Saber Strike chasing hat-trick in Jersey Stakes

Saber Strike will be many people’s idea of the final-day banker at Royal Ascot as he puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Jersey Stakes.

An impressive winner on his Redcar debut last November, the Night Of Thunder colt successfully stepped up to Listed class on his reappearance in the King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting.

The William Haggas-trained three-year-old is a hot favourite to complete his hat-trick in Saturday’s Group Three and connections are excited about his chances.

Billy Jackson-Stops, racing manager to owners Victorious Forever, said: “He hasn’t done anything wrong so far obviously, being an unbeaten horse, and when we stepped up to Listed company he showed that he was well capable of that.

“We’re just taking it step by step by going up to a Group Three. We’d love to think he’s going to be good enough, we’re drawn well and as far as I know the horse has prepared well into the race.

“Sheikh Nasser is here all week, he’s really excited about it and we’re hoping for a good run.”

Saber Strike’s rivals include Jim Boyle’s stable star Into The Sky, who drops in class and distance after finishing fourth in the 2000 Guineas.

“We’re very happy, he’s in good form at home and we’re very excited to head down on Saturday,” said Boyle.

“I hope there’s some improvement there, hopefully the trip will benefit him and he’s in good shape.

“We gave him an easy time after Newmarket as he had a hard enough race that day before bringing him back to what we hope will be his peak now again, so fingers firmly crossed.

“You don’t need me to say how big it would for us to have a Royal Ascot winner – it would be huge. We’ll see what we can do.”

Other Jersey Stakes contenders include Ed Walker’s The Prettiest Star, who has been snapped up by Wathnan Racing since finishing fourth in the 1000 Guineas, and Fozzy Stack’s Thesecretadversary.

The card gets under way with the Group Two Norfolk Stakes, for which Aidan O’Brien’s Carry The Flag heads the betting.

Among others he is taken on by Clive Cox’s Salisbury scorer Orthodox and Archie Watson’s Flight Signal, who carried the Wathnan silks to a runaway success on his introduction at Bath.

“He’s speedy and this is his race. Hollie (Doyle) gave him a beautiful introduction at Bath and was very taken with him,” said Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown.

“He should go there with a good chance.”

A maximum field of 28 runners will go to post for the fiercely competitive Wokingham Stakes, with Andrew Balding’s hat-trick seeker Double Rush among the leading fancies.

Paul Curran, racing and bloodstock manager for owners Forz Europe Ltd, said: “He’s all set for Saturday and looks to have a nice draw (stall 24). We’d expect him to run a big race and we’re looking forward to it.

“We’re carrying a bit of weight but there’s others carrying more and Ascot shouldn’t be a problem for him.”

None will carry more weight than Spy Chief but joint-trainer Thady Gosden believes the well-fancied Godolphin runner, dropping into handicaps for the first time, has the class to run well.

“Spy Chief is running off his mark so to speak, but he is in good form and likes the track,” said Gosden, “He came second in the Jersey last season as a three-year-old and goes there in good form.”

David Menuisier’s London Gold Cup winner Lost Boys bids to follow up in the Golden Gates Handicap, while Willie Mullins has a strong hand as he looks to win his sixth Queen Alexandra Stakes, with the Ryan Moore-ridden Le Destrier – third behind Scandinavia on his Irish debut – seemingly the stable’s first string ahead of stablemates Columbus and Mr Hollywood.