Sri Putra backed to rediscover spark

Trained by Roger Varian, Sri Putra won the event, run over an extended mile and a quarter, 12 months ago when he launched a thrilling late challenge, coming from last to first to pip Afsare on the line under an inspired Neil Callan.

The son of Oasis Dream has four Group wins to his name, as well as a string of placed efforts at Group One level.

He has failed to fire in his two starts this season but Varian is hoping that the ‘spark’ still remains and that his charge can run a big race this Saturday.

He said: “Sri Putra looks and seems in great form. He hasn’t really performed in his two starts this season but things haven’t really gone his way and on homework he is no lesser horse than when he won the race last year.

“Obviously he is not getting any younger but I am very happy with him and hope he can run well on Saturday.”

Six of the contenders, including Sri Putra, also hold early entries in York’s £750,000 Group One Juddmonte International, which is staged over the same trip on the opening day of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival.

Form followers will recall that the Sir Henry Cecil trained, Twice Over, obliged in both Knavesmire races in 2011.

Varian has also entered Dancewiththedevil, a multiple Group One winner in her native South Africa. She finished eighth on her British debut in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot and her trainer feels she has improved for that run.

He said: “Dancewiththedevil has come on plenty for her first run. She seems very well but will only run if there is some give in the ground.”

Newmarket stables have had a stranglehold on the race, winning the last seven runnings and they are responsible for 12 of the 16 entries.

Among them is the William Haggas-trained Mukhadram, who has finished placed in both the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Eclipse Stakes in recent weeks following protracted battles with the James Doyle-ridden Al Kazeem.

There is also a very international look to the entry with US Grade One winner Unbridled Command (now trained by Ed Dunlop) and German-raider Neatico (Peter Schiergen) among the possible participants.

Meanwhile the Mark Johnston-trained Universal will face an even more formidable challenge in the King George at Ascot after Hillstar was supplemented at yesterday’s declaration stage.

Sir Michael Stoute’s three-year-old claimed the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last month and owner Sir Evelyn de Rothschild has stumped up the required £75,000 to add him to the field for the midsummer highlight of the Flat season.

Stoute is bidding for a record sixth King George triumph.

Hillstar is one of 11 confirmations, with ante-post favourite St Nicholas Abbey one of three possible runners for Aidan O’Brien.

The master of Ballydoyle also has Chamonix and Ernest Hemingway in the reckoning.

Corine Barande-Barbe’s French superstar Cirrus Des Aigles is set to be joined on the trip across the Channel by compatriot Very Nice Name, as well as Andreas Wohler’s German raider Novellist.

With Ryan Moore committed to Hillstar as Stoute’s stable jockey, Novellist’s connections are seeking a new rider for their highly-rated horse.

Their preference is 2011 King George-winning jockey William Buick, but his possible commitments at York meant that Johnny Murtagh, Ireland’s supreme big race jockey, was placed on standby yesterday.

As for St Nicholas Abbey, a former Breeders’ Cup winner soundly beaten by Frankel at York last August, his jockey Joseph O’Brien hopes the rain stays away.

The six-year-old has finished third in the last two renewals of the midsummer showpiece and returns to England fresh from his third triumph in the Coronation Cup at Epsom – his sixth Group One success.

There is little doubt the son of Montjeu’s devastating acceleration is most potent on a sound surface.

“The quicker the ground the better for my horse. On good to firm, quick ground I’d be very happy. If it got much slower than good, I’d have a little worry,” said O’Brien.

Jim Goldie’s admirably consistent Hawkeyethenoo could reappear in Ascot’s valuable seven furling Betfair International Stakes on Saturday before attempting to defend his Stewards’ Cup crown at Glorious Goodwood seven days later.

This is one of the horses which has helped Bedale-based Graham Lee make such a successful switch from National Hunt racing to the Flat sphere.

“He proved on his seasonal return at York that he deserves his current handicap mark and, if he reproduces the form he showed on Champions Day last year, he will be hard to beat at Ascot,” said Goldie.

The brilliant Sea The Stars, who won six Group One prizes in 2009, sired his first winner on the racecourse as Stars Over The Sea struck gold at Ayr for Middleham’s Mark Johnston.

Sea The Stars now stands at the Aga Khan’s Gilltown Stud in Ireland and his first crop of two-year-olds have taken to the track this season.

Stars Over The Sea had shown ability on his first two appearances and was a 1-2 favourite when making it third time lucky under Joe Fanning.

Grand National-winning trainer Sue Smith’s horses remain in fine form, as evidenced by Papa Caruso’s win at Cartmel yesterday under promising conditional Jonathan England.