Golden Pal, Nature Strip to Battle in King's Stand

Legendary Australasian trainer Chris Waller believes success in the June 14 King's Stand Stakes (G1) would be the perfect crowning moment of Nature Strip  as a world champion as his star bids to end a 10-year gap between wins for Australia at Royal Ascot.

One of Australia's best sprinters of his generation with eight group 1s, The Tab Everest Stakes win, and nearly £10 million (US$13,037,866) in earnings on his CV, Nature Strip embarks on his first international venture with the weight of the nation behind him while facing America's Golden Pal  in a global sprint clash for the ages..

He also bids to become the first winner for the country since Black Caviar 's dramatic Diamond Jubilee (G1) win in 2012 and Waller's breakthrough Royal Ascot success, having been narrowly denied with Brazen Beau  in the same race in 2015.

Choisir , Takeover Target , Miss Andretti , and Scenic Blast  all took the King's Stand for Australia this century and Waller believes Nature Strip is now ready for the biggest test of his career on the global stage.

"He's done everything he needs to do in Australia to be recognized, but it's another big step with him tomorrow. It won't be easy," he said. "The depth of sprinters will make it a really tough contest, but it's what the punters want.

"You're always cautious right up until race day as things can go wrong as soon as you step off the plane, but we're looking forward to the day and will be excited if he's there in his best possible shape."

Nature Strip rounded off his preparations with a first feel for the Ascot turf in a workout last Friday morning, which Waller is confident has left him at the peak of his ability.

"His piece of work at Ascot was exactly what we wanted without taking the edge off of him. He did all his main work before coming over," he added.

"It's been maintenance work and making sure he's recovered from the flight, which he has. He enjoyed the day out, which also included a two-hour journey in the truck. It opened his airways up and he's now ready to go."

Royal Ascot success has become an annual gift for Wesley Ward, but the U.S. trainer is determined to add Golden Pal to his roll of honor at the prestigious meeting.

Ward has regularly lauded his star as the fastest horse he has ever trained and he oozed speed when winning the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) last November, but he has failed in two attempts in Britain when a narrow runner-up in the 2020 Norfolk Stakes (G2) before finishing a disappointing seventh in last year's Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1).

However, the American handler remains convinced his star can put his best foot forward and give him a second King's Stand success, having won with Lady Aurelia  in 2017.

"He's been beaten twice in England, but I'm excited to have another try," Ward said. "He's very special, he's very quick out of the gates and just keeps going. Most sprinters that go as fast as him can't maintain that speed."

Ward's Royal Ascot record is excellent, so it is particularly notable just how modestly his shortest-priced runners fare. Of his 12 horses sent off at 100-30 or shorter, only two have won.

It is the quiet ones that have built Ward's superb Royal Ascot record, so it would be advisable to ignore the hype surrounding Golden Pal and take him on his own merits. They are compelling enough.

A son of Uncle Mo  , sire of Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Mo Donegal , Golden Pal is owned by Coolmore's Mrs. John Magner, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith and Westerberg. In his lone start since the Breeders' Cup, he won the Shakertown Stakes (G2T) by nearly five lengths at Keeneland in April.

The two big raiders are both drawn middle to high. They are pace angles themselves and it should be noted that, with one or two exceptions, most of the early speed is away from the wings. Depending on how jockeys view the ground, the King's Stand could be a mad dash down the middle.

The home challenge comes mostly from last month's Cazoo Temple Stakes (G2), Winter Power  (a wide pace angle from stall one) was below form that day, and she now needs to be treated as a York specialist until she proves otherwise.

"She's in great form and I've been very happy with her work since Haydock," said trainer Tim Easterby. "She'll like the ground and the draw has been kind to her too. I'm hopeful she'll run a big race."

The winner of the Temple, King's Lynn  and narrow runner-up Twilight Calls , also return in the King's Stand.

Winner of the King George will receive an automatic starting position and fees paid for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint into the World Championships at Keeneland in November.