, may clash again in the Group II Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot 30 minutes before the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Mikel Delzangles's Dunaden beat Ed Dunlop's Red Cadeaux by a nose in the Melbourne Cup, and confirmed his superiority in the Group I Hong Kong Vase in December.

The pair face plenty of competition among 18 entries, as John Gosden has confirmed the fast-improving Aiken, who beat Dunaden in the Grand Prix de Chantilly, and last year's St Leger winner Masked Marvel.

So You Think, meanwhile, is set to face 10 rivals as he bids to win his final start in Europe, the 150th Anniversary of Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday before heading back to Australia to take up stud duties.

The dual Cox Plate winner, formerly trained by Bart Cummings, suffered a shock loss at the hands of Rewilding in the 2000m showpiece 12 months ago.

So You Think, now trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, registered his ninth Group I victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup with a six-length romp at the Curragh in May.

Carlton House will race against him for The Queen, while Big Blue Kitten is a fascinating runner from the American stable of Chad Brown and 2011 French Derby winner Reliable Man will run for Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre.