Sacred Kingdom looks good after Target drops out

WITH the magnificent veteran Takeover Target scratched from tonight's Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, younger sprinters which fit in the "could be anything" category have their chance to shine, reports Max Presnell in the Sydney Morning Herald.His report adds: Takeover Target was to have had his fourth attempt at the six-furlong sprint, but an elevated temperature has ruled out Joe Janiak's warhorse.So Ialysos from Greece, unbeaten in eight starts and recently transferred to the

WITH the magnificent veteran Takeover Target scratched from tonight's Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, younger sprinters which fit in the "could be anything" category have their chance to shine, reports Max Presnell in the Sydney Morning Herald.

His report adds: Takeover Target was to have had his fourth attempt at the six-furlong sprint, but an elevated temperature has ruled out Joe Janiak's warhorse.

So Ialysos from Greece, unbeaten in eight starts and recently transferred to the astute Luca Cumani, and also Bushranger, an Irish three-year-old, already twice a group 1 winner before being beaten on a synthetic surface in the Breeders' Cup juvenile, loom as leading chances.

However, the South African JJ The Jet Plane, a winner in three countries, is the hot favourite, fractionally ahead of the Australian-bred Sacred Kingdom, developed in Hong Kong.

Connections paid a ú45,000 ($92,326) late-entry fee for Sacred Kingdom so they must be reasonably confident. Sacred Kingdom easily accounted for Takeover Target and co in the Krisflyer sprint in Singapore last start.

Sacred Kingdom launches from barrier eight and jockey Brett Prebble had hoped for a lower draw.

"I have spoken to a couple of jockeys who know Ascot well and they say the ground is better near the rails," Prebble told The South China Morning Post. "But my horse is versatile and has the speed to get into a good position."

Five of the past seven Golden Jubilee winners have come from the top or the bottom four in the draw.

Trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai was upbeat about Sacred Kingdom's well-being after he galloped on grass at Manton earlier this week and Prebble described it as "lovely work, he really stretched out".