Sole Power seeks three-peat in King's Stand

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum has registered just one winner in the

contest, Dayjur in 1990, and has a live contender in Muthmir (Invincible Spirit)

this time around. The gelded bay opened his campaign with a fifth in the Duke of

York S. (Eng-G2) at York, and benefited from hold-up tactics when gaining a

narrow verdict in the Prix du Gros-Chene (Fr-G2) at Chantilly last time.

"Muthmir is in good form and is obviously one of our main hopes, but when

your main hope is running in a King's Stand, a race which doesn't take long and

a lot can happen, it's probably not ideal," commented trainer William Haggas.

Northern raider Mecca's Angel (Dark Angel) has garnered five of her last six

starts and makes the line-up coming back from an impressive win in the May 10

Prix de Saint-Georges (Fr-G3), where she lowered the Longchamp track record.

"We've always thought a lot of her, and both (jockey) Paul (Mulrennan) and I

hold her in high regard," revealed Co. Durham trainer Michael Dods. "It's great

to go to (Royal) Ascot with a proper horse that has a serious chance. She has

natural ability, but the great thing is she can go pretty quick early on and

doesn't have to have cover. Paul can put her where he wants in the race as she

has another gear and can quicken again in the final quarter-mile. She's always

been pretty straightforward, but, temperament-wise, she has grown up a lot this

year. She's improving and has improved again since the race in France so we're

quite excited."

Australian shippers annexed a further three renewals after Choisir registered

a ground-breaking score in 2003, but have not succeeded since Scenic Blast

seized glory on this date six years ago. Distaffer Shamal Wind (Dubawi), winner

of the Oakleigh Plate (Aus-G1) at Caulfield in her latest start, is the sole

antipodean in the field seeking to end the drought.

"Shamal Wind's win in the Oakleigh was typical of her style in that she is a

run-on sprinter," explained trainer Robert Smerdon. "She has an explosive burst,

but you have to time it exactly right and she has been narrowly beaten in races.

She is a tricky ride, but, against that, we have the services of Ryan Moore

which should stand us in good stead. (Bloodstock agent) James Harron bought the

horse a year ago for her current owners and wanted her to run at Royal Ascot.

"She has taken the traveling well and is a tough mare with a determined

attitude. It is a great a mare of her age still being competitive at the top

level. She would be below the form of horses like Brazen Beau and Lankan Rupee

in Australia, but she has got great form when she is a fresh from a break and

her (five-furlong) form is her best. Royal Ascot is one the great international

meetings of the whole calendar and it's a marvelous position to be in. I worked

in Epsom many years ago, but this will be my first visit to Royal Ascot."

When Jim Bolger brings a top-rank juvenile to Royal Ascot, they usually pack

a formidable punch and on Tuesday the master of Coolcullen arrives with Round

Two (Teofilo) in the Coventry S. (Eng-G2).

Unbeaten in two starts, Godolphin's representative beat the smart Argentero (Zoffany)

on debut in the same six-furlong Naas conditions race won by the stable's

subsequent Coventry hero Dawn Approach prior to annexing the Marble Hill S. In

that five-furlong Curragh contest, the bay saw off Ballydoyle's well-regarded

Washington DC (Zoffany) despite the trip being on the sharp side and

subsequently earned rave reviews from his breeder and trainer.

"I think my horse is very smart," jockey Kevin Manning said. "He's done

everything we've asked of him. He was impressive at the Curragh, stepping back

down to five furlongs and to do it the way he did it. He's very straightforward

and has got a great temperament. The trip doesn't seem to be an issue to him and

neither does the ground."

Also in the royal blue is the highly impressive Woodcote S. scorer Buratino

(Exceed and Excel), one of a trio of colts from the reinvented Mark Johnston

stable. Leaving his prior form behind when scoring by six lengths in that June 6

Epsom contest, he is one of the most exposed in the line-up, but his trainer

excels with these types and he boasts arguably the best form.

"Buratino is in great form," Johnston commented. "It was a tremendous win at

Epsom, which earned him his place in this race. He has been defeated twice, but

he looked to have improved for the step up to six furlongs last time out."

Heading up the opposition are a raft of colts who have as yet unlimited

potential. One is Air Force Blue (War Front). From the Ballydoyle stable

successful on a record-equaling seven occasions, the dark bay was off the mark

on debut at The Curragh May 24 and the next two home have won since to frank the

form.

"He got a little fizzy with Ryan (Moore) in the stalls first time, but

traveled well and got a little tired in the last 50 yards," Aidan O'Brien said.

"We're looking forward to running him. The six furlongs and lovely fast ground

will suit."

Also representing Coolmore is Wesley Ward's runner Finnegan (Unbridled's

Song), who flashed his ability when a five-length winner of a five-furlong

maiden special weight at Pimlico May 16.

"From the first time we breezed him, I felt this was his race," Ward

commented. "He's a different type to some of the speed horses I've brought over

in the past. He's a horse we think will go a mile later in the year and

hopefully a mile and a quarter on the first Saturday in May next year.

"I know the Coventry S. is a very prestigious race with a lot of history, it

is first and foremost a race I would like to win at Royal Ascot and it would be

an honor to do it."

Another who comes here on the back of an impressive maiden win is War

Department (Frozen Power), who looked all class when scoring by 4 1/2 lengths

over this trip at Leicester May 26, while Ed Dunlop supplies an intriguing

contender in Qeyaadah (Acclamation). While only a narrow winner on debut over

this trip at Newbury May 15, the manner of his performance left a deep

impression.

"We don't really know enough about our horse to know where he fits in,"

Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold admitted. "He went to Newbury pretty much

unfancied, having done not a great deal of work, and he surprised everybody with

the way he quickened from in behind them. So we're still a bit in the dark,

there's more experienced horses like Round Two and Mark Johnston has a few and

there's Wesley Ward's. I think we'll do the same again, ride him to come home

and see where he fits in."

The Windsor Castle S. looks wide-open, with the European team facing yet

another challenger from the Wesley Ward stable which took the race by storm 12

months ago with Hootenanny (Quality Road).

From Ballydoyle is Washington DC, who found only Coventry protagonist Round

Two too strong in the Marble Hill. He faces the Ward filly Ruby Notion (Great

Notion), who booked her place in this line-up when winning a 4 1/2-furlong

Churchill Downs maiden claiming race by 3 1/4 lengths May 14.

Also of intrigue are the unbeaten Clive Cox trainee Soapy Aitken (Pastoral

Pursuits) and May 23 Salisbury maiden scorer Orvar (Dandy Man). The latter is

one of three from the Richard Hannon stable and that trainer is hoping to bring

an end to the stable's blank in this particular event.

"The Windsor Castle Stakes is the one race at the Royal meeting that we have

yet to win, but it is a Listed race in name only these days and, as last year

when Hootenanny won for America, it will be very tough," he said. "Orvar does

everything so easily at home and he won very well on his debut at Salisbury.

Nearly all ours need their first run, so to win first time was very

encouraging."

Steady Pace (Dark Angel) ran into two very smart rivals in King of Rooks

(Acclamation) and Buratino (Exceed and Excel) when third in Sandown's National

S. over this trip last time May 28 and trainer Saeed bin Suroor believes he had

a valid excuse there.

"I think Steady Pace is my best chance, as he is a horse I like and he has

improved a lot," he said. "When he was beaten at Sandown last time we found that

he was not well after the race and was coughing. He has plenty of speed and he

worked really well in his last serious piece of work."