Golden Jubilee market headed by Showcasing
SHOWCASING heads the betting for the multinational Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday, as the British contingent tries to fend off a formidable challenge from five other countries.
The 24-runner Group 1 sprint features nine contenders from Australia, France, Ireland, Hong Kong and the USA, but Showcasing, trained in Newmarket by John Gosden, led the market on Friday evening.
Showcasing and the James Fanshawe-trained Society Rock are the only three-year-olds in the line-up and, as such, fit the mould of the last two winners of the race - Art Connoisseur and Kingsgate Native.
Showcasing, one of two challengers from the all-conquering team of Khalid Abdullah, has already been tested against seasoned sprinters, finishing strongly to take second behind Prime Defender in the Duke of York Stakes.
Gosden, seeking a first win at Royal Ascot this week, said: "Showcasing has come on since his run at York. It's always tough for a three-year-old taking on the older seasoned sprinters.
"Having walked the course there is no difference in the draw. It's just where the pace of the race is and where the better horses are, so we'll see."
Domestic opponents include Darley July Cup winner Fleeting Spirit, racing for the first time since the 2009 Breeders' Cup meeting, and High Standing, winner of the Wokingham at the royal meeting last year.
But the sternest rivals come from overseas, bringing a host of Group or Grade 1 successes with them.
Asian sprinters dominate the world rankings and, even without Sacred Kingdom, Hong Kong fields a powerful team in Happy Zero and Joy And Fun. However, America's Kinsale King has the stronger form, having beaten Singapore's Rocket Man when he captured the Golden Shaheen at Meydan in March, although grass will be a new surface for him.
Ballydoyle contender Starspangledbanner learned his trade in Australia and has two lengths to make up from his European debut when he was fifth in the Duke of York Stakes, in which a Group 1 penalty left him to concede 5lb and more to some of today's opponents including Showcasing, Prime Defender and Main Aim.
Competition is so fierce that there are several Group 1 winners lurking among the outsiders in the betting, among them Marchand D'Or, Regal Parade, Total Gallery and Lord Shanakill.
Paul Messara, who trains Aussie challlenger Alverta, said: "She is drawn away from the stands' side, where a lot of the speed is, whichis probably a disadvantage for us. I would be happy with a solid run but the July Cup is probably a more suitable race and, given the fact she travelled poorly, if she runs well we will have something to work on."
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