Sacred Kingdom vs J.J. ??

BRITISH racegoers look set to be denied the chance to see Hungary's unbeaten star sprinter Overdose this year.

The "Budapest Bullet's" trainer Sandor Ribarszki reported Overdose to be recovering well from his recent foot injures but confirmed that the horse will not be running in Newmarket's Darley July Cup and is likely to run in Germany before heading to Longchamp for the Prix de l'Abbaye.

Ribarszki said: "He has had two new shoes successfully fitted and the swelling in his legs has completelygone. But we are taking things very carefully with him. He needs plenty of time and we will be patient."

Sacred confirmed for Golden Jubilee challenge

HONG KONG sprint sensation Sacred Kingdom has been supplemented into Saturday's Golden Jubilee Stakes at a cost of £45,000 to connections.

A winner of 12 of his 18 races, Sacred Kingdom looked right back to his best on his latest start, when defeating Rocket Man in the KrisFlyer International Sprint over 6f at Kranji.

The Golden Jubilee has a real international feel with JJ The Jet Plane representing South Africa, while Scenic Blast, who will also line up in Tuesday's King's Stand, is set to join fellow Aussie legend Takeover Target in an ultra competitive race.


The most significant absentee at Monday's confirmation stage was mudlark Utmost Respect, who has impressed in both starts this year. French filly African Rose was also missing from the list, along with theSir Michael Stoutel-trained Main Aim, who was supplemented for the Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday.

Lesson In Humility, who had been as short as 10-1 for the Wokingham Handicap on Saturday, will instead bid for Group 1 glory in the Golden Jubilee 40 minutes earlier.


Favourite High Standing, who picked-up a penalty at Goodwood recently, stood his ground for the competitive handicap and is Ladbrokes' 6-1 favourite. Ante-post movers Genki and Jimmy Styles also feature among the declarations.

Takeover target been withdrawn

JJ and Sacred Kingdom been drawn next to each other in gate 9+8 15 runners so not a desperate draw but would have preferred a draw slightly lower ,Pace at both ends of the draw with Cannonball being drawn low and Kingsgate Native being drawn 14 so no excuses with the draw!

Track was flying at ascot today with three track records,will firm going suit JJ?



JJ`S RACE


UK BETTING

Mike de Kock is in bullish mood as he prepares to saddle South African speedball J J The Jet Plane in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday.

The five-year-old was unbeatable in his native land, with the only defeat of his career so far coming on the Nad Al Sheba dirt in February.

He put that disappointment behind him by returning to winning ways back on the turf in Dubai - and also showed he is equally effective on British soil when running away with a Listed race at Windsor.

"I'd say he has definitely come on a bit since Windsor and, thankfully, we have had no interruptions since then. We just have to see if he's good enough now," said the South African handler.

"I do think it's an advantage that he's been over here a while as he's settled in well now and has already travelled to a racecourse - that all helps as he can be a bit fired up.

"He's drawn nine of 14 and that gives the jockey all the options. Everything is in his favour and the fast ground is 100% ideal.

"You have got to respect Sacred Kingdom after the way he ran in Singapore and of the locals, I suppose there is King's Apostle who I know a little bit about.

"Kingsgate Native won last year but he has been to stud and come back, so that's not ideal for him.

"We are hopeful and I do believe the horse is good enough, but we will see."

Kingsgate Native was mightily impressive 12 months ago and while returning a stallion to training is not the easiest of tasks, Cheveley Park Stud's racing manager Chris Richardson believes he is an even stronger colt this year than he was last.

"It's disappointing that he failed at stud and we're obviously hoping the fact he missed out on his early season preparations as a result of covering mares won't be a hindrance to him," said Richardson.

"Obviously it's a very tough, international race so we'll see.

"From what we've seen he still has the old sparkle, but obviously he now has to go and do it on the track.

"He's got the ability and looks great in himself and he's much stronger than he was last year."

Hong Kong challenger Sacred Kingdom showed he had lost none of his dash when beating an international field in Singapore on his latest start.

Trainer Ricky Yiu is happy his representative has been drawn in stall eight.

"It's not a bad draw," Yiu told www.hkjc.com .

"It also suits that we have one of our main dangers (J J The Jet Plane) alongside us.

"He's in great order. The horse loves the cooler climate and the natural environment is so different to Hong Kong.

"It's all very exciting and I'm not worried about the opposition.

"If Sacred Kingdom can perform like he did in Singapore or like when he won the international sprint in Hong Kong, then he will be very, very competitive."

Karl Burke is confident recent Group Three winner Lesson In Humility can take in her stride the step up in grade.

"She's in great form and came out of the Leopardstown race really well," said Burke.

"She's travelled down to Ascot fine and we just have to keep our fingers crossed for a big run.

"Fast ground is her ground and it is just a question of whether she is up to this level.

"The draw is perfect (stall 10) as we are drawn next to the two favourites so we have to be happy with that."

King's Apostle is arguably the best hope of keeping the prize in Britain, having finished second to Utmost Respect in the Duke of York Stakes last time when conceding 3lb.

He raced without a visor that day but the only time William Haggas has applied the headgear, he won the Diomed Stakes over course and distance.

King's Apostle's handler is, however, concerned about the five-year-old having been drawn in gate 12.

"We've decided to put the visor back on tomorrow," said Haggas.

"He ran a great race at York and I was thrilled to bits with him.

"He's in good form, the ground is right for him and we're hopeful.

"He's drawn 12, which is not ideal. Scenic Blast won from 15 earlier in the week but a lot of water has been put on since then."

Michael Bell's Art Connoisseur appeared to have the world at his feet when winning last year's Coventry Stakes, but has failed to get his head in front since.

The Newmarket trainer said: "I'd like to say he is in the same form as he was 12 months ago but even if he was, it's still going to be a very tough race.

"He put up a devastating performance in the Coventry last year and a repeat of that will see him involved in the finish, but it would be very bold of me to say he's going to win.

"He'll be really suited by everything tomorrow but it's just a question of whether he's good enough."

Australian speedster Takeover Target will not be taking his chance, though, after a temperature ruled out Joe Janiak's star.
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Ready for takeoff!

Jim all the best have a great day, my daughter might say hello, she knows Lucky and sent her your photo.

Everything in J J The Jet Plane's favour - De Kock

MIKE DE KOCK is in confident mood as he prepares to saddle South African speedball J J The Jet Plane in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday.

The five-year-old is unbeaten in his native country, with the only defeat of his career so far coming on the Nad Al Sheba dirt in February.

He put that disappointment behind him by returning towinning ways back on the turf in Dubai - and also showed he is equally effective on British soil when running away with a Listed race at Windsor.


"I'd say he has definitely come on a bit since Windsor and, thankfully, we have had no interruptions since then. We just have to see if he's good enough now," said de Kock.



"I do think it's an advantage that he's been over here a while as he's settled in well now and has already travelled to a racecourse - that all helps as he can be a bit fired up.

"He's drawn nine of 14 and that gives the jockey all the options. Everything is in his favour and the fast ground is 100 per cent ideal."

The trainer added: "You have got to respect Sacred Kingdom after the way he ran in Singapore and of the locals, I suppose there is King's Apostle who I know a little bit about.

"Kingsgate Native won last year but he has been to stud and come back, so that's not ideal for him.

"We are hopeful and I do believe the horse is good enough, but we will see."

Kingsgate Native was mightily impressive 12 months ago and although returning a stallion to training is not the easiest of tasks, Cheveley Park Stud's racing manager Chris Richardson believes he is an even stronger colt thisyear than last.


"It's disappointing that he failed at stud and we're obviously hoping the fact he missed out on his early season preparations as a result of covering mares won't be a hindrance to him," said Richardson.

"Obviously it's a very tough, international race so we'll see.

"From what we've seen he still has the old sparkle, but obviously he now has to go and do it on the track.

"He's got the ability and looks great in himself and he's much stronger than he was last year."

Hong Kong challenger Sacred Kingdom showed he had lost none of his dash when beating an international field in Singapore on his latest start.

Trainer Ricky Yiu is happy his representative has been drawn in stall eight.

"It's not a bad draw," Yiu told www.hkjc.com .

"It also suits that we have one of our main dangers (J J The Jet Plane) alongside us.

"He's in great order. The horse loves the cooler climate and the natural environment is so different toHong Kong.

"It's all very exciting and I'm not worried about the opposition.

"If Sacred Kingdom can perform like he did in Singapore or like when he won the international sprint in Hong Kong, then he willbe very, very competitive."

Karl Burke is confident recent Group 3 winner Lesson In Humility can take the step up in grade in her stride.

"She's in great form and came out of the Leopardstown race really well," said Burke.

"She's travelled down to Ascot fine and we just have to keep our fingers crossed for a big run.

"Fast ground is her ground and it is just a question of whether she is up to this level.

"The draw is perfect (stall 10) as we are drawn next to the two favourites so we have to be happy with that."

King's Apostle is arguably the best hope of keeping the prize in Britain, having finished second to Utmost Respect in the Duke of York Stakes last time when conceding 3lb.

He raced without a visor that day, but the sole time William Haggas has applied the headgear he won the Diadem Stakes over course and distance.

Haggas is, however, concerned about the five-year-old's draw in gate 12.

"We've decided to put the visor back on tomorrow," said the trainer.

"He ran a great race at York and I was thrilled to bits with him.

"He's in good form, the ground is right for him and we're hopeful.

"He's drawn 12, which is not ideal. Scenic Blast won from 15 earlier in the week but a lot of water has been put on since then."

Michael Bell's Art Connoisseur appeared to have the world at his feet when winning last year's Coventry Stakes, but has failed to get his head in front since.

The Newmarket trainer said: "I'd like to say he is in the same form as he was 12 months ago but even if he was, it's still going to be a very tough race.

"He put up a devastating performance in the Coventry last year and a repeat of that will see him involved in the finish, but it would be very bold of me to say he's going to win.

"He'll be really suited by everything tomorrow but it's just a question of whether he's good enough."

Australianspeedster Takeover Target will not be taking his chance, though, after a temperature ruled out Joe Janiak's star.
Comments

Having been to a few racing centres including the UK and Hong Kong, quite clearly Sacred Kingdom if he is at 90% of his best will walk the field. SK smashed Takeover Target to pieces in Singapore and TT is a multiple international G1 winner.

The time has come : is JJ the real deal?

I say yes!

28/10 Sacred Kingdom and JJ is 3/1.

hibernia Wrote:

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> Track was flying at ascot today with three track
> records,will firm going suit JJ?
>

Firm going no problem. His last two Gr1 wins back home were over 1200 metres where he recorded times of 67.62 and 67.07. That's pretty darn quick and both were easy wins.

scotia wrote:

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> The five-year-old is unbeaten in his native country, with the only defeat of his career so far coming on the Nad Al Sheba dirt in February.

Again (a previous article made a similar error), the article quoted is wrong. It looks like they've got incorrect formlines over in the UK, and the Racing Post site is missing quite a few runs from J J's form. He was beaten three times in South Africa, though all three were his attempts at running a mile or further. The Racing Post shows him as having had only 4 starts in South Africa (maiden, gr2, gr1, gr1) when he actually had 10 starts (7 wins including 3 Gr1's and the 3 losses over the longer trips).