King’s Stand Stakes to bring international flavour to Royal Ascot
Published:The King’s Stand Stakes certainly brings the international flavour to Royal Ascot, with numerous horses from overseas taking on their British sprint counterparts and it may pay to opt for an Australian traveller landing the spoils this year.
Australian horses have won the 5f dash on four occasions since 2003 and they have the leading contender again this year with Star Witness.
Star Witness has been unfortunate to run into the impressive Black Caviar three times in the last eight months in Australia, but will be ridden by Steven Arnold, who won the King’s Stand Stakes in 2009 on board Scenic Blast.
Royal Ascot odds have Star Witness at 7/2 to win the King’s Stand Stakes, but to do so he will have to be some of the leading sprinters from around the world.
Perhaps the most well known is Overdose, who earned the nickname the Budapest Bullet following a succession of sprint victories across Europe.
However, he flattered to deceive on his first start in Britain when seventh in the Temple Stakes at Haydock last month.
The ground was said to be against him that day and 14/1 could be a big price that he makes amends at Royal Ascot.
Sole Power was the winner of the Temple Stakes and leads a strong Irish assault, which also includes Aidan O’Brien’s only representative Sing Softly.
Holiday For Kitten and Bridgetown will make the lengthy trip to Royal Ascot from the US, while an even longer journey awaits Sweet Sanette from Hong Kong.
The English challenge is to be led by Kingsgate Native, while Astrophysical Jet is certainly not without an each-way chance.
Kingsgate Native is 7/1 in the Royal Ascot betting, with Astrophysical Jet value at 16/1.
Of the other runners, Mar Adrente will come over from France, while War Artist is currently homed in a German stable.
