Showdown Between Lady Auriela and Battash, Two Of The Fastest Horses On The Planet
The hot-headed Sheikh Hamdan-owned gelding Battaash faces-off against last year's King's Stand winner Lady Aurelia Horse. The last time they met Battaash's lone defeat in 2017 was in the Nunthorpe where he was fourth to Marsha while Lady Aurelia second.
To some Lady Auriela has grown perhaps ‘ordinary’ with almost as many bad runs as good in the past 12 months.
Talented sprinter Kachy trained by Tom Dascombe also in the fray for the top spot.
Battash’s stablemate Blue Point was third in a thrilling Commonwealth Cup at last summer's Royal Ascot, behind Caravaggio and Harry Angel.
Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby said: "We are looking towards the King's Stand His run in Hong Kong was disappointing but we were taking those speedballs on in their own patch.
"He has had a little break since he has come back as he had a bit of turbulence on the flight back so it wasn't the smoothest of journeys for him .
"We have given him a quiet spell and he has been building back up the last couple of weeks."
Click Here To Watch King Stand Stakes Winner Race 2017
Full Winner List 2017:
1st Lady Aurelia (W. Ward,J. Velazquez), 2nd Profitable (C. Cox,J. Doyle), 3rd Marsha (S. Prescott,L. Morris), 4th Muthmir (W. Haggas,J. Crowley), 5th Take Cover (D. Griffiths,D. Allan), 6th Alpha Delphini (B. Smart,C. Beasley), 7th Cotai Glory (C. Hills,S. Sousa), 8th Signs Of Blessing (F. Rohaut,S. Pasquier), 9th Final Venture (P. Midgley,P. Dobbs), 10th Goldream (R. Cowell,M. Harley), 11th Ardhoomey (G. Lyons,C. Keane), 12th Priceless (C. Cox,A. Kirby), 13th Willytheconqueror (W. Muir,M. Dwyer), 14th Gracious John (D. Evans,J. Egan), 15th Washington DC (A. O'Brien,R. Moore), 16th Medicean Man (J. Gask,A. Atzeni), 17th Just Glamorous (R. Harris,S. Kelly)
Full Runner List:
1.Battaash (C. Hills J. Crowley), 2.Blue Point (C. Appleby W. Buick), 3.Bucchero (T. Glyshaw,J. Ortiz), 4.Finsbury Square (F. Chappet,O. Peslier), 5.Gifted Master ( H. Palmer,J. Doyle), 6.Kachy (T. Dascombe,R. Kingscote), 7.Ornate (D. Griffiths O. Murphy), 8.Primo Uomo (G. O'Leary N. McCullagh), 9.Washington DC (A. O'Brien D. O'Brien), 10.Lady Aurelia (W. Ward J. Velazquez), 11.Mabs Cross (M. Dods,P. Mulrennan), 12.Battle Of Jericho (A.O'Brien,S. Heffernan), 13.Declarationofpeace (A.O'Brien,W. Lordan), 14.Different League ( A. O'Brien,R. Moore)
Race Type & Conditon:
Distance:5f (1,006 metres), Surface:Turf, Track:Straight, Qualification:Three-years-old and up, Weight:8 st 12 lb (3yo);,9 st 4 lb (4yo+),Allowances,3 lb for fillies and mares, Purse:£400,000 (2017),1st: £226,840, Bonuses:see Global Sprint Challenge
Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretaristworld.com