Royal Ascot 2021 Tips: King’s Stand Stakes Ante-post Preview and Betting Tips

In 2005, the King’s Stand Stakes became part of the Global Sprint Challenge and has since featured winners from France, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, as well as from Britain and Ireland.

Last year’s winner, Battaash, is favourite once again in the ante-post lists, but may not have things entirely his own way.

 

Battaash looks a worthy favourite

Battaash won this race on his reappearance in 2020, beating Equilateral by 2¼ lengths, with Glass Slippers and Liberty Beach and further short head and 3½ lengths, respectively, further behind. He susbequently won the King George Stakes at Goodwood and the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, in both cases for the second year running, and sets a high standard. Of course, he is now a 7-year-old and hasn’t been seen in public since August, but that may not stop him from adding to his Group 1 winning tally.

 

Glass Slippers warrants consideration

Glass Slippers finished behind Battaash here and at Goodwood last year, but subsequently won the Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh and the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland and was only beaten a neck in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Triomphe. She probably doesn’t want rattling fast ground, but is clearly a hugely talented filly who merits respect, for all that she has work to do to reverse earlier form with Battaash.

 

Winter Power is going the right way

As a 3-year-old filly, Winter Power receives all the allowances and, consequently, doesn’t have that much to find on official figures. She progressed throughout her juvenile campaign, officially improving by 33lb between July and October, and demonstrated her well-being when making all for an impressive 3-length win in the Listed Westow Stakes at York in mid-May. She has yet to win beyond Group 3 level, but comes from a speedy family and remains open to further improvement.

 

Oxted makes first attempt at 5 furlongs

Interestingly, despite being bred to be a sprinter, Oxted has never run, never mind won, over the minimum trip. However, he did win the July Cup, over 6 furlongs, at Newmarket last July and wasn’t beaten far in the British Champions Sprint, over the same distance, at Ascot last October. He was only third, beaten 3½ lengths, behind Starman in the Duke of York Stakes, again over 6 furlongs, at York on his most recent outing in mid-May. However, trainer Roger Teal said that he had been unsuited by the slow early pace and good to soft going, adding that he hadn’t ‘lost any faith at all’ in the 5-year-old.

Battaash seems sure to be a tough nut to crack, but Winter Power was visually impressive and clocked a decent time at York and looks a viable alternative at the odds on offer. Trainer Tim Easterby hasn’t saddled a Group 1 winner since 2004, but appears to have bright prospects of doing so here.

Selection: Winter Power (6/1 with Bet365)

 

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