Royal Ascot Day 1 | Thebigtip

Australian sprinter Star Witness lost the Group 1 King Stand Stakes in England overnight by half a length, but lost no admirers with a sensational finishing burst after missing the start by a length and a half.

The prestigious race, won four times by other Australian horses, was taken out by journeyman English horse Prohibit, trained by Robert Cowell. With nine different countries represented it was fitting that the first four came from all parts of the globe with a South African third and Hong Kong runner fourth.

Given that the Australian is not even in the top two sprinters in the country the English are salivating at the prospects of the best horse in the world, Black Caviar, taking on their best next year. Whether that happens or not, it could be a fantastic week of racing for the Australian’s this week in any case.

Star Witness may back up on Saturday for the Golden Jubilee sprint over 1200 metres and should be joined by Hinchinbrook, who of the two has come closer to Black Caviar in the past. And tomorrow we get to see the best middle distance horse since Sunline and Lohnro, So You Think, compete for Royal Ascot group one glory in the Prince of Wales Stakes.

The former Bart Cummings trained superstar, has had two sensational starts in his new homeland of Ireland, winning a group two 2000 metre event in a canter by 10 lengths and a few weeks later a group one event by four lengths.

The field he meets tomorrow is slightly higher in quality but is missing England’s best staying prospect, Workforce, and if the Australian is king, or at least prince, he will be undoubted favourite for the biggest race in Europe, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Yet all of this bluster about how good Black Caviar is and the potential performance of So You Think and to a lesser extent of Star Witness, pales into insignificance when we rate the performance of one of the wonder horses of modern times. Frankel won the mile-long 2000 Guineas, one of two must win classic races, last year in England by six lengths.

But the way he did it was the most impressive. He did not need a heavy pace out front to swamp the leaders the last 200 metres; he literally sprinted 15 lengths clear at the half way mark and won, easing up slightly, by a huge margin. It was so bewildering that all the other jockeys thought he was the pace maker, not the favourite.

Today he raced at Royal Ascot in another mile long group 1 event. Facing the best three year olds in Europe and a Japanese e group one winner, Frankel sauntered six and seven lengths clear with 400 metres to go. He paddled a bit in the last 200 and survived by three quarters of a length, but he has now won seven from seven and quite clearly he is the horse Australian racing authorities have to get to the spring carnival.

Imagine the spectacle that race goers could have if Black Caviar, So You Think and Frankel can all race on the same card…