Ryan’s rising star can Streak to victory King’s Stand Stakes
The Kevin Ryan-trained colt was a very smart juvenile, which was just touched off by stable companion Astaire in the Group 1 Middle Park at Newmarket on his final outing of a busy campaign.
The fact he raced six times in 2013 should stand him in good stead today as he has plenty of experience for one so young. Given how well he progressed with racing last year, Ryan has been clever in giving him two outings this term.
On his return, in a Group 3 at Newmarket, he was caught late when third behind Sole Power, who re- opposes on the same terms this afternoon. It’s reasonable to conclude Hot Streak needed the run as it was his first outing of the season and also the first time he was asked to take on older horses.
He showed the benefit of that run when comfortably accounting for Pearl Secret in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock last time, although the ground was soft on the latter occasion.
Despite his sire struggling to cope with cut in the ground, this son of Iffraaj seems equally adept on going ranging from soft to good-to-firm.
The ground at Ascot was good to soft, good in places at the start of the week and, while it can be expected to dry today and through the week, it should not be fast this afternoon.
Hot Streak’s draw (11) is another plus point (six of the last nine winners were drawn between 10 and 15) and he’s a horse which can do all the work, or settle behind the pace. Jamie Spencer should enjoy a straightforward ride throughout and, regardless of conditions, the selection should be right in the firing line at the finish.
Shea Shea has been frustrating on previous visits to Britain (beaten favourite on all three occasions), including when caught late by Sole Power in this race in 2013. He arrives back after a decent effort in defeat in a Grade 1 in Meydan but is the sort which likes things to drop nicely. At seven years of age, he doesn’t have the scope of the selection.
Aidan O’Brien’s Guerre looked a potentially smart sprinter when winning a Naas Listed race over five furlongs on his return. By War Front out of a Hennessy mare, he’s bred for this but lacks experience and comes from a stable which is still struggling to fire on all cylinders.
With only three runs under his belt, he will have to be prodigious to score.
It’s not an impossible task — more improbable — but he is one to note. The faster the ground the better for Sole Power, who holds his form really well. He likes to strike late off a fast pace and should put in a strong effort to record back-to-back victories.
Pearl Secret is 2lb better off than when finishing half a length behind Hot Streak on his most recent outing. However, the winner looked in command from a long way out and can be expected to confirm the form.
It’s a very competitive race but Hot Streak is a rising star in this sphere, is already top-rated, and has scope for further improvement. Everything is in place for a huge run, and odds of 9-2 offer plenty of value on a tough opening day to Royal Ascot.
