Aussies primed to take over Ascot

Another chapter in the famous Takeover Target story will be written early on Wednesday morning when the veteran sprinter takes part in his third King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The race will be Joe Janiak's old marvel's seventh start on international soil, from which he has three wins and two placings. The only time he failed to run a place was in last year's King's Stand when a game fourth to Miss Andretti.

Takeover Target has given every indication he will again run well this year.

Despite not being at his peak, the veteran ran some of the best sprinters in the world off their legs last month in the KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore, smashing the 1200m track record at Kranji in the process.

Now an eight-year-old, the 1000m might be a shade short for Takeover Target, but offsetting that is the testing nature of the course.

The King's Stand is run entirely up the Ascot straight and there is a 13-metre rise from start to finish which will provide a searching examination of a sprinter's constitution.

That will suit Takeover Target as he can run a strong 1200m and there are question marks over his main rivals' ability to do so.

Three-year-old filly Fleeting Spirit has speed to burn. Despite missing the jump, she shaved off more than a second off the 1000m track record at Haydock last start when victorious at Group Two level but the first seven home that day were also inside the old mark.

Fleeting Spirit is unbeaten at her four starts over 1000m and her trainer Jeremy Noseda believes she has the stamina to run a strong six furlongs. She will be fast out of the gates but could be found wanting in the closing stages.

Magnus ran a slashing third in this race last year and significantly has been set solely for this race this year. He looked certain to beat Takeover Target in Singapore but wilted in the run to the finish. The drop in distance will suit but perhaps not the uphill finish.

Kingsgate Native trounced Magnus in last year's Nunthorpe Stakes over 1000m when he became just the second two-year-old since 1956 to win the race. He won't get the 10.5kg weight pull this year but on the flip side will be physically stronger. The colt will enter the race fresh.

Benbaun, runner up in this race two years ago, will need to lift on his first-up fifth over 1000m in France if he is to figure in the finish.

Dandy Man represents nice value at $15 given he ran second to Miss Andretti last year and the year before was fourth to Takeover Target.

The other Group One with an Australian interest is the Queen Anne Stakes over the mile.

It features Haradasun, who was transferred to the Aidan O'Brien stable after his flop last spring in the Mackinnon Stakes.

A dual-Group One winner in Australia, Haradasun's stud value will explode should he also win at the elite level in the northern hemisphere.

He's likely to start the punter's pick at Ascot after running an unlucky sixth first-up in the Lockhinge last month. Tariq, the second favourite at $5.50, also ran into dead ends in that race. Australian punters should get longer odds on the tote with him.

The Queen Anne Stakes will open the card on Tuesday night at 11.30 (AEST), followed by the King's Stand 35 minutes later.

Lucky Wu (Andrew Wu)
King's Stand Stakes
Takeover Target
Magnus
Kingsgate Native
Fleeting Spirit

Queen Anne Stakes
Tariq
Haradasun
Darjina
Cesare