Royal Ascot: Blue Point Stars in King’s Stand Thriller

By Gavin Beech

Mar 14th, 2024 7:22 AM EDT

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Blue Point proved the king of the sprinters with victory in Tuesday’s Group 1 King's Stand Stakes, holding off 2/1 favourite Battaash for the second year running.

Godolphin’s star sprinter, sent off a well-backed 5/2 second favourite, looked vulnerable as the strong-travelling Battaash loomed up entering the final furlong but Blue Point saw his race out the better of the pair to win his third Group 1 prize.

Godolphin’s figurehead Sheikh Mohammed said: "That has given me a lot of pleasure. When you win a Group 1, you are very happy. Blue Point was in Dubai during the winter and the weather there helped him. He came here a stronger horse.

"It is very good to get a winner at Royal Ascot. Everybody wants a horse that is able to run at Royal Ascot."

Blue Point, who has now four races from five starts at Ascot, a track which brings out the best in him, had run in three sprints at Meydan since the turn of the year, winning them all, including the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint.

His regular partner William Buick is currently sidelined following a case of concussion but he was present to cheer on best mate James Doyle, who stepped in for the ride.

Triumphant Aidan O’Brien

Elsewhere on what proved a very wet opening day, Aidan O’Brien secured a remarkable eighth victory in the St James’s Palace Stakes thanks to Circus Maximus who justified being supplemented at a cost of £45,000.

Circus Maximus, sent off a relatively unfancied 10/1 chance with most racing bookmakers, was steered to a neck victory from the fast-finishing King Of Comedy by Ryan Moore, who started the day a shade of odds-on to be top jockey at Royal Ascot this week.

Moore already has two winners on the board thanks to Circus Maximus and Arizona, a narrow winner of the Coventry Stakes earlier in the afternoon and still has a host of great chances this week.

Moore has company at the top of that particular leader board though, because Daniel Tudhope also has two winners thanks to Lord Glitters (14/1) in the opening Queen Anne Stakes and the William Haggas-trained Addeybb (5/1), who bolted up on his preferred soft ground in the Wolferton Stakes.

Tudhope, registering an 89/1 double on day one of the Royal Meeting, has now ridden seven winners overall at Royal Ascot.

He said: "I was very lucky to get on Addeybb at the right time. He loves soft ground and he was in a different league in this grade.

"I've had a few winners for William Haggas this year and I was very grateful to get the ride on him. I work hard and every day is a tough day.

"You have your ups and downs, but these sorts of days make it worthwhile."

Top-weight The Grand Visir (12/1) captured the £90,000 Ascot Handicap for brilliant dual-purpose trainer Ian Williams, who also saddled the third home, Time To Study.

About the Author

Gavin Beech

More About Gavin

Gavin Beech has worked in the betting industry for almost 20 years and is an experienced sports betting writer and tipster. He has worked for MailOnline and the Racing Post.

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