Leicester City owner Srivaddhanaprabha bolsters Ascot team on eve of meeting

The five days of Royal Ascot offer the chance for owners to be in the spotlight, and Leicester City's billionaire owner and chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, enhanced his presence when purchasing five intended runners at the Goffs London Sale on Monday evening.

Srivaddhanaprabha, whose horses run under the King Power Racing Co Ltd banner, already had five runners declared for the first two days of the meeting, headlined by Queen Anne hope Beat The Bank, but has boosted his team.

Fox Champion was due to run in the Coventry Stakes but was scratched on Tuesday morning, however Srivaddhanaprabha has new purchase Shine So Bright, who was a winner on debut at Nottingham for Karl Burke nine days ago.

Sackville Donald purchased the colt on Srivaddhanaprabha's behalf for £375,000.

Tim Easterby's Vintage Brut, unbeaten in both starts, most recently in Sandown's Listed National Stakes, was another juvenile purchased by Srivaddhanaprabha, the leading Norfolk Stakes contender costing £280,000.

Cocked Hat runner-up Main Street, who holds entries for the King Edward VII and Hampton Court Stakes, was another purchase, knocked down to Sackville Donald for £300,000.

Commenting on the purchases, Alastair Donald said: "He's bought some very nice horses to run at Ascot and they will all go there. Three of them go with a very good chance and they should all give him a good run for his money.

"Main Street is a lightly raced good looking middle-distance horse, who will definitely do a job in the future."

In addition to spending big on horses in training, Srivaddhanaprabha also secured the most expensive lot of the sale, paying £720,000 for the mare Belle Josephine.

The dam of leading King Edward VII contender Mildenberger, Belle Josephine was offered in foal to Siyouni.