The Danny O’Brien-trained colt Star Witness has opened the $6.50 favourite for the Group One King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot with TAB Sportsbet.
The Group One 1000m feature, run on June 14, has been a great race for Australian-trained horses over the past eight years with Choisir (2003), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007) and Scenic Blast (2009) all winning the event.
Star Witness was scheduled to be flown out on Wednesday night for England with the Peter Moody-trained colt Hinchinbrook who will run in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) on June 18.
O’Brien flew out ahead of Star Witness to be there to greet his stable star when he landed.
The Starcraft colt, who won the Blue Diamond Stakes at two and Coolmore Stud Stakes last spring, will go on to the Golden Jubilee Stakes providing he comes through the King’s Stand well.
Sole Power is second pick in King’s Stand betting at $7.50, with Lady Of The Desert at $9.50 and Kingsgate Native next at $13.
Fastnet Rock colt Hinchinbrook had a busy five-run campaign in Australia over late summer-autumn in which he registered three Group One minor placings, and Moody gave him a solid hitout at Caulfield the day before flying out.
Depending on how he fares in the Golden Jubilee, Hinchinbrook may stay on for the Group One July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket on July 9, a race for which Star Witness is also entered.
The King’s Stand, Golden Jubilee and July Cup are all legs of the Global Sprint Challenge.
This year’s Royal Ascot carnival is certain to be popular with Australian racing fans with dual Cox Plate winner So You Think chasing a seventh Group One victory in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (2000m) on June 15.
AAP TURF
