Two of the championship races of the sprint season take place at Royal Ascot next week. The King’s Stand Stakes over five furlongs starts the ball rolling and there seems to be plenty of confidence in South African raider Shea Shea.
He is a firm favourite on the basis of two blistering performances in Meydan in March. Mike de Kock’s six-year-old easily beat Sole Power by two and a half lengths in the Meydan Sprint and then followed up by easing to victory in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint. Sole Power was beaten about the same distance into fourth with Spirit Quartz and Medicean Man well beaten in both races.
On the bare form, Shea Shea must have a great chance. Whether or not he is entitled to be 5-2 I am not sure. If you factor in the time between races, the travelling and the different surface, there must be some hope for the opposition. Sole Power looked impressive in the Palace House Stakes but was never going to win at Haydock next time and it could be that he has peaked for the season.
Spirit Quartz has followed more or less the same programme as Sole Power and managed to get his head in front in France last week. He has been running his usual honest races and will surely land a Group 1 prize sooner or later. He is currently trading at a generous 27-1 on Betfair. Trainer Robert Cowell is also the current handler of veteran Kingsgate Native and he followed up a fine second at Newmarket with victory in the Temple Stakes.
Arguments have been put forward for Swiss Spirit (2nd) and Reckless Abandon (3rd) to reverse the form at the Royal meeting and consequently Kingsgate Native is still available at 14-1. Swiss Spirit was hampered at the start but looked flat out most of the way. I fully respect the run of Reckless Abandon and he may have been unlucky to be on the far side. It was a most encouraging effort but I just have a feeling that the six furlong race would suit him better. In terms of value, I have to side with Kingsgate Native at an each-way price.
The six furlong Diamond Jubilee Stakes looks the weaker of the two sprints with Shea Shea and Restless Abandon swerving it in favour of the King’s Stand. That has left Society Rock as favourite following his win in the Duke Of York Stakes.
I was on Hawkeyethenoo that day and felt a little aggrieved not to be collecting place money at least. Graham Lee has made a smooth transition to flat race riding but he was not at his best that day, failing to seize the opportunity to challenge wide before eventually running on strongly in fourth. Society Rock is priced at around 9-2 whilst Hawkeyethenoo is still available at 16-1. Jim Goldie’s eight-year-old was only beaten a little over a length by the winner and the difference in prices means that he has to be given another chance.
King’s Stand
Kingsgate Native 14-1 William Hill
Spirit Quartz 27-1 Betfair
Diamond Jubilee
Hawkeyethenoo 16-1 William Hill
