USA: Dual Breeders’ Cup winner Golden Pal is set for the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot after a blistering effort on his seasonal debut at Keeneland on Saturday [April 9].
Trainer Wesley Ward immediately nominated a return visit to the royal meeting after the Coolmore-owned four-year-old slammed his rivals for a 4¾-length victory in the G2 Shakertown over 5½f.
Breaking as usual like a shot from a gun under Irad Ortiz, Golden Pal sped to the lead and set blazing fractions (20.94s, 43.58s) on a Keeneland turf track labelled good.
He stopped the clock in 1m02.21s, clearing away from longshot runner-up Johnny Unleashed in the closing stages of the $350,000 contest.
“That’s where we’re headed,” said Royal Ascot’s favourite adopted son Ward when questioned about the King’s Stand.
“This is the fastest of the fast,” marvelled the trainer. “He’s just blessed with speed and agility. He moves like a cat, he’s so quick. For a big, sturdy horse like he is – he’s just a once-in-a-lifetime horse.
“This is soft turf today so for him to get over it like he did and just keep running is special.”
Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in 2020 before rocketing to victory in last year’s Turf Sprint, the son of Uncle Mo is unbeaten at home in the US in six starts since his debut.
However, he has tasted defeat on both starts in Britain, albeit only on unsuitably softish ground at Ascot as a two-year-old when he only just failed to last out and was caught by The Lir Jet in the Norfolk. While he missed Royal Ascot last term after a setback, he was overwhelmed inside the final furlong on his return to England for the Nunthorpe Stakes.
“He’s a really fast horse out of the gate,” said Ortiz. “He’s a really nice horse. I did ask him and he responded really well.”
Also under consideration for Royal Ascot is the Graham Motion-trained three-year-old Sy Dog, who took his unbeaten record to three in the G3 Transylvania Stakes on Friday’s card at Keeneland.
• Visit the Keeneland website and the Ascot website
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