FOR many the Prince of Wales’s Stakes is the highlight of Royal Ascot and with Los Angeles a worthy favourite this year, the race looks well up to standard.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge won the Irish Derby last season and went on to be a meritorious third to Bluestocking in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, when attempting to make all the running.

Already a Group One winner this season, when he had the reopposing Anmaat behind him in the Ballymoss Stakes, he looks to have a rock-solid chance.

“He’s just as happy over 10 or 12 furlongs, that’s what we’ve always thought with him. He’s only run over 10 this year and he’s been happy,” said O’Brien.

“In the first half of the season this race was always the plan and he seems in good form since the last day, everything has gone well up to now.

“He’s run on all types of ground, it all comes alike to him.

“He’s very happy to have competition for the lead, there’ll be pace on, everybody knows that. He needs a strong run mile-and-a-quarter, we all know that, and he loves a battle.”

Owen Burrows’ Anmaat is now seven but last year’s Champion Stakes winner proved at the Curragh he is still as good as ever. Connections would not want the ground to be too fast, however.

“We will be keeping an eye on the ground. We’ve declared with a view to running but if the lads came in and said it was riding very quick, we’d have to talk about it,” said Angus Gold, of owners Shadwell.

“He is our star of the year and we have to do the right thing, we need him for the end of the year as well as now but he’s second favourite for one of the biggest races at Royal Ascot, so we want to run while he’s in good form. I very much hope we’ll be there.”