Slade the Power play in Diamond Jubilee Stakes

Slade Power looks to hold outstanding claims of landing the second leg of a Group 1 Royal Ascot sprint double for trainer Edward Lynam in today’s Diamond Jubilee (4.25).

Lynam saddled Sole Power to land the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes for the second year in succession earlier in the week, and in Slade Power has an ultra-progressive sprinter with an impressive strike rate.

The five-year-old has won eight of his 17 starts and been placed on five occasions.

Two of those successes came in Group contests last season, and Slade Power also ran very well at the highest level to finish third to Lethal Force in July Cup at Newmarket and runner-up to Gordon Lord Byron in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock.

The son of Dutch Art was then not at his best in the Hong Kong Sprint on his final start of 2013, but looked better than ever when beating a race fit Maarek in a Group 3 contest at the Curragh on seasonal reappearance.

Slade Power travelled supremely well throughout the 6f contest, and after leading at the furlong marker quickened well to put the race to bed and score by a comfortable two lengths.

It was an effort which suggested Slade Power would be capable of winning Group 1 contests this season, and with the prospect of even better to come looks the one they all have to beat.
Aljamaaheer and Astaire look the biggest dangers to Slade Power.

The former has top class form to his name over 7f and a mile, and shaped very well when dropped back in trip to 6f and finishing third to Hamza in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket when last seen in action.

The Roger Varian trained five-year-old went down by just 1/2 a length after being given far too much to do by jockey Paul Hanagan, and now sports blinkers for the first time.

The son of Dubawi has a high cruising speed and excellent turn of foot, and will relish the fast going.

Astaire won four out of five starts as a juvenile, including the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes where he made all to beat the classy Hot Streak by 1/2 a length.