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Preview
13 June 2008
King’s Stand
Stakes 3.05 Ascot Tuesday
The invasion
of the Australian top notch sprinters have seen the prize taken by
multiple Group 1 winning sprinters, which has led to the race being
elevated to Group 1 status this year.
Fleeting
Spirit is the favourite here, after a taking performance at Haydock
in a very quick time. She clearly has a chance, but looks woefully
short at 11/4. In recent years UK sprinters have been a few notches
below the top sprinters from overseas, and my concern for her is
that she hasn’t yet faced a really top class sprinter. While she
could be very good indeed, I’d want her to have proven it before I’d
take 11/4. It is worth remembering that last years winner Miss
Andretti had won, or placed in her last 9 outings heading into Ascot,
with 6 of those at Group 1 level and she started 3/1.
Takeover
Target is really defying the ageing process, as he is still putting
up top class sprinting performances at the age of 9. Last time up he
won a big sprint in Singapore over 6 furlongs. but the trainer has
come out a few times and said he thinks the horse is better suited
to 6 furlongs now, and the Golden Jubilee on Saturday is the main
target.
Kingsgate
Native won the Nunthorpe last year but that was on very advantageous
weight for age terms, receiving 24 pounds from the older horses and
22 pounds from the 3 year olds. He needs to have massively improved
over the winter to get involved here, with only a 6 pounds weight
concession from the likes of Takeover Target.
Benbaun won
the Abbaye last year and is probably best of the home team, but he
has been beaten in this race for the past 2 years, and I don’t see
why this year should be any different.
Dandy Man
would be interesting at best but he put up a lifeless effort behind
Fleeting Spirit on his Godolphin debut and I couldn’t back him on
the back of that run.
Captain
Gerrard beat Sakhee’s Secret in a Group 3 at Newmarket over this
trip but he was getting a stone off that horse and he will find this
much tougher with the lower weight advantage.
I have two
selections in this race, Magnus and National Colour.
I started off
by stating that this race is now a Group 1 race, and for the past 2
years it has been taken by proven Group 1 sprinters. Magnus fits
into that category as a Group 1 winner over 6 furlongs and he ran a
fine race in 3rd in this last year. That win prior to
Ascot last year was his last success and he has often proven to be
the bridesmaid in his career, only finishing out of the top 5 in
four of his 23 outings, although he has only won 4 times. However,
he has competed at the very highest level on the majority of those
occasions and it is interesting to bear in mind that the trainer
thinks he was undercooked for this race last year, although he ran
well in 3rd. This race looks weaker than last year and
with the knowledge derived from last years preparation hopefully
meaning he is spot on for Tuesday, he can go very close. He proved
his well being behind Takeover Target last time in Singapore, as he
ran well after being trapped out wide the whole way round. The horse
is off to stud after Ascot I
believe, and I think he can go out with another Group 1 success to
his name.
National
Colour disappointed on the big stage in Dubai when last seen in
March 2007, but she was only sent off at 5/1 against the Breeders
Cup sprint winner Thor’s Echo. She was a multiple Group 1 winner in
South Africa and has had knee surgery after that run in Dubai. She
has been off for a long time, so may need the outing. She is a
classy filly, who is said to be working very well, and reportedly
murdered 7 time Group 1 winner and Golden Jubilee hopeful Seachange
in a gallop at the weekend.
Selection(s) –
2 Points
Magnus 9/1 Totesport and 0.5
Points ew National Colour 25/1
Totesport
The Oracle
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