Stand and Deliver

Sabena Power’s white-and-red silks graced the winner’s enclosure twice in Group 1 contests at last year’s Royal meet, with bargain buy Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) joining 10 other dual winners of the G1 King’s Stand S. over the track’s furious five furlongs. The globetrotting veteran, who has prevailed five times at the highest level, bids to become the first to secure three renewals and goes for the hat-trick coming off a win in Meydan’s Mar. 28 G1 Al Quoz Sprint and a subdued sixth, when confronted by less than optimum conditions, in the May 23 G2 Greenlands S. at The Curragh. 

“Mum was leading owner at Ascot last year, which was amazing,” said the owner’s son Paddy Power. “We know just how lucky we are and there’ll come the day when we won’t even have a sniff of a runner. He wants really fast ground and a crazy pace so he can come through late on. I think he’s got a good chance with a decent draw and not too much rain. You’ve got to have a bit of luck with hold-up sprinters and, last year, the luck fell for him in terms of ground, draw and gaps opening.” 

Conditioner Eddie Lynam added, “His training has gone great, we’re very happy with him and he loves the place. I know it’s a big ask, but we’re very hopeful.” 

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum has registered just one winner in the contest, Dayjur (Danzig) in 1990, and has a live contender in Muthmir (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) this time around. The gelded bay opened his campaign with a fifth in the May 13 G2 Duke of York S. at York, and benefitted from hold-up tactics when gaining a narrow verdict in the May 31 G2 Prix du Gros-Chene at Chantilly last time. 

“Muthmir is in good form and is obviously one of our main hopes, but when your main hope is running in a King’s Stand, a race which doesn’t take long and a lot can happen, it’s probably not ideal,” commented trainer William Haggas. 
Northern raider Mecca’s Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has garnered five of her last six starts and makes the line-up coming back from an impressive win in the May 10 G3 Prix de Saint-Georges, where she lowered the Longchamp track record. 

“We’ve always thought a lot of her, and both [jockey] Paul [Mulrennan] and I hold her in high regard,” revealed Co. Durham trainer Michael Dods. “It’s great to go to [Royal] Ascot with a proper horse that has a serious chance. She has natural ability, but the great thing is she can go pretty quick early on and doesn’t have to have cover. Paul can put her where he wants in the race as she has another gear and can quicken again in the final quarter mile. She’s always been pretty straightforward, but, temperament-wise, she has grown up a lot this year. She’s improving and has improved again since the race in France so we’re quite excited.” 

Australian shippers annexed a further three renewals after Choisir (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) registered a ground-breaking score in 2003, but have not succeeded since Scenic Blast (Aus) (Scenic {Ire}) seized glory on this date six years ago. Love Racing’s distaffer Shamal Wind (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}), winner of the Feb. 28 G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield in her latest start, is the sole antipodean in the field seeking to end the drought. 

“Shamal Wind’s win in the Oakleigh was typical of her style in that she is a run-on sprinter,” explained trainer Robert Smerdon. “She has an explosive burst, but you have to time it exactly right and she has been narrowly beaten in races. She is a tricky ride, but, against that, we have the services of Ryan Moore which should stand us in good stead. [Bloodstock agent] James Harron bought the horse a year ago for her current owners and wanted her to run at Royal Ascot. She has taken the travelling well and is a tough mare with a determined attitude. It is a great a mare of her age still being competitive at the top level. She would be below the form of horses like Brazen Beau and Lankan Rupee in Australia, but she has got great form when she is a fresh from a break and her [five-furlong] form is her best. Royal Ascot is one the great international meetings of the whole calendar and it’s a marvellous position to be in. I worked in Epsom many years ago, but this will be my first visit to Royal Ascot.”