Unlike the G1 Queen Anne S., the G1 King's Stand S. has become synonymous with international glory at Royal Ascot with five of the last 13 winners emanating from either Australia or Hong Kong. Up until a few days ago, it looked likely that the US would join the honours list with the monstrous Acapulco (Scat Daddy) primed for Tuesday's burn-up, but then the mercurial English summer intervened and she was withdrawn by trainer Wesley Ward on Monday and re-routed to Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup. On similar conditions at York's Ebor meeting in August, the grey mare who represents the alternate end of the bloodstock spectrum, Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), managed to do what no other had on turf when subduing Susan Magnier's bullish presence in the G1 Nunthorpe S. Sharpened with a return second to the race-fit Profitable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in Haydock's G2 Temple S. over this trip May 21, David Metcalfe's 16,000 guineas dream buy has had the weather come in her favour unlike 12 months ago when her trainer Michael Dods showed commendable courage to withdraw her at the 11th hour. “We took a chance last year in Ireland [when second on officially “good” ground in The Curragh's G2 Sapphire S.] and it showed she doesn't have that gear which you need to win big races,” he explained. “When she gets her ground she can. We feel she's in great form, but we're in against proper horses so it won't be easy. She'd been out for nine months when she ran in the Temple and it was too soft for a horse coming back from such a long break. She will definitely come on for the run. We are the one to beat.”
Profitable has lived up to his name this term, with a win in the G3 Palace House S. at Newmarket Apr. 30 coming before his neck verdict over Mecca's Angel on similar ground at Haydock. Now that Acapulco is absent, trainer Clive Cox is understandably positive. “He's been marvellous this year and while I'm still of the opinion he's a better a horse on better ground, I'm not as worried as I was before Haydock and we'd like to think Ascot good-to-soft will be better than Haydock good-to-soft,” he commented. “He's drawn well, he's in excellent form and he's full of confidence, so we're very much looking forward to it. Mecca's Angel is a mare we very much respect. There wasn't much between us at Haydock and I don't see any reason why we won't be close to her again.”
Last year's one-two-three-four are in the line-up again and with less than a length separating the veterans Goldream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Medicean Man (GB) (Medicean {GB}), Muthmir (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Pearl Secret (GB) (Compton Place {GB}) respectively, it will be interesting to see how they fare on this different surface. The latter is one of the race's intriguing propositions, as he is still lightly raced despite his advanced age and has a solid record here, having been third in 2013 before finishing slightly worse last term. He will appreciate the rain and, as he showed when a staying-on fourth in the Temple last time, needs a stiffer test at this trip.
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