Star on course for July Cup

Racegoers at Newmarket next week will be thrilled by Aidan O'Brien's Starspangledbanner after the trainer confirmed the Royal Ascot winner bang on target for the Darley July Cup.

The Australian import had been burning up the Ballydoyle gallops following his British debut at York in May and he transferred that electric pace to the track as he made all along the stands rail in the Golden Jubilee Stakes.

The four-year-old had been covering furlongs in less than 10 seconds at home and is 9-4 favourite with Sky Bet for Europe's richest sprint on Friday week.

O'Brien said: "We have never had a horse who can do those fractions and his work before Ascot was incredible.

"We knew from his first half-speed that he was fast and he had speed we had not seen before.

"We knew he was exceptional and that he was a big, powerful horse. He was class before we got him and he was good enough to win over a mile in Australia.

"He has seemed in good form and hasn't done an awful lot since then but it is so far so good.

"The faster the ground, the better it will suit him as he has that speed."

O'Brien added of his future career: "He could run in the July Cup and then go to stud to stand in Australia that season but we are taking it one step at a time really."

A little under two lengths adrift in second at Royal Ascot was James Fanshawe's Society Rock who belied his 50-1 starting price under Pat Cosgrave.

Fanshawe said: "He ran a screamer and is obviously the leading three-year-old sprinter in Europe at the moment.

"We had the choice of going to Ascot or going for a race at Salisbury but we thought he had won at Ascot and that if he was drawn well it would help, so we went into the race positive.

"It was such a big run that there has to be a slight concern running back just three weeks later. His owner is local and from Exning and is keen to run but we will play it by ear.

"If he is OK then he will go and at the moment he seems well so we will take it from there.

"Fleeting Spirit ran really well at Ascot (fourth) when she was drawn on the wrong side. When there are a lot of runners in these sprint races you need luck, a good draw and a clear run."