It has been eight years since Adrian Keatley experienced Classic success, but he may have found the horse that could take him back to the top in the form of Francisco's Piece, who is set to compete for Royal Ascot glory in the Coventry Stakes.
Keatley's biggest victory to date came with Jet Setting in the 2016 Irish 1,000 Guineas, and since then, he has been slowly discovering more promising horses. Francisco's Piece started with a win at Pontefract before putting up a good fight against Shadow Army at York. An impressive performance at Listed level at Chantilly further confirmed his potential.
Now stepping up to six furlongs for the opening two-year-old race at Royal Ascot, Francisco's Piece has caught the attention of many, especially as he is set to be auctioned at the Goffs London Sale.
Speaking about the horse, Keatley expressed his satisfaction with his performance and his confidence heading into the race. Jockey Paul Mulrennan is also optimistic about Francisco's Piece's chances, especially with the step up in distance.
In addition to Francisco's Piece, other contenders in the Coventry Stakes include Charlie Appleby's Al Qudra and Symbol Of Honour, Richard Hannon's The Actor, and Joseph O'Brien's Cowardofthecounty. With no clear standout in the field, the race is expected to be closely contested.
One interesting entrant in the race is Angelo Buonarroti, a debutante owned by Amo-racing and purchased for €1 million. This horse will mark the first-ever British runner for Raphael Freire.
Overall, the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot promises to be an exciting and competitive race, with several talented contenders vying for victory.