Day One of five-day stand continues with a star-studded cosmopolitan cast for the G1 King’s Stand Stakes – part of the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge
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rvice is resumed in the King’s Stand Stakes this year after two COVID-impacted runnings, as the second of Royal Ascot’s four races to feature in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge has attracted a truly global line-up which includes dual Breeders’ Cup winner Golden Pal and world champion sprinter Nature Strip.
Rocket-powered Golden Pal made all for both his Breeders’ Cup wins and left three smart European challengers trailing in the Turf Sprint at Del Mar last November; he was blistering at the gate again and then never challenged when an easy winner of a G2 contest at Keeneland on his reappearance.
Royal Ascot: world #1 Baaeed ready to take centre stage
Like all of Wesley Ward’s runners at the meeting, Golden Pal will be ridden by Royal Ascot debutant Irad Ortiz, the three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey who jets in after claiming the Belmont Stakes on Mo Donegal.
It is a long way from a mile and a half on dirt in New York to five furlongs on Berkshire gass, but pedigree experts will note that both Mo Donegal and Golden Pal were sired by Uncle Mo.
Ward, who has 12 Royal Ascot winners already to his name, insists that Golden Pal is “the fastest horse on the planet” – but he will face a tough opponent in the Australian challenger Nature Strip, the world champion sprinter who is a former world #1 on Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings.
Trained by Sydney’s top trainer Chris Waller, whose name will forever be associated with the mighty Winx, the seven-year-old is currently ranked at world #3, while Golden Pal is #14.
‘Nature Strip is absolutely airborne’ – world #1 James McDonald eyeing Royal Ascot success
Nature Strip bids to follow in the footsteps of Australian winners Choisir (2003), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007) and Scenic Blast (2009). The gelding is an eight-time G1 winner in his native country, including in three successive runnings of the TJ Smith Stakes and in last year’s Lightning Stakes, which was also won by several of the Australian Royal Ascot winners.
He also took last year’s Everest, the world’s richest turf race but yet to be accorded the Group status it so obviously deserves.
A truly international contest also includes a Czech-trained runner, last month’s Longchamp G3 winner Ponntos, plus two runners from Ireland.
The home team is headed by two runners who were separated by just a head last month in Haydock’s G2 Temple Stakes, where King’s Lynn – owned and bred by the Queen – beat Twilight Calls, who was running the race of his life. Also involved in a stellar King’s Stand field is last year’s Nunthorpe winner Winter Power.
As part of the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In Challenge’, the winner is guaranteed a fees-paid slot in the $1m Turf Sprint at Keeneland on November 5, won in 2020 by King’s Stand fifth Glass Slippers. A minimum $40,000 will also be provided for all starters based outside of North America.
Top contenders
Golden Pal (Wesley Ward/Irad Ortiz) – won Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland in 2020 and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in 2021; beaten both starts in Europe however, finishing good second in 2020 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot but only seventh in 2021 Nunthorpe Stakes at York.
Nature Strip (Chris Waller/James McDonald) – a former world #1 on TRC rankings and impressed yet again when winning G1 TJ Smith Stakes for third year running at Randwick in April; also won the Everest (world’s richest turf race) at same course last October; those wins were over a turning 6f, but also a G1 winner over straight 5f.
King’s Lynn (Andrew Balding/David Probert) – owned by the Queen and didn’t enjoy clearest run in either start at Royal Ascot last year; won G2 Temple Stakes at Haydock last time from Twilight Calls.
Twilight Calls (Henry Candy/ Ryan Moore) – improving sprinter, shade unlucky when beaten a head by King’s Lynn at Haydock.
Man Of Promise (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) – Listed and G3 winner in Dubai this year but only third when hot favourite for G1 Al Quoz Sprint; never raced over 5f.
Shall we talk about it?
Wesley Ward, trainer of Golden Pal: “He’s a very special horse and he’s shown that in his races. I think what separates this guy is that he is very quick out of the gates, goes fast early, and just keeps going. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse – certainly the best I’ve ever had.”
Chris Waller, trainer of Nature Strip:“He’s really matured into a foolproof horse. He was a little bit hit or miss in his early career as he used to charge and race too fiercely, but he’s now racing more tractably. It sounds like Golden Pal is very quick, but what Nature Strip has is that he’s a very good straight-track horse. I think it will be a tough 1,000 metres, and probably perfect for him.”
Charlie Appleby, trainer of Man Of Promise and Lazuli:“Man Of Promise is fresh and well, which is key for him, and track and trip are going to suit him. Lazuli is a good-old fashioned style sprinter and has a lot of natural pace.”
Henry Candy, trainer of Twilight Calls:“He’s learned his job and possibly has as good a chance as any of the home team. He may have been a little unlucky at Haydock. I thought it was marginal, but Adam [Kirby, jockey] was spitting blood.”
Graham Dench’s verdict
It will be a major surprise if one of the two principals fails to win, but it’s hard to ignore Golden Pal’s two UK defeats and so NATURE STRIP is preferred.
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