Crack sprinters Coolangatta and Cannonball are chasing a sixth win for Australian-trained sprinters in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot

racenet.com.au

19 June 2023

Crack sprinters Coolangatta and Cannonball are chasing a sixth win for Australian-trained sprinters in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot

Coolangatta and Cannonball can enhance the already proud record of Australian sprinters at Royal Ascot when they clash in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes on the opening day of England's famous racing carnival on Tuesday.

The crack three-year-olds are taking on 17 of Europe's best sprinters over the 1000m straight course.

Ciaron Maher, trainer of Coolangatta, and Peter Snowden with Cannonball, have both declared their speedsters have settled in well since arriving in England earlier this month and are in peak condition for the feature sprint.

Coolangatta and Cannonball are attempting to become the sixth Australian-trainer sprinter to win the King's Stand Stakes since Choisir blazed the trail 20 years ago.

Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007) and Scenic Blast (2009) also won the King's Stand Stakes before Nature Strip's dominant and memorable triumph last year.

Coolangatta is challenging for King's Stand favouritism at $4 in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting behind England's top mare Highfield Princess ($3.50) with Cannonball rated at $13.

Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, told the English press he began planning for Royal Ascot after Coolangatta won the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes down the Flemington 1000m straight course back in February.

Coolangatta was given a crucial track gallop at Ascot last week as Maher wanted his filly to be familiar with the undulating straight course and the steep incline to the finish.

"She stretched to the line nicely and took quite a while to pull up, we were very happy with the horse,'' Maher said after the gallop.

"I was keen to get her here (Ascot) to experience everything she is going to on raceday.''

Champion jockey James McDonald was full of praise for Coolangatta after her Ascot gallop as he attempts to go back-to-back in the King's Stand after winning on Nature Strip.

"She was phenomenal, really,'' McDonald said. "She handled the track conditions beautifully and pulled up extremely well.''

Cannonball has also had a gallop on the Ascot track with Snowden confident his colt is ready to run a competitive race.

"He's done enormously well,'' Snowden told Sky Racing's Ally Mosley at Newmarket. "He has been perfect the whole time we have been here.

"We took him to Ascot on Wednesday and he never turned a hair there. He has a good constitution and temperament to go with it so hopefully he has the ability to match on Tuesday.''

There will be Australian interest at Royal Ascot on Wednesday night when the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour contests the Group 1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes (2000m).

Dubai Honour won the Ranvet Stakes-Queen Elizabeth Stakes Group 1 double in Sydney during the autumn carnival but Haggas would prefer more rain and a softer track for the gelding.

In fact, Haggas rates My Prospero ($4) as his stable's number one seed for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes ahead of Dubai Honour ($15) and the bookies agree. The early favourite is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Luxembourg at $2.80.

Then on Saturday night, the final day of the Royal Ascot carnival, Australian-trained sprinters Artorius and The Astrologist contest the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes (1200m).

Artorius was a very unlucky third in this race 12 months ago and has returned to England in better form this year.

Trainer Sam Freedman maintains Artorius is also in better condition than he was going into Royal Ascot last year.

"Artorius has travelled as well, maybe a touch better,'' Freedman revealed.

"Last year, he lost 9kg on the flight but this year he lost only 4kg. He's thriving, we couldn't be happier with him.''

Artorius is the $3.70 favourite to become the third Australian-trained sprinter to win the Jubilee Stakes after the incomparable Black Caviar (2012) and Choisir (2003) while The Astrologist is at $15.

The Astrologist, who has had an extended international campaign that included a second placing in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai back in March, tuned up for Royal Ascot with a second placing at Haydock earlier this month.

Dom Sutton, who has been travelling with The Astrologist for trainers Leon and Troy Corstens, said the sprinter will have his main piece of work for the week on Monday and will be fresh and ready for Saturday's sprint showdown.

AUSTRALIAN RUNNERS THIS WEEK

TUESDAY NIGHT (AEST)

Group 1 King's Stand Stakes (1000m) – 12.40am

COOLANGATTA

Trainers: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace

Jockey: James McDonald

TAB Fixed Odds: $4

CANNONBALL

Trainers: Peter and Paul Snowden

Jockey: Brett Prebble

TAB Fixed Odds: $13

Australian-trained winners of the King's Stand Stakes: Nature Strip (2022), Scenic Blast (2009), Miss Andretti (2007), Takeover Target (2006), Choisir (2003)

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