All systems go for brilliant Sweet Sanette
Brilliant speed mare Sweet Sanette may face unexpected conditions when she takes on international company tonight in the Group One King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, with adverse weather forecast.
Despite a reading of good ground, the meeting is expected to stage its opening day on soft going for the first time in 13 years, with substantial rain anticipated beforehand. The Tony Millard-trained Sweet Sanette won her only two runs in South Africa on going described as soft as well as her only start on a sand track, so the wet weather may be a boost to her prospects in the King's Stand, for which bookmakers have cut her price in recent days from 33-1 to around the 14-1 mark in a wide open race.
At her only run for Millard, Sweet Sanette won the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy over faded champion Sacred Kingdom under handicap conditions, and faces a tougher task under the terms of the big sprint, but Millard has been pleased with her training.
'We worked her over 1,000m at Newmarket on Sunday. She was very strong over the last 400m and I'd say that's the best work she's ever done while she's been with me.
'I am very happy with her, couldn't be happier in fact. I am also very pleased with the draw in gate 10 which means she has options wherever the pace is. She is ready, and all I can say is that if she is good enough she will win.'
High profile jockey Jamie Spencer will be in the saddle on the mare.
The favourite is Australian sprinter Star Witness but at 4-1, with bookies battling to find a standout chance. The Hungarian star, Overdose, winner of 15 of 17 starts, has had support since the rain forecast after he had flopped at his first start in England due to firm ground and he is expected to relish a softer track , according to jockey Andreas Suborics.
