Racing: Ascot ground set to wipe out Sole Power bid

Published on 16/06/2012 02:18

SOLE Power is highly unlikely to run in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday because of the prospect of soft ground.

Trainer Edward Lynam will delay a final decision until as late as possible in the faint hope conditions dry out. But he is pessimistic about his star sprinter taking his place in the five-furlong Group 1. “I’ve spoken to Chris Stickels [clerk of the course]. The ground is soft, he’s hoping it will be on the easy side of good, but the weather isn’t great and I’d say we were 95 per cent non-runner at the moment,” said Lynam.

“There is little likelihood of us running but given there are only three Group 1 races over five furlongs in Europe we will wait as long as we can to give it a chance. The door has been big-time shut. In the last 12 months he couldn’t run in the Nunthorpe because of the ground, and he was just pipped in the Abbaye.”

Black Caviar’s jockey Luke Nolen has been snapped up by Australian-born trainer Jeremy Gask for Medicean Man. Gask feels the rider’s style will suit his sprinter, who is a three-time winner at the Berkshire track. “I just think he’ll probably suit the horse. Luke is riding out of his skin, so it seemed like a good choice,” said the trainer.

Meanwhile, last year’s winner Fame And Glory heads 13 horses left in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday at the confirmation stage. Aidan O’Brien has another string to his bow in Memphis Tennessee while the other Irish-trained hopeful is the John Oxx-trained Saddler’s Rock.