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King's Stand Stakes
The King's Stand Stakes are one of no less than seven Group 1 races taking place during the Royal Ascot Festival, which is hosted annually in June. It is a sprint race, held over a distance of five furlongs on the famous Ascot Racecourse - a distance created by chance rather than careful deliberation.
In 1860, the year the King's Stand Stakes were introduced, the weather was unkind to the Ascot Festival. The track was so badly damaged by the rain it was impossible to host the Royal Stand Plate, a race over a two mile distance. The only segment of the track deemed usable was only five furlong in length. This new provisional race was first titled the Queen's Stand Stakes, in the honour of Queen Victoria. The name was changed upon her death in 1901, when the honours were transferred to the new King, Edward VII.
Today the King's Stand Stakes are open to thoroughbreds of both genders aged three and older, who compete for a purse of £300,000. As it is a truly extraordinary race is was announced as a Group 1 event two years after the rating system was established in 1971.
The race is part of the Global Sprint Challenge, which was introduced in 2005; the King's Stand Stakes are the second of three legs in this competition. It is preceded by the Lightning Stakes and followed by the Golden Jubilee Stakes.
Recent Winners of the King's Stand Stakes:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
2010 |
Equiano |
Michael Hills |
Barry Hills |
0:59.00 |
2009 |
Scenic Blast |
Steven Arnold |
Daniel Morton |
0:59.54 |
2008 |
Equiano |
Olivier Peslier |
M. Delcher Sanchez |
0:59.35 |
2007 |
Miss Andretti |
Craig Newitt |
Lee Freedman |
0:57.44 |
2006 |
Takeover Target |
Jay Ford |
Joe Janiak |
0:59.79 |
2005 |
Chineur |
Christophe Lemaire |
Mikel Delzangles |
0:57.55 |
King's Stand Stakes Odds and News
16 Jun 2010: The King Returns – Equiano Reclaims King’s Stand Stakes
French-bred Equiano repeated his winning performance from the 2008 King’s Stand Stakes, much to the delight of Barry and Michael Hills. Although the five-year-old was far from graceful taking off – a frightening stumble had spectators thinking the race was over for Equiano and jockey Michael Hills – as soon as he found his balance there was simply no stopping the former champion.
Trainer Barry Hills was delighted to see his charge work up to outstanding speed, running the five furlongs of the race in 59 seconds, leaving behind a baffled field of contenders, including race favourite Nicconi, who managed nothing but a fourth place under jockey Frankie Dettori.
Markab, from the stables of Henry Candy, was one of the few contenders who gave chase in any serious manner, crossing the line 1 ½ lengths behind the flying French runner. Jockey Pat Cosgrave insisted on his mount’s abilities and kept him steady, snatching the runner-up position by a neck from Borderlescott under Robin Bastiman. Candy was overjoyed at his charge’s performance and is already planning on expanding Markab’s Group 1 experience at the next possible opportunity.
However, the biggest smiles of the race were undoubtedly on the faces of father-son duo Barry and Michael Hills. The pair took over training Equiano shortly after his King’s Stand Stakes win in 2008 from Delcher-Sanchez and spent most of 2009 nursing him through ill health without great successes on the track. Since re-entering the scene at top form in April 2010 however, Equiano has been going from strength to strength, topping off his quest to regain his status as one of the most dangerous contenders on the field by reclaiming his title of King’s Stand Stakes Champion.
11 Jun 2010: Royal Ascot Ascending – Get Ready For Regal Racing
10 Jun 2010: Follow the Odds as the Royal Ascot Festival Approaches
26 May 2010: Royal Betting Specials For The Royal Ascot Festival
