Sacred Kingdom back on top of the ratings

FORMER world champion sprinter Sacred Kingdom came out top on RPRs in a busy week of top-level action, signalling his return to the elite with an impressive success in the KrisFlyer International Sprint at Kranji on Sunday.

It wasn't all about him though, as there were also two fine performances in the distaff division, with Rachel Alexandra becoming the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, while Japan's leading filly Vodka ran a career best figure at her favourite track on Sunday.

On top of all that, there is a new global leader on the top lists, as Gladiatorius has been retrospectively raised to a mark of 129 in light of the second and third from the Dubai Duty Free, Presvis and Alexandros, confirming the improvement they showed at Nad Al Sheba with smart performances on the weekend.

Sprint sensation Sacred Kingdom picked up an injury last year and he hadn't been on top of his game on his first four starts this term, registering a peak RPR of just 115, but he bounced right back to his dazzling best on Sunday with an RPR of 125+ for his neck victory over Rocket Man (121).

He travelled really well in behind the leaders before switching outside and powering home to break the track record by 0.8 seconds.

The son of Encosta De Lago was rated 129 back in 2007, when he ranked as the best sprinter in the world, and, despite losing much of last year to injury, he also managed to finish 2008 as a champion - sharing the global turf sprinter title with Marchand D'Or.

His latest RPR of 125 puts him second on the turf list for 2009 and top of the sprint division. He would be an important addition to Royal Ascot if connections can be persuaded to take their chance.

Best of the fillies and mares this week was Vodka, who posted a mark of 124 for her scintillating seven-length success over Bravo Daisy (107) in the Victoria Mile at Tokyo.

The five-year-old has been right at the top of Japanese racing for the past few years, but this effort was a clear personal best, a full 3lb higher than her previous peak, which came when landing last year's Yasuda Kinen.

An RPR of 124 ranks her alongside Deep Sky at the head of the domestic list for 2009 and a reproduction of that level will make her hard to beat under a mares' allowance in all the major Japanese races this year.

In America, Rachel Alexandra maintained her place at the head of the three-year-old list with a one-length victory over Kentucky Derby hero Mine That Bird (121) in the Preakness.

The smart filly needed only to run to a mark of 118+ to fend off the boys, which is 6lb off the level of form she showed in the Kentucky Oaks on her previous start, but she set some decent fractions and those that tracked her pace all paid the price, fading to fifth or worse.

Elsewhere, the Dubai Duty Free form was boosted by the efforts of Presvis and Alexandros, who were narrowly beaten in the International Cup at Kranji and the Lockinge at Newbury respectively.

The winner from Nad Al Sheba, Gladiatorius, has subsequently been raised to a mark of 129, which puts him above dirt/all-weather leader Well Armed (128) at the head of the 2009 list.

Presvis earned an RPR of 120+ for his staying-on defeat at the hands of Gloria De Campeao (120) in the International Cup, while Alexandros posted a mark of 119 after being nosed out of the Lockinge by Virtual (119).

In France, Never On Sunday progressed to a career best of 118+ for his win over Gris De Gris (116) in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp.

TOP TEN TURF PERFORMERS

1 Gladiatorus (UAE) Dubai Duty Free 129

2 Sacred Kingdom (HK) KrisFlyer Sprint 125

3 Deep Sky (Jap) Osaka Hai 124

Paco Boy (GB ) Bet365 Mile 124

Vodka (Jap) Victoria Mile 124

7 Jay Peg (SA) Jebel Hatta 122

Presvis (GB ) Dubai Duty Free 122

Russian Sage (SA) Jebel Hatta 122

Super Hornet (Jap) Yomiuri Milers Cup 122

TOP TEN DIRT/AW PERFORMERS

1 Well Armed (US) Dubai World Cup 128

2 Big City Man (KSA) Golden Shaheen 124

Rachel Alexandra (US) Kentucky Oaks 124

4 Fabulous Strike (US) Carter Hcap 122

Two Step Salsa (UAE) Wasel Trophy 122

6 Albertus Maximus (US) Donn Hcap 121

Einstein (US) Santa Anita Hcap 121

Friesan Fire (US) Louisiana Derby 121

Gayego (UAE) Mahab Al Shimaal 121

Mine That Bird (US) Kentucky Derby 121

Success Brocken (Jap) February Stakes 121

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Ascot all out to attract Sacred Kingdom

ASCOT is leaving no stone unturned in a bid to attract Sacred Kingdom to next month's royal meeting after his brilliant victory in Singapore on Sunday.

The news raises the tantalising prospect of a clash between the ‘Hong Kong Bomb' and the ‘Budapest Bullet' Overdose in the Golden Jubilee Stakes on Saturday, June 20.

Sacred Kingdom, world champion sprinter in 2007, returned to his best after injury to wear down local star Rocket Man, unbeaten in seven previous starts over course and distance, in the KrisFlyer International Sprint at Kranji.

Takeover Target, down the field in Singapore, remains on course for the Golden Jubilee.

Sacred Kingdom's jockey Brett Prebble is advising the gelding's connections they should throw their hat into the ring in the showpiece Group 1 sprint, one of two Ascot legs of the Global Sprint Challenge alongside the King's Stand.

The stumbling block is that Sacred Kingdom is not entered for the Golden Jubilee, which would mean paying a supplementary entry of £45,000 by June 15.

On the plus side, the race is worth £450,000, while Sacred Kingdom's connections would benefit from generous travel allowances.

Nick Smith, Ascot's head of public relations, is optimistic aboutthe chances of attracting Sacred Kingdom.

He was on the phone to Mark Player, Hong Kong's manager of international racing, as soon as they passed the post in Singapore, and travel costs are not an issue as Ascot had already set asidethe funds for Hong Kong Sprint winner Inspiration, who isn't travelling.

"We've told Mark Player that they can be simply transferred to Sacred Kingdom, so there is no problem there," explained Smith.

"But the supplementary fee is obviously an issue and we cannot do anything about that, as it would be in no way appropriate to everyone else who is already entered.

"The frustrating thing is that they did not enter originally, sonow it just depends on how sporting the owners want to be," added Smith. "We have been trying to convince them that it is the logical step for the horse now as there isn't rally another race for him in Asia until the Sprinters Stakes in Japan in the autumn.

"They can show he is the best sprinter on the world - Hong Kong horses have seldom had the chance to do and whereas yesterday I was 99 per cent certain there was no chance, I am getting quite hopeful now.

"Just imagine it: the Hong Kong Bomb versus the Budapest Bullet - and we've got Takeover Target as well, of course."

Sacred Kingdom's jockey Prebble is convinced that Ascot should be the target.

"My advice would be to go, without any reservation," Prebble told the South China Morning Post.

"If there was a suitable race in two weeks, he could go around and win again, maybe even easier.

"So my vote would be to go to England. He'll give them some swish over there, I promise you."

Trainer Ricky Yiu is expected back in Hong Kong on Tuesday. "Anything is possible," he said.

Sacred Kingdom has recovered his best form after suffering a hairline fracture in a sesamoid bone in one of his forelegs last year.