King Hard to Beat in Chief De Beers

Having not started since his fifth, beaten under two lengths, in the Listed Magic Millions Sprint (1200m) in January at the Gold Coast, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained King Of Hastings (Ilovethiscity-Handcut, by Danerich) has been readied for his first up run in Saturday’s Listed Chief De Beers (1100m) with handy barrier trial efforts and Toowoomba and Doomben on the first weeks of May. Finishing in the top two on three occasions from four first-up runs, King Of Hastings is currently equal second favourite in the race with the James Cummings-trained Varda (Lonhro-Wild Queen, by Loup Savage), both sitting just behind the Tony Gollan-trained Sugar Boom (Spirit of Boom-Acupuncture, by Pins), a last start second behind Usmanov (Choisir) over 900m in the Bat Out Of Hell at the Gold Coast. Unfortunately drawing wide, the Damian Lane-ridden King Of Hastings is likely to go back, and with a few noted speed horses in the field, it should give the 4YO an opportunity to settle where comfortable and produce a quality run late. Another who is likely to appreciate a good tempo up front in order to be able to charge home late is the Kris Lees-trained Zaniah (Zoustar-Listen Here, by Elusive Quality), the three-quarter sister to Group 1 producing sires Deep Field (Northern Meteor) and Shooting To Win (Deep Field).