The prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes is run at Ascot this afternoon.
First run in 1951, Ascot’s premier midsummer showpiece attracts the best middle-distance horses around, competing for the massive £708,875 first prize.
Eleven runners remained in contention at Monday’s five-day forfeit stage. Bluestocking hardened as the general 5-1 third favourite, with last year’s Derby winner Auguste Rodin the 5-4 favourite and Breeders’ Cup Turf and Sheema Classic hero Rebel’s Romance next at 4-1.
Auguste Rodin – again today! (Pic – Supplied)
Auguste Rodin has six top-level victories to his name, the most recent coming in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
The 2023 Derby winner looked back to his best under Ryan Moore as he bravely held off fast-finishing French raiders Zarakem and Horizon Dore over the ten-furlong trip.
He was very disappointing in last year’s King George finishing tenth after being eased out of the race by Moore but has improved since winning three of his last five Group 1 starts.
The market makes the Godolphin owned Rebel’s Romance his biggest danger. A globetrotting superstar, the Dubawi gelding has won five Group 1 races around the world – although he is yet to race at the top level in the UK.
His trainer, Charlie Appleby said Rebel’s Romance had “never been better” on his return from Hong Kong, and he is set to be reunited with regular rider William Buick.
Despite being a six-year-old, Rebel’s Romance has only run on turf in Britain twice in his career, most recently at Goodwood nearly two years ago.
He was sent off the even-money favourite for his most recent win at Sha Tin in May, meaning some of his King George rivals might bring stronger form to the contest.
Fresh from securing a first win in the Irish Oaks last weekend, trainer Ralph Beckett has committed to run his Camelot filly Bluestocking here instead of in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, providing the ground is not “rattling” fast.
Beckett is confident Ascot is the right destination for last month’s tenacious Pretty Polly Stakes winner to attempt a second success at the highest level.
She deserved her Curragh Group 1 last month, finishing best over Saturday’s trip to chase down Emily Upjohn and arrives here right at the top of her game.
She’s gone well over course-and-distance before and looks sure to run her race with a valuable 3lbs sex allowance in her favour.
The sole three-year-old in this year’s renewal is the Irish Derby runner-up Sunway. Trained by David Menuisier, the French bred Galiway colt won on very soft ground last year in France, so the rain forecast at Ascot later in the week could play to his strengths.
He was the surprise package in the Irish Derby, finishing like a train as he narrowly failed to catch the victorious Los Angeles.
That effort saw him finish ahead of Epsom Derby second Ambiente Friendly, and his 11lbs age allowance on Saturday makes this progressive three-year-old a worthwhile contender if getting his favoured soft ground.
