Pace aces set to meet in Temple Stakes

Sole Power, right, has four QIPCO British Champions Series wins on his CV. Picture courtesy of Racingfotos.com

Several of the speediest stars in the QIPCO British Champions Series are set to clash in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock Park on Saturday.

A final field of 16 was today revealed for the £100,000 feature, which seems certain to have a bearing on the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot next month – the first race in the Sprint Category of the 2016 QIPCO British Champions Series.

Robert Cowell reports Goldream to be in great form. The seven-year-old, who has to concede weight all round, won the King’s Stand and Prix de l’Abbaye last year.

Sole Power, a four-time Series winner who is still going strong at the age of nine, will run in the five-furlong contest for a fifth time and attempt to repeat his win of 2011.

He has already earned his connections £2 million in prize-money and will be ridden by French jockey Gregory Benoist for the first time.

Mecca’s Angel, who lowered the colours of Acapulco in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes last summer, is also in the reckoning.

Profitable, winner of the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on his return, and Muthmir, third in the King’s Stand last year, are others in contention.