Astrophysical Jet Pointed to Royal Ascot

Kicking off the season with his worst-ever performance, Astrophysical Jet (Dubawi) has been pointed towards Royal Ascot despite connections adopting a cautious approach. An effort was made to play down Astrophysical Jet's expectations, but plans for the King's Stand Stakes were firmed up – though it was declared to be entirely dependent on the four-year-old daughter of Dubawi's form and fitness in the next few weeks.

The short term could prove crucial as the bay filly will be expected to recover quickly from the virus that supposedly prompted her thirteenth-place finish in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.

The Ed McMahon-trained contender enjoyed a relatively successful season in 2010 with a pair of Group 3 scores to her credit. She ran a respectable third in the Group 2 King George taking on boys to lose out to veteran warhorse Borderlescott (Compton Place).

It really could have just been a lack of fitness that caused Astrophysical Jet's weakened response in the final furlong and she had looked good for much of the race- enjoying a prominent stalking position but failing to respond badly under urging from Graham Gibbons.

McMahon spoke to the media today and cautiously pointed her towards the Ascot meeting. “Touching wood, it's three weeks before the King's Stand and if everything is fine we'll go there, but she has got to be firing on all cylinders.” One of the more prominent fillies contesting races as a sprint specialist, she was very much expected to come into her own this season and would be contesting grade 1 races for much of her campaign.

As it currently stands, Astrophysical Jet is trading at a 16/1 price for a King's Stand score – a tough ask considering the quality on display much of the time. Last year's iteration was won by Equiano (Acclamation) who made it two career King's Stands. The French-bred was rated at 114 for the 1.5 length victory.