Ascot!

David Hayes believes Sir Michael Stoute's rejuvenated Kingsgate Native should be favourite for the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot next Tuesday - ahead of his own Australian speedster Nicconi.

Frankie Dettori will be aboard Nicconi, who has already scooped the first leg of the Global Sprint Challenge by taking the Coolmore Lightning Stakes at Flemington in January.

Bookmakers are running scared of Hayes' challenger, who is the general 3-1 favourite, ahead of Kingsgate Native at 5-1. However, Hayes said: "He has been unplaced in his last two runs and I think Sir Michael Stoute's horse should be favourite."

He added: "Frankie sat on him the other day for the first time and I think he was pretty happy. They went fast and he gave him a good feel. When he wins, he wins well, but he can have a shocker so you can't be confident."

Despite having been beaten on his last two runs, Hayes put forward excuses for the reverses and believes dropping back to five furlongs will also be in his favour.

"The Newmarket was ran in incredibly bad conditions as a storm hit the track and I then ran him back too quick just two weeks later and he didn't back up," he said.

"He is undefeated first time up and he is undefeated over five furlongs. I have also been dying to put a visor on him for two years and he'll wear one for the first time next week.

"The Lightning is our premier sprint, too, and the form usually transfers. If he wins well then we might be tempted to run in the July Cup and it would enhance his stud value but it is most likely that this will be his last run and he'll be retired to stud in Australia."