Nathan Lynch is in great Form and today he looks at Saturday’s big G1 Saturday sprint at Royal Ascot…
Nathan Lynch looks at the Golden Jubilee Stakes
Lets look at the main players;
J J The Jet Plane – Currently 5.40 favourite to win this race, won 2 Group 1 races on end in native South Africa back in May and June 08 by 2.2l and 4l in large fields of 15 and 16, sent to Dubai and in February won at Group 2 level over Hatta Fort and one run since in The UK won over 6f at Windsor in Listed company by 4l in a small field, exposed form refs from runs in both Dubai and The UK put it at G3 to G2 level at best despite its native G1 wins, exposed form refs give Sacred Kingdom a clear edge over it. Serious place chance but unlikely to beat the best of these including Sacred Kingdom.
Sacred Kingdom – very well bred sprinter of Australian origin by Encosta De Lago out of Courtroom Sweetie who herself was a very good sprinting mare by Zedative who won 3 from 4 in strong provincial races in Australia at her 2nd prep before going amiss, last start Sacred Kingdom won in Singapore over 6f at Kranji in G1 company defeating the ultra smart Rocket Man 2nd who was previously undefeated in Singapore and the race prior had broken Takeover Target’s track record set the previous year in the same race won by Sacred Kingdom this year, those 2 put a big 3.5l margin back to Diabolical in 3rd who at it’s start prior was only beaten 6.2l 3rd by Big City Man at Group 1 level in Dubai on Dubai World Cup night and back in July 08 was only 1.7l behind Marchand D’or and also only 2.5l behind African Rose at Doncaster in Group 1 company over 6f, those form refs put Sacred Kingdom well infront of J J The Jet Planes UK Listed success at Windsor and his G3 win in Dubai over Hatta Fort, a third formline confirming this theory is back through Mythical Flight who was beaten 7.2l by Sacred Kingdom in Singapore and was only 1l behind War Artist in its native South Africa, on a comparison J J The Jet Plane through it’s South African G1 wins only rates 2-3l infront of War Artist. We feel Sacred Kingdom has 2-3l up its sleeve over J J The Jet Plane. Sacred Kingdom as a juvenile was trained by 3 time Golden Slipper winning trainer Clarry Conners who has publicly been on record as saying it would have won The Golden Slipper if not onsold to Hong Kong prior to the start of its official juvenile career. Since being transferred to Hong Kong it has taken all before it winning 8 of it’s first 9 starts culminating in numerous G1 wins over Hong Kong’s and the world best sprinters who have visited Hong Kong at various stages, this is a very serious horse who rates clearly above true G1 level as a sprinter on a world wide scale, he has good tactical speed and his racing style will see him able to take up a perfect position either leading if there is a lack of early pace or from a tracking position behind the leaders with equal effect. Shapes as a very serious hope in this race. Watch that last run in Syngapore here….(Youtube)
Kings Apostle – G2 winner at Ascot 3 back over Diabolical by a neck over 6f, last start finished a close up 2nd to Utmost respect at G2 level at York over 6f, seems to have come back this prep OK and form ref through Diabolical from the end of last prep puts it 4l below Sacred Kingdom here. G2 quality sprinter who is unlikely to hit a new career peak this prep but is every chance of repeating the Diabolical form ref again this prep, minor place claims in this race.
Kingsgate Native – lightly raced type who in 2007 won against older horses at Group 1 level over 5f as a 2yo at York defeating Desert Lord by 1.7l, franked that form last season winning this race by 1.7l defeating War Artist , Sir Gerry and Takeover Target as a 3yo, being a lightly raced 4yo now is subject to minor inmprovement again this time in work, form references through War Artist and Takeover Target in winning this race last year put it just behind Sacred Kingdom but ahead of the others mentioned above, the most realistic danger to Sacred Kingdom assessed in market order so far.
Takeover Target – now a non runner
Ialysos – won 7 from 7 in Greece on sand and ran some very quick times over 5-7f before shipping to the UK and put in the care of Luca Camani, won at 1st UK start last time out at Listed level over 5f at Haydock, form out of that race suggests at best is up to winning at G3 level or a weak G2 with minor improvement still likely to come from that 1st up effort, not that badly bred by Nunthorpe winner So Factual out of a Polish Precedent mare but definitely not a true G1 looking pedigree by any sorts.
Scenic Blast – has really come of age this season winning twice at Group 1 level over 5f and 6f both times down the straight at Flemington, last start won the Newmarket defeating a strong field including Northern Meteor by 1.5l back in 4th, form ref through that line back to Takeover Target on his Sydney 1st up win suggests Takeover Target on its best form has a length on it, well bred by hot Australian based deceased stallion Scenic who is a son of Sadler’s Wells that won the Dewhurst in 1998, on best current form is right in this as a minor winning chance
Lesson In Humility – last start won at Group 3 level in Ireland over 6f by 1.7l over San Sicharia on good to firm going, subjecto minor improvement again on that win but form out of the race suggests it is no more than an average G3 form race, on that basis easily below the level required to win here.
Bushranger – 1st up this season was 4th to Utmost Respect over 6f on heavy going at the Curragh, prefers firm ground and was a dual G1 winner last season as a Juvenile winning the Prix Morny and Middle Park, both those races now look good strong juvenile G1 form refs, back on firmer ground is likely to improve dramatically on its 1st up run, if it trains on as expected it is capable of winning G1s as a 3yo being a dual G1 winning 2yo, solid claims.
PREDICTED FINISHING ORDER & ASSESSED ODDS
1st. Sacred Kingdom
2nd. Bushranger
3rd. Kingsgate Native
Sacred Kingdom is seen as the clear top elect as he ticks all the boxes, form references stand up, he is superbly bred for a sprinting pedigree and he carries the hottest turf sprinting form in the world at the moment and he was considered a brilliant Australian bred sprinting juvenile which puts him 2-3l above a horse like Choisir. We have him assessed at 3.50.
Bushranger on exposed form and scope for improvement looks the best of the locals and has drifted out somewhat and at 35.00 on the exchanges is hard to refuse betting on.
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