The speedsters set to blaze a trail this season

The Duke of York Stakes on Wednesday has attracted some top sprinters, including Group 1 winner The Tin Man and Brando, but whatever the outcome they are likely to face some tough competition from horses not appearing on the Knavesmire this week. Here, we take a look at the speedsters lying in wait.

Acapulco
The four-year-old filly in foal to Galileo is a fascinating recruit for Ballydoyle and made a winning debut for Aidan O’Brien in the Listed Sole Power Sprint Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. A Royal Ascot winner after landing the Queen Mary Stakes for Wesley Ward in 2015, the daughter of Scat Daddy is a best-priced 5-1 second favourite for the King’s Stand Stakes next month.

Caravaggio
Unbeaten in four starts at two, Caravaggio was expected to return to action in the French 2,000 Guineas but instead will contest the Group 3 Lacken Stakes at Naas on Sunday. Last year's Coventry winner is 4-1 favourite for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Took Royal Ascot by storm when destroying her rivals to land the Queen Mary Stakes by seven lengths last year and landed a Listed contest at Keeneland last month on her first run as a three-year-old. A second visit to Ascot is the plan, with the King’s Stand favoured over the Commonwealth Cup.

Limato
Last year’s July Cup winner disappointed most recently in the Al Quoz Sprint, with owner Paul Jacobs in part attributing cloud seeding to the sprinter’s below-par effort. Jacobs last week revealed in the Racing Post that Harry Bentley has lost the ride on the two-time Group 1 winner, who is being aimed at the Diamond Jubilee.

Sir Mark Prescott’s progressive filly notched an inaugural Group 1 win at the first attempt in the Abbaye last year and returned with a taking victory in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes, giving weight away all round. The four-year-old is arguably the most exciting sprinter in the division and holds entries in the King’s Stand and Diamond Jubilee.

Quiet Reflection
A change of jockey is also the order for Karl Burke’s star filly with Martin Harley taking over the reins from Dougie Costello, who steered the four-year-old to victory in the Prix Sigy, Sandy Lane Stakes, Commonwealth Cup and Sprint Cup last year. She will return to action in either the Temple Stakes at Haydock or Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday week.