Parole d'Oro

Where Parole d'Oro does find his feet is at middle distances, specifically between seven furlongs and a mile. Over that range he has won 1 of his 3 races, a 33 percent win rate that stands out starkly against his overall figures and hints at a distance where he is genuinely competitive. Trained by Michael Bell at Newmarket, the yard has been in strong form this season with 44 winners already on the board, and the trainer has a specific plan for this horse. Parole d'Oro is being aimed at the Britannia at Royal Ascot, a prestigious race that has been the long-term target since his purchase. The owner, based in France, attends Ascot every year and uses a box on Thursday, so everything has revolved around getting the horse qualified and ready for that exact occasion. Bell was sitting on Parole d'Oro's official rating after a strong second-place finish at Thirsk to a horse that subsequently won a significant race elsewhere, which provided a collateral boost to his mark and improved his prospects for the big day. The trainer has noted he has been to Ascot before and run creditably, suggesting this familiar track, this particular race at this particular moment, might finally be where he breaks his long losing streak.