Shea Shea seeks

Ascot first for SA

ASCOT - Impressive Al Quoz Sprint winner Shea Shea will attempt to become the first South African horse to win at Royal Ascot in the King’s Stand Stakes on opening day on today.

The six-year-old National Emblem gelding is the favourite among 19 runners for the 1000m turf test where he will meet Australia’s Newmarket Handicap winner Shamexpress.

Trained by Mike de Kock, Shea Shea won the Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup undercard on March 30, setting a Meydan course record for 1 000m for the second time in as many starts there following his Meydan Sprint win over English G1 winner Sole Power on March 9.

De Kock is seeking a breakthrough win at the Royal meeting after several placings with his runners. He has been training Shea Shea uphill in an attempt to familiarise him with Ascot’s demanding finish.

Other challengers include Irish-trained Sole Power and English and French Grade 1 winner Reckless Abandon. Reckless Abandon posted back-to-back wins at G1 level in the Prix Morny last August at Deauville and the Middle Park Stakes in October at Newmarket to cap his two-year-old season. Trained by Clive Cox, Reckless Abandon comes in off a close third behind winner Kingsgate Native and the unlucky Swiss Spirit in the Grade 3 Temple Stakes at Haydock on May 25.

The winner and runner-up both re-oppose in the King’s Stand.

Australian sprinters runners have won four of the last 10 editions of the race with Shamexpress a big threat after his victory in the Grade 1 Newmarket Handicap on March 9 at Flemington.

The four-year-old O’Reilly gelding launched an explosive rally from the back of the field and wore down Moment Of Change for a last gasp win for trainer Danny O’Brien.

He has drawn low in barrier No 3, close to the inside fence. The straight races at Ascot in recent years have favoured the horses drawn closer to the outside rail.