3 minute read
King Of Sparta will jump from barrier four in The Quokka.
Impressive last-start winner King Of Sparta will be looking to bring up the hat-trick as he heads west to take on the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) this Saturday.
The Peter and Paul Snoweden-trained galloper will be running in the Seacorp/Mt Hallowell Stud slot, with connections confirming his selection after his win in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes back on February 17.
Following the Expressway, Team Snowden were unsure what was next for King Of Sparta ahead of their trip to The Quokka, with the gelding accepted and then scratched in the Group 1 Galaxy on March 23.
Since winning the Expressway and putting up a Racing and Sports Rating of 121, the son of I Am Invincible has only been sighted once at the trials where he showed his customary turn-of-foot.
The gelding will be 63 days between races when he steps out at Ascot on Saturday, but fresh is best for the five-year-old having gone 56 days into the Magic Millions Snippets and then 35 days into the Expressway.
King Of Sparta's R&S Rating of 121 in the Expressway is better better than the 119 figure Overpass produced to win both The Quokka and the Winterbottom Stakes last year.
Over the past 12 months, the now five-year-old has become not only a better horse on ratings, but also a more consistent horse.
After running a R&S Rating of 115 when winning on Christmas Eve 2022, King Of Sparta has only run below that figure once in his nine runs since, with genuine excuses contributing to the poor performance.
Interestingly, the 2023 winner Overpass and King Of Sparta have faced off three times in their career, with King Of Sparta leading their head-to-head battle 2-1.
In contrast to the rivals he'll face at Ascot this Saturday where slot holders are backing their selections to do something they haven't done yet, King Of Sparta's connections know what to expect from the son of I Am Invincible and can trust the stable to have him there ready to go on the day.
There's no better example of this than Magic Millions Day on the Gold Coast, where King Of Sparta has won the Guineas in 2022, and gone back-to-back in the Snippets the last two years.
The father-and-son training duo have become known as great 'Grand Final trainers', getting their horses to run their best on the day it's required.
King Of Sparta is likely to get back from barrier four and he's a horse that will need plenty of luck in the run, but he does have gun jockey Black Shinn doing the steering.
After Opening an $11 chance with TABtouch, King Of Sparta shortened to an $8.50 chance following his win in the Expressway and has since been shortened again into a $7* elect with TABtouch.
That quote has King Of Sparta on the fourth line of betting, with Amelia's Jewel holding favouritism at $3.10*, Overpass at $4.60* and Oscar's Fortune at $6* the rivals ahead of him in the TABtouch market.
*Prices correct as of 11am, April 17th.
About the Slot Holder: Seacorp / Mt Hallowell Stud
Situated in the beautiful south-west town of Denmark, Mt Hallowell Stud is a boutique thoroughbred stud which also offers agistment, yearling preparation and foaling down.
Over the past decade, Mt Hallowell Stud has steadily developed, building an exceptional stock of horses with emphasis on both racing and breeding.
The yellow and purple silks have had plenty of success on track, carried by current stallions Santos and Gold Standard, as well as household names such as Zoumon, Pornichet, Hush Writer and Hallowell Belle.
The breeding side of Mt Hallowell has been put up in lights by Group 1 winner Sheeza Belter, and Group 3 winner Hoi An.
Mt Hallowell's owner is Craig Thompson, who is also the Managing Director of Seacorp.
Seacorp is an independently, Australian-owned shipping services house founded in 1998 and based in Fremantle. Seacorp specialises in ship agency, marine surveys, outturn management, export documents, trade
facilitation services, vessel operating and ship ownership.
You win some. You lose more. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
