GG Editor Daniel Corbally is on hand to give his thoughts on some of the key runners lining up in this year’s renewal of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes before giving his verdict on who he’s backing to come out on top.
A real mouthwatering clash awaits with a plethora of big names intending to take their chance. Emily Upjohn bids to avenge her disappointment in last year’s renewal, when flopping and finishing a tailed off last. While Aidan O’Brien’s Auguste Rodin bids to not only confirm his Derby form with King Of Steel but join the select list of Derby & King George winners, including Adayar in recent years and the breed shaping Galileo before him. Michael Stoute is also no stranger to success in this race, indeed he’s the most successful trainer in the race’s rich history with six winners, including Shergar also took the Derby. Stoute is represented by last year’s Derby winner Desert Crown, who returns from injury and bids to give the Stoute/Saeed Suhail combination another win in the race, having scooped it with Poet’s Word.
Odds correct at time of posting – 7.07pm 25th July
Runner-By-Runner Guide
BOLSHOI BALLET
(Aidan O’Brien/TBC)
The 2021 Derby favourite and the lowest rated in this field on official ratings. Tipped for big things in the earlier days of his career, despite capturing the Belmont Derby, he hasn’t quite managed to fulfil that promise entirely. That’s not to say he’s not a capable and classy animal as he seems to show plenty at home for an outfit like Coolmore to keep the faith into his five-year-old season. He’s shown better form this year, finishing behind Emily Dickinson on seasonal debut before narrowly denied by the improving Israr and now retired Haskoy before his latest effort in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot, at which he was a respectable second. However, he comes up short against a field of this quality and looks likely to go forward and set this up.
BROOME
(Aidan O’Brien/TBC)
Another reliable O’Brien performer who has danced plenty of big dances on the international stage over a variety of trips. But like his previously discussed stablemate, he comes up just short in the class stakes. He hasn’t been at his best since capturing the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in March and was beaten by double digit lengths in each of the last two renewals of this race. He has no concerns regarding the ground and is versatile in that respect and runs against brother, Point Lonsdale for the family bragging rights. The fact he can be backed at 100/1 is another nod to the strength in depth in this contest.
DEAUVILLE LEGEND
(James Ferguson/Oisin Murphy)
A big runner for the James Ferguson yard. He was a respectable fourth in the Melbourne Cup last year after winning the Great Voltigeur in taking style. Though that form leaves him short of what’s required to play a leading role in this contest, it’s far from inconceivable that he has more improvement to come. He has only had nine starts in his career and his sister, Sea La Rosa, improved almost a stone between 3 and 4 and this son of Sea The Stars could follow suit. His most recent effort in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, while a respectable fourth, can be marked up further with it being his first run 235 days.
DESERT CROWN
(Michael Stoute/William Buick)
Last year’s Derby winner has had a somewhat luckless run with injuries but on his day is patently a star. He took the Derby apart in fine style under Richard Kingscote last year, that form hasn’t set the world alight but as the adage goes, he could only beat what was in front of him. He remains totally unexposed having only had four career starts to date and for the most successful trainer in this race he’s likely to have been primed for this occasion, despite his setback. He was reeled on seasonal debut having made stylish headway to hit the front before Hukum came along and spoiled the party. Given that was his first start of 355 days and the trainer’s MO, it’s probably unlikely he was at his brilliant best that day and can be expected to come on for that. He’s a key contender.
HAMISH
(William Haggas/Richard Kingscote)
Another of the triple-figure battalion today as he can be backed at 100/1. The apple of the Willie & Maureen Haggas’ eye has been a grand servant for the team and doesn’t lack class, despite being shy of what’s required here. He took the scalp of Hukum two years ago over this trip but it looks slightly shorter than his optimum these days having taken a couple of Group 3 over 1m5f-1m6f this season. While he came up short when venturing higher than Group 3 company he did manage to push Kyprios to within a half-length in last year’s Irish St Leger. He’ll likely be ridden to collect any pieces should they fall away but would need a quite a few in this field to falter to take a hand
HUKUM
(Trainer/Jockey)
Another representative for Sea The Stars, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he’s improved with age, landing the Coronation Stakes in fine style last year before returning from 356 days off to run down Desert Crown at Sandown on his seasonal debut. He travelled into that race easily and belied any fitness or trip fears (1m2f – most winning form over 1m4f and further). He was a notable non-runner in the Hardwicke owing to the fast ground, and while connections may have been gutted to miss out on that he could play to his strengths, his record when fresh (50 days+) is enviable, 1114111, and with rain forecast he’ll likely get his optimum conditions to work with.
LUXEMBOURG
(Aidan O’Brien/TBC)
Last year’s Irish Champion Stakes winner is another Ballydoyle inmate to have been rated highly by Aidan O’Brien. He’s claimed a Group 1 in each of his three season so far and remains unexposed at this trip, having only raced beyond 1m2f on one occasion, in the Arc de Triomphe in 2022. He was a respectable seventh that day, despite pulling a muscle in the early part of the race according to connections. He banished his disappointing seasonal return when capturing the Tattersalls Gold Cup in a ding-dong battle with Bay Bridge. On the back of that performance he was sent over a warm order (2/1F) for the Prince Of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot and although beaten he ran with credit to take second. He was prominent throughout and was forced to go quicker than ideal in the early stages of the race when getting pace pressure from a rival who was eventually beaten by 18 lengths. He could yet have more to offer at this distance and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
POINT LONSDALE
(Aidan O’Brien/TBC)
The last stop for the triple-figure punters, another who is available at 100/1 (at the time of writing). A bitter disappointment when well fancied in the 2000 Guineas in 2022, he was given plenty of time, 351 days, to recover and has returned in good style this season, taking the Group 3 Alleged Stakes in good style from Visualisation before making hard work of the Group 2 Huxley Stakes at Chester. However his limitations were seemingly exposed on the step up to 1m4f in the Coronation Stakes when beaten by two opposing rivals, Emily Upjohn & Westover. However, that was on Good to Firm ground and his best efforts have been on Good and worse ground, including Soft & Heavy. The recent rain will be in his favour.
PYLEDRIVER
(William Muir & Chris Grassick/PJ McDonald)
The defending Champion in this contest (18/1 winner last year) and highest rated horse in the field on official figures. A credit to connections and has taken them around the world with strong performances, including fourth at Meydan in the Sheema Classic and runner-up in the Hong Kong Vase. Returned from 336 days off to take the Hardwicke in good style, despite causing some marked interference. He can be expected to come on from that according to the trainer and although his best performances have come on Good to Firm he’s shown an aptitude with give underfoot also. He’ll be primed for this assignment and won’t go down without a fight in a bid to keep his 100% course and distance record intact.
SIMCE MILLE
(Sebastian Wattel/Christophe Soumillion)
French raider who Improved drastically for racing and a step up in trip in 2022. Has come up just short in Group 1 races on his three attempts, however is more than proven on Soft going and the more rain the better for this contender. Christophe Soumillion takes the ride and while the pair are not totally underestimated it would be a small surprise should he take the spoils this time round. Slight concern that his only trip outside of France yielded a disappointing effort when down the field in Japan, but the ground on that occasion was potentially too fast and could have been the mitigating factor rather than homesickness.
WESTOVER
(Ralph Beckett/Rob Hornby)
Went out with a whimper when favourite for this contest last year but had shown plenty of class before that, when a fast finishing third in the Derby before taking the Irish Derby in grand style. Was duly put in his place by Emily Upjohn in the Coronation Stakes, but like last year’s renewal of this race it was on Good to Firm ground. Seems to gallop for days, so it could be that the ease underfoot suits him better than rattling quick ground. That was put to the test in France last time, where he proved his class and added another Group 1 to his haul, smashing the course record in the process on Good to Soft ground. Hard to be overly confident after his blowout last year but wouldn’t come as a total shock if he was in the shake-up at the business end of things.
EMILY UPJOHN
(John & Thady Gosden/Frankie Dettori)
Much like the previously discussed Westover, Emily Upjohn was a massive disappointment in this contest twelve months ago, a performance that connections could offer no reason or excuse for at the time. Back from a break she banished any negative memories over course and distance with an authoritative success in the British Champions Fillies & Mares. Continued that upward trend this season with an impressive last-to-first success in the Coronation Cup this year. Just came up short over a potentially insufficient 1m2f when attempting to concede 3lbs to top three-year-old Paddington. Could be the answer with Frankie Dettori back onboard.
ADELAIDE RIVER
(Aidan O’Brien/TBC)
A somewhat large ‘lurker’ in this field, gained plenty of traction on social media for what was perceived as a somewhat subdued finish from Seamie Heffernan when runner-up to Auguste Rodin. However it did seem inevitable that day that Auguste Rodin was always going to go by and over the 1m4f over the Curragh it can pay dividends to get a prominent position, so whether he was flattered by that race is yet to be conclusively determined. He did however back that performance up to a degree with a brave second to exciting French colt Feed The Flame, with Oaks heroine Soul Sister back in third. He seems most at home on soft ground so could certainly provide some value at 25/1. A word of caution advised at the quoted price, as he’s far from certain to line up, having run on 14/July and the market for the race remaining an ante post for the time being.
AUGUSTE RODIN
(Aidan O’Brien/TBC)
From the final crop of Deep Impact and he’s flying the flag in breathtaking fashion. Quickly written off by many after a 2000 Guineas no-show he rewarded those who kept the faith with a stunning Derby win, squaring off with King Of Steel in the final two furlongs for a good old-fashioned ‘winner takes it all’ scrap. He was more workman than wonderful in the Irish edition, but he once again got the job done under Ryan Moore. While the likelihood is that he’ll need to improve from that particular performance, his Epsom performance gives more than enough scope for progression. While he won a Group 1 on Heavy as a two-year-old he doesn’t seem a plodder by any means and in my view could even compete at ten furlongs, such is the turn of foot he possesses. He’s just 1lb inferior to Pyledriver on official ratings and receives a whopping 11lbs from that rival.
KING OF STEEL
(Roger Varian/Kevin Stott)
Another ‘lurker’ in the field, however lurking may be a bit of a stretch for an adjective for him as he’s been the subject of many warm reports on his latest piece of work. The lurker tag applied is solely applied due to the fact we don’t know where we stand with this huge colt. He’s only the four starts in his career, a maiden win & a disappointing 7th in the Futurity Trophy Stakes as a juvenile before massive improvement on seasonal debut to take second at 66/1 at Epsom behind Auguste Rodin in the Derby. Kevin Stott blamed himself for going too soon that day and the pair made no mistake in the ‘Ascot Derby, King Edward VII Stakes, trotting out comfortable winners, which can potentially be marked up further as some of the Varian stable were under-performing at the time. Like Auguste Rodin, he seems best on a sound surface but did win his maiden on Soft ground and his half-sister handled soft ground in France.
Speaking to Racing TV about King Of Steel’s chances, trainer Roger Varian said:
“He’s in good form. He’s done all we have asked of him and we are looking forward to it [the King George]. He handled soft ground last season and while he hasn’t really been tested on it since he has been with us, there is no reason to think he won’t handle it. The forecast is a bit unsettled, but I don’t think rain will be an inconvenience to him – he’s a big individual and he should get through it. Ascot always produces nice ground and we don’t have any worries, really.”
Ante-Post Tip:
Adelaide River (25/1) is a tempting proposition at his current price but on the balance of probability he’ll potentially miss this engagement. Desert Crown (13/2) certainly catches the eye at 13/2 and could be viewed as an each-way play to nothing, he looks sure to run a big race to enhance Sir Michael Stoute’s record in the race. But AUGUSTE RODIN (7/2) can draw Aidan O’Brien closer to breaking another Stoute record. The 2023 Derby winner is favoured over the 2022 winner, with the weight concessions on his side to improve again on his workmanlike Irish Derby win. POINT LONSDALE (100/1) is also recommended with the chance that he can improve further for the likely ground conditions. Luxembourg (13/2) is no back number, but may come up just short, a consensus that can also be extended to Emily Upjohn.
SELECTIONS – AUGUSTE RODIN (7/2 generally) + POINT LONSDALE (100/1 Skybet, 66/1 generally)
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