We are used to seeing the same horses coming back year after year in Royal Ascot's open-age sprints and five of the first six in the 2024 King Charles III (G1) are trying again. The by-product is the market's top end having an almost carbon-copy feel.
Defending champion Asfoora is up there with old rivals Believingand Regional. Most of what lies beneath these stalwarts is newer blood in the division.
Asfoora's victory last season cemented the strong record of Australian sprinters at the royal meeting and underlined European sprinting's shortcomings by comparison.
Asfoora is below the top tier of sprinters in her nation and Henry Dwyer has campaigned her smartly to snare big money in Britain instead.
There are obvious reasons to expect another bold defense of her crown in first-time blinkers from her central draw (stall 10).
It is hard to think of a more consistent sprinter in training than Believing. She dances every dance and deserved her group 1 breakthrough at Meydan last time when dealing with Regional, having been unlucky in several top sprints last season.
Believing was drawn away from Asfoora and Regional in the previous King Charles III and her team may lament getting stall one for the second successive year. She'll need luck from that berth and a decent tow into the race.
As you would expect in such a sizable sprint field, the pace angles are scattered across the track. Night Raider (IRE) is expected to blast out from stall seven. Other plausible sources are Aesterius (nine), Frost At Dawn (15), Regional (17), and Tropical Storm (19).
The possibility of a three-group scenario playing out and an influx of new talent means the form horses dominating is no foregone conclusion.
We are yet to mention a Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner in Starlust (14). He had plenty against him in the Temple on his comeback and will likely show more. It'll be needed with Mgheera, Washington Heights, American Affair, and Rumstar ahead of him at Haydock.
Mgheera is two from two since joining Ed Walker and will be a factor if able to continue improving.
A strong pace on her part of the track seems certain with Night Raider in close proximity. Of all Wathnan Racing's big-money purchases heading into the meeting, he may be one of their smartest.
Karl Burke attempted to make a Guineas horse of Night Raider last year, but his fierce-pulling nature exposed him on the Rowley Mile.
Sprinting was always Night Raider's game and the rethink paid dividends when he ran away with the Golden Rose Stakes at Newcastle in November.
Given the exceptional speed Night Raider showed before his run petered out on his return in the Duke of York Stakes, it is no surprise Ascot's stiff 5f is being looked at. That performance alleviated any lingering doubts surrounding his ability to act on turf.
Asfoora will also wear new headgear for the first time. Dwyer added: "She galloped in blinkers recently and it's always been in the back of my mind to pop them on—I nearly did so last year. We just thought it's the right thing to do this time to make her even sharper."
Regional has finished behind Asfoora and Believing on his past two tries in Group 1s, but trainer Ed Bethell hopes luck will be on his side this time.
He said: "There are lots of runners and hopefully the draw (stall 17) has been kind, but we won't know until the race. He's been working away nicely and our fingers are crossed for another big run."
