Japan a painful result for bookmaker Ben Keith after laying colt for £600,000

The bookmaking scene is a brave man's world and Japan's success in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday contributed to a somewhat eventful few days for Star Sports.

They laid the Aidan O'Brien-trained winner for £600,000, just two days after scooping £500,000 as a result of taking on stablemate Magical, who was second in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes.

Star Sports supremo Ben Keith, speaking at Ascot from where he was betting on course, said: "The pressure is enormous at these big meetings but it's my job to take these horses on. I don't bet to an opinion, I bet to the market because over the year that's how I make a profit.

"Some people love the animals, others studying the form, but I love the betting ring as that's what I do.

"The ante-post bets have been bad for us this week and we went behind with Japan, while unfortunately Ten Sovereigns was not that popular."

Japan: landed the King Edward VII StakesCredit: Mark Cranham

Japan's victory followed Frankie fever at the track on Gold Cup day, although Keith reported laying Dettori's rides in the later races to be tough going.

"In the ring Frankie's rides were hard horses to lay," Keith, whose firm sponsor the Greyhound Derby, added. "The people who bet with me are more purists and the people who won yesterday were people like my mum!"

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