Slade Power could provide trainer Eddie Lynam with a top-level sprint double at Royal Ascot when he bids for a breakthrough group I win in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes June 21, closing day.
Lyman sent out stablemate Sole Power for a second successive win in the King's Stand Stakes (Eng-I) for David and Sabena Power June 17, opening day of the Royal Ascot meet. Slade Power steps to the plate in the Diamond Jubilee with Lynam's hopes for a sweep of the meet's marquee sprints for the same owners.
Winner by a neck of the 2013 QIPCO British Champions Sprint (Eng-II) from Diamond Jubilee entrant Jack Dexter last October, Slade Power was a well-beaten 10th behind Lord Kanaloa and Sole Power in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I) in December at Sha Tin to close the year. The 5-year-old son of Dutch Art comes in off an impressive two-length triumph in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes (Ire-III) May 24 at the Curragh in his 2014 debut.
Slade Power meets 14 opponents in the six-furlong turf test, including Gordon Lord Byron, winner of the March 29 George Ryder Stakes (Aus-I) during a stint in Australia. The 6-year-old Byron gelding, trained by Irish-based Tom Hogan for Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla and Morgan J. Calahan, defeated Slade Power by three lengths last year in the Betfred Sprint Cup (Eng-I) at Haydock.
Other top contenders include Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum's Aljamaaheer, a group II winner last year who was second to Declaration of War in the 2013 Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot, and Coolmore and partners' 3-year-old Due Diligence. The son of War Front enters with consecutive wins, including a six-furlong stakes June 2 at Naas, and makes his group stakes debut in the Diamond Jubilee.
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Eng-I), 3YO & Up, six furlongs, turf
No., PP., Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer