Saturday’s big Group 1 race is the 1m4f QIPCO sponsored King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which has attracted a field of nine going to post in a quest for a share of the mammoth £1,000,000 in total prize-money. So, who wins and where is the value?
Promising as a 3yo before being well beaten at 13/8f in the Prix Niel. Returned with an encouraging second to Cirrus Des Aigles in the Coronaton Stakes at Epsom, but was again well beat at short odds in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, when fifth to Spiritjim. That was far from an ideal prep for this, but the race has produced the winner for the last two years. Isn’t without a chance, but needs to produce a career best on the back of his worst run for some time. Andre Fabre is a shrewd trainer, E/w claims.
The complete outsider of the field and has no chance of either staying the trip or of having the quality to land any sort of telling blow. Could well cut out the pace, with stablemate Trading Leather needing a strong test of stamina to be seen to best effect.
Won the Breeders’ Cup Turf on his first attempt at 12f last November, and was denied a clear run at Meydan during the 1m4f Sheema Classic; a race he’d have probably finished second in with a little more luck in running. He has done little wrong in three runs since March, the last of which was arguably a career best when second to The Fugue in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Versatile with regard to trip and ground, he is a top class performer is if turning up at his very best, he will be a difficult horse to keep out of the first three.
Finally had his Group 1 day in the sun with a fluent success in the Coral Eclipse Stakes and has been given the green light to take his chance over 1m4f for the first time, having run over 2f shorter for his last eight runs. Ultimately, stamina is his main concern, against several equally classy horses who definitely do stay. He is a top horse, but is vulnerable under these conditions and Paul Hanagan jumps ship to ride Taghrooda.
Lightly raced 4yo, a typical Sir Michael Stoute improver, who took a significant step up the ladder last time out with a highly taking win in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. He beat two solid middle-distance yardsticks out of the sight there in a good time and given his trainer’s ability to produce horses such as this to devastating effect at similar points in their careers, Telescope is rightly the favourite. He has always been highly regarded and maybe he can begin to fulfill his potential here. Ryan Moore is riding like a demon this season and has ridden the colt in his last six runs. Everything looks perfect for a massive run from the son of Galileo.
Irish Derby winner last year and has been consistent in some top races in five runs since, albet without a win. He put in his best performance since the Juddmonte last August last time out with a solid second to Mukhadram in the Eclipse. This stiffer test of stamina is sure to suit better, Jim Bolger is a master trainer, and the 4yo will have his E/w supporters at double figure odds.
This is only his fourth career run, but he was mightily impressive at Ascot and that has been the reason for his supplementing for this. He has gone up in the betting for races such as the St Leger and the Arc, and is a top price of 6/1 for this. If he can win this or even go close considering his lack of experience, it will be unbelievable achievement, but he is clearly talented and clearly well thought of by his top trainer.
The second of John Gosden’s trio in the race and the least fancied, but he comes here on the back of a thoroughly creditable third in the Epsom Derby. He stays well and has plenty of ability, but the market is speaking volumes about where he sits in the eyes of the yard, with Gosden having Eagle Top and Taghrooda in the line-up also.
A hugely exciting filly by Sea The Stars who has done everything asked of her in her three races today. She’s unbeaten, and the latest of those runs was a runaway success in the Epsom Oaks. She has a wonderful pedigree for this stage and by God did she own it on the downs last month. It speaks volumes for her that a) Paul Hanagan gets off his pride and enjoy and recent Eclipse winner to ride her and b) that her connections saw fit to side-step the Irish Oaks for a tilt at this. She gets over a stone from the 4yos and 3lb from her 3yo colt counterparts and if she is still improving, she’ll prove to be a difficult filly for the boys to beat.
GG VERDICT
1 – TELESCOPE
2 – TAGHROODA
3 – MAGICIAN
Dark Horse
FLINTSHIRE