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Sprinters take Ascot meet into home straight
ROYAL Ascot draws to a close today after a meeting highlighted by the performance of Yeats in Thursday's Gold Cup. That race was, of course, run over the marathon trip of 2m4f but it is the speedsters who take centre stage on the final day.
The Golden Jubilee Stakes is a heat of the Global Sprint Challenge and has once again brought together some of the world's fastest sprinters.
Unfortunately that perennial Ascot fixture Takeover Target has been withdrawn though it is unlikely at the advanced age of 10 he would have been able to cope with the current speed merchants, who include champions from South Africa, Hong Kong, and of all places, Greece.
The latter country is represented by Ialysos, unbeaten in his native country before transferring to Luca Cumani for who he made an incredible winning debut at Haydock last month, giving rise to a nickname of 'The Greek Freak'.
Considering that was his first start away from the sand track at Markopoulou racecourse it was a remarkable performance and no doubt Cumani will exact plenty of improvement.
The exotically-named J J The Jet Plane has made his way from South Africa via Dubai and has a host of Group-winning sprints to his name. He made his UK debut at Windsor on the first day of the month and, though he did not have top-flight sprinters to beat he made them all look like selling platers.
Mike de Kock ranks alongside the very best of international trainers and he believes his five-year-old is amongst the quickest he has ever trained.
Sacred Kingdom is an absolute flying machine from Hong Kong and has the same sort of fan club in the former colony as Yeats has in Ireland.
He has numerous Group victories to his credit on the fast turf at Sha Tin and made a winning debut away from his home track when taking the Group 1 International Sprint at Kranji in Singapore last month.
Godolphin's Diabolical, who is very consistent and a good yardstick at this level, was around four lengths away in third that day and all form statistics point to Sacred Kingdom being good enough to gain his first victory in Europe.
Last year's winner, Kingsgate Native, has transferred to Sir Michael Stoute and the word from the stable is that the Nunthorpe winner is back to his best while there has been support from Ireland for the three-year-old Bushranger.
However, it will be a surprise if anything can match the blistering pace of either J J The Jet Plane or Sacred Kingdom and preference is for the latter.
The Wokingham Handicap is not known as the Royal Ascot 'cavalry charge' for nothing with 28 runners blasting their way down the six-furlong track.
Clive Cox believes Jimmy Styles is ready to step into Group company so the lightly-raced five-year-old would be thrown in at today's weight if he is correct.
William Haggas is also bullish about the chance of High Standing, who has a penalty for a recent Goodwood success but still looks well enough treated.
Knot In Wood ran a 'blinder' in the race a year ago to finish fourth and there is no reason to suggest he is not just as good this season.
Richard Fahey, already on the scoreboard this week, has booked the in-form Freddie Tylicki to take 3lbs off his back and the combination can give a good account of themselves in a very difficult race to sum up.
Channel 4 Racing cameras will be at Redcar for the Win A Day Out at redcarracing.co.uk Handicap and it looks a competitive affair.
Novellen Lad and Spinning are both recent winners at the top of their game while all-weather specialist Atlantic Story is well treated on turf.
However, Osteopathic Remedy could be the one to be on as Michael Dods' five-year-old has slipped to a fair handicap mark following a couple of recent runs over a trip short of his best.
Young Neil Brown is a promising apprentice whose 3lb claim could make the difference between victory and defeat in what should be a thrilling race for racegoers on the east coast track.
Kevin Ryan will be delighted to have acquired Jargelle this season and last year's Super Sprint winner can gain her first success for the Hambleton-based handler in the Listed Land O'Burns Fillies' Stakes at Ayr.
Trained by William Haggas for her victory in the lucrative juvenile contest, she looked as though she was returning to form after an abortive trip to Dubai when runner-up to Triple Asset at Sandown last time.
She led for much of the way in that contest and as Ayr is not as stiff as the Esher track she may have enough in reserve to hang on this time.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
