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With rain continuing to dampen the course at Ascot, there have been four scratches for the prestigious King’s Stand Stakes (Eng-I) on opening day of the five-day Royal Ascot meet.
Yesterday, it was confirmed that the U.S.-based sprinter Acapulco would be withdrawn, as would the multiple group I-winning veteran Sole Power. After course conditions deteriorated to “soft” from “good to soft, soft in places” due to overnight rains, defending King’s Stand winner Goldream and the talented group II stakes winner Muthmir were withdrawn as well.
These scratches will still leave 17 horses to start in the King’s Stand, led by Mecca’s Angel, who defeated Acapulco over “good to soft” ground in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Eng-I) at York last summer. Profitable, who beat Mecca’s Angel by a neck in the Temple Stakes (Eng-II) at Haydock Park last month, is another major contender.
Acapulco and Sole Power remain eligible for later races at Royal Ascot, with Acapulco being among the entries for the Commonwealth Cup (Eng-I) on Friday and Sole Power among the possible starters for Saturday’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Eng-I).
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