Royal Ascot: day one, King´s Stand

The King´s Stand Stakes over 5 furlongs at 16.45 hys attracted an extremely strong field, and although there are this year no Australian runners, it still loks very internatioal, with S. African and Irish runners. The latter are headed by last year´s winner Sole Power (Eddie Lynam/ Richatd Hughes), who finished fast to beat Shea Shea (Mike de Kock/ Christophe Soumillon) with Pearl Secret (David Barron/ Olivier Peslier) third and Jack Dexter (Jim Goldie/ Graham Lee) fourth.

However Shea Shea has beaten Sole Power several times, including at Medan this year, and we expect him to do so again. Although (Charlie Appleby/ William Buick) also had excellent Meydan form and looks a big threat, while the two new kids on the block are the 3yo´s Guerre (Aidan and Joseph O´Brien) and Hot Streak (Kevin Ryan/ Jamie Spencer). Horses from this age group rarely win here, but they also rarely run, and both these two look up to Group One standard. We don´t believe it yet and expect the proven Shea Shea, whose trainer seems very confident, to confirm his status as one of the best horses in the world over this distance.