Astro King

What makes Astro King worth watching, though, is what he has already achieved. Both his wins came at the top level—Class 2 races at York and Newmarket in August and September 2023. The Newmarket victory was particularly significant, a race with substantial prize money that trainer Daniel Kubler described as an obvious big-race opportunity. Since then, Astro King has been a bridesmaid, posting four places in his last six runs. His recent form reads like a horse still trying to find his way: fourth, fifth, fourteenth, eleventh, twelfth. Last week he ran again, suggesting the yard still believe there is something left in the tank.

The trainer's comments paint a picture of a horse operating at the right level but fighting misfortune. After the York win, Kubler noted that "in another stride we were in front," capturing the knife-edge margins that separate winners from also-rans at this standard. Astro King has since traveled internationally—to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia—and earned the respect of his the yard enough to merit targets at prestigious fixtures like Royal Ascot. He has also shown a marked preference for fast, dry ground, winning 2 of 9 races on those conditions compared to his overall 10% win rate.

With jockey Richard Kingscote, Astro King has managed just 1 win from 7 rides together, suggesting the partnership may not click consistently. Yet the horse's Class 2 record—2 wins from 11 races—shows he is capable at this tier, even if the wins have dried up. At nine, he is hardly old by racing standards, and his presence in the entries week after week suggests his yard believes the next victory is still within reach.