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| Staff Writer |
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Last year's Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust is set to prepare for Royal Ascot in the Gr.2 Temple Stakes at Haydock as he embarks on his final season before heading to stud in Australia.
The gutsy winner at Del Mar for trainer Ralph Beckett and owners Jim and Fitri Hay has next month's Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot as his primary target. The 4YO colt came from last to first off a furious pace under Rossa Ryan for his big Stateside success over five furlongs and will be campaigned over the minimum trip in the short term.
"He's in good shape and it's a steppingstone to Ascot," said the Hays' racing manager Alex Cole. "He's been pretty easy to deal with. He's sound and generally doesn't miss a day, touch wood. He's a dude and you couldn't fault him.
"You get that fast pace that he wants over five furlongs rather than six, and he needs things to fall his way a little bit."
Starlust travelled to Hong Kong for a Group One sprint over six furlongs at the international meeting in December but beat only one horse home after fading out of contention.
The colt will carry a Group One penalty in the Temple against the likes of recent winners Mgheera and Rumstar after 14 contenders remained at the latest declaration stage. Ante-post market leader Big Mojo was a notable omission, but appears among the 11 3YOs entered for the Gr.2 Sandy Lane Stakes on the same card.
William Buick has been booked to ride last month's Commonwealth Cup Trial winner for the first time, with Tom Marquand in Hong Kong to ride Dubai Honour.
It was announced this month that Starlust will join Australia's stallion ranks by standing at Nick Taylor's up-and-coming Riverstone Lodge in New South Wales. Starlust, a son of Zoustar, could potentially continue his racing career beyond Ascot before taking up stallion duties.
"We'll take each race as it comes," added Cole. "The guys who are taking him to stand at stud are very open-minded as well.
"Zoustar is all the rage down there and they've got a stallion called I Am Invincible (champion sire, by Invincible Spirit) and Starlust is out of an Invincible Spirit mare. He ticks two boxes and being a Breeders' Cup winner helps as well."