King's Stand Stakes Entries: Golden Pal and Nature Strip add international flavour to Group 1 at Royal Ascot
A mouth-watering renewal of the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes will take place at Royal Ascot next Tuesday, and among the 20-strong entry list are the two superstar international sprinters Golden Pal and Nature Strip, who dominate the betting for the five-furlong sprint. We take a look at the latest entries and feature the latest betting...
American trainer Wesley Ward last trained the winner of the King's Stand Stakes back in 2017 when Lady Aurelia made the trip over to reign supreme at the Berkshire venue, and the classy handler is set to unleash another sprinting sensation in the shape of Golden Pal, who is the current 2/1 favourite for the Group 1 contest. The four-year-old, who finished second in the Norfolk Stakes two years ago will be aiming to go one better at the 2022 Flat extravaganza, and having warmed up for this trip across to the UK with a win at Keeneland Ward's charge is sure to be a huge player.
However, there's an epic international flavour to this year's King's Stand as Chris Waller's Nature Strip has made the monster journey from Australia to compete in this event, and he is an 11/4 second favourite, at the time of writing. A winner of a Group 1 contest at Randwick on his last start, the eight-year-old has shown to be a real star when at his best, and he will look to become the first horse since Black Caviar ten years ago to notch up a Royal Ascot win.
There's a significant chasm in the betting between those exciting American and Australian globetrotters and the third in the betting, who is Twilight Calls, who is currently trading around the 12/1 mark. Second in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock Park, Henry Candy's emerging sprinter was beaten by Andrew Balding's King's Lynn (14/1) that day and the pair are set to lock horns once again. King's Lynn is set to carry the silks of Her Majesty The Queen, who has recently been celebrating the Platinum Jubilee, so a Royal Ascot winner will keep the celebrations going.
Last seen finishing third in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan, Charlie Appleby's Man Of Promise (14/1) will attempt to sparkle on British shores and is another classy sprinter lining up, while Lazuli (25/1) could be another Appleby-trained runner lining up on the opening day of Royal Ascot.
Four-year-old filly Mooniesta (16/1) has been a real model of consistency this season and was last seen finishing second in the Greenlands Stakes and adds more depth to a race, with the likes of Winter Power, Khaadem and Ponntos (20/1) all bidding to down the foreign charges, who, the betting suggest should be a cut above.
