Ascot's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2007
Whining Laments that Ascot's Group 1 Will be Substandard
Through good planning by Course Clerk Chris Stickels and a bit of luck, Ascot may be one of the few racecourses in the West Counties to escape further rain damage.
All of nearby Newbury's races were cancelled last weekend including the exciting 25th Anniversary of the Dubai-sponsored Arab Horse Races Day.
If Ascot escapes more torrential rain, it will hold its much-anticipated, three-day weekend meet featuring the prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) for three-year olds and up, lm 4f, on Saturday.
At the moment, the ground is soft, but Ascot's sand and loam courses can dry out very quickly.
The eight horses remaining in the lineup as of Monday can handle good to soft ground, but none would enjoy a bog.
The most vocal critics of 'the way things have worked out' in the race are deeply upset that Authorized's IRE (Montjeu IRE) owners have chosen to bypass the King George to rest him after two hard races in the Derby and the Eclipse.
According to his trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam, connections prefer the Juddmonte International at York next month competing against five-year-old Eclipse victor Notnowcato (Inchinor). These two should have gone head to head in the Eclipse but for Authorized being on the wrong side of the course.
It was a lost opportunity to test the brilliant three-year old against an older, genuine fighter.
Today, critics have more to complain about. Aiden O'Brien pulled three-year-old Irish Derby winner, Soldier of Fortune IRE (Galileo IRE), to train for Doncaster's St Leger in September.
O'Brien has left Scorpion IRE (Montjeu IRE) and Dylan Thomas IRE (Danehill USA and Yellowstone IRE (Rock of Gibraltar IRE) in the race.
Both Dylan Thomas, the favourite, and Scorpion have competed at the distance.
Yellowstone is the only three-year old in the race with no record for course or distance. That being said, he is a very progressive colt and impressed with a fourth at the Eclipse. O'Brien is known for giving his horses their chances to learn and progress.
Prince Flori GER (Lando GER), Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden winner last year at three, will represent Germany. He has won at the distance and will have a definite advantage if Jimmy Fortune rides him. Fortune was the winning jockey of Royal Ascot. He would be the first German King George winner if successful.
Laverock IRE (Octagonal NZ) represents Godolphin. He has not raced at Ascot and his most recent last races have been at 12 f. He has not been winning lately, but has the ability to break through as he is improving. He should not be discounted if he gets a good ride and a break.
Mick Channon is full of excitement for his Youmzain IRE (Sinndar IRE) who has done the distance easily and is reunited with jockey Richard Hughes. He is a gorgeous, powerful horse and is tricky to ride. Hughes brings out the best in him. He has the ability to win this race with a proper ride and the breaks. And Mick is good at judging Ascot.
The two horses who have the best qualifications for the race in having won at the course and distance are everyone's favourites and the oldest: Sergeant Cecil (King's Signet USA) at eight and Maraahel IRE (Alzao USA) at six.
Sergeant Cecil beat the formidable Geordieland FR (Johan Quatz FR) in May at York at 12 f and, despite looking wonderful, bottomed out in Royal Ascot's Gold Cup in June. No one knew why.
Geordieland came closest to beating Yeats IRE (Saddler's Wells IRE) in the Gold Cup so both he and Sergeant Cecil are good.
The problem with Sergeant Cecil is that he is inconsistent. Not quite as quixotic as George Washington IRE (Danehill USA), but close at times. He can win if he chooses to compete and a win would thrill his strong, loyal British following.
On the other hand, consistency is a byword for Maraahel. He just keeps getting better and better.
He beat Scorpion at Royal Ascot in a straightforward race with experienced jockey Richard Hills on board.
Hills, who is normally taciturn, said "he's (Maraahel) in great form physically and really is a horse now. The ground won't be an issue, and tactically, it's not complicated with him, as you just ride him according to how the race pans out--you can be forward on him or hold him up."
"He's a champion; to win a Group 1 with him would be very special, and for that Group 1 to be the King George would be fantastic. Not many keep going as long as he has, and you do get attached to horses like him."
"While some say it's a weak King George, it's still a King George."
For Racing Post Ratings, www.racingpost.co.uk
For Daily Form Ratings, www.dfr.com
For information and tickets, www.ascotracecourse.co.uk
Through good planning by Course Clerk Chris Stickels and a bit of luck, Ascot may be one of the few racecourses in the West Counties to escape further rain damage.
All of nearby Newbury's races were cancelled last weekend including the exciting 25th Anniversary of the Dubai-sponsored Arab Horse Races Day.
If Ascot escapes more torrential rain, it will hold its much-anticipated, three-day weekend meet featuring the prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) for three-year olds and up, lm 4f, on Saturday.
At the moment, the ground is soft, but Ascot's sand and loam courses can dry out very quickly.
The eight horses remaining in the lineup as of Monday can handle good to soft ground, but none would enjoy a bog.
The most vocal critics of 'the way things have worked out' in the race are deeply upset that Authorized's IRE (Montjeu IRE) owners have chosen to bypass the King George to rest him after two hard races in the Derby and the Eclipse.
According to his trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam, connections prefer the Juddmonte International at York next month competing against five-year-old Eclipse victor Notnowcato (Inchinor). These two should have gone head to head in the Eclipse but for Authorized being on the wrong side of the course.
It was a lost opportunity to test the brilliant three-year old against an older, genuine fighter.
Today, critics have more to complain about. Aiden O'Brien pulled three-year-old Irish Derby winner, Soldier of Fortune IRE (Galileo IRE), to train for Doncaster's St Leger in September.
O'Brien has left Scorpion IRE (Montjeu IRE) and Dylan Thomas IRE (Danehill USA and Yellowstone IRE (Rock of Gibraltar IRE) in the race.
Both Dylan Thomas, the favourite, and Scorpion have competed at the distance.
Yellowstone is the only three-year old in the race with no record for course or distance. That being said, he is a very progressive colt and impressed with a fourth at the Eclipse. O'Brien is known for giving his horses their chances to learn and progress.
Prince Flori GER (Lando GER), Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden winner last year at three, will represent Germany. He has won at the distance and will have a definite advantage if Jimmy Fortune rides him. Fortune was the winning jockey of Royal Ascot. He would be the first German King George winner if successful.
Laverock IRE (Octagonal NZ) represents Godolphin. He has not raced at Ascot and his most recent last races have been at 12 f. He has not been winning lately, but has the ability to break through as he is improving. He should not be discounted if he gets a good ride and a break.
Mick Channon is full of excitement for his Youmzain IRE (Sinndar IRE) who has done the distance easily and is reunited with jockey Richard Hughes. He is a gorgeous, powerful horse and is tricky to ride. Hughes brings out the best in him. He has the ability to win this race with a proper ride and the breaks. And Mick is good at judging Ascot.
The two horses who have the best qualifications for the race in having won at the course and distance are everyone's favourites and the oldest: Sergeant Cecil (King's Signet USA) at eight and Maraahel IRE (Alzao USA) at six.
Sergeant Cecil beat the formidable Geordieland FR (Johan Quatz FR) in May at York at 12 f and, despite looking wonderful, bottomed out in Royal Ascot's Gold Cup in June. No one knew why.
Geordieland came closest to beating Yeats IRE (Saddler's Wells IRE) in the Gold Cup so both he and Sergeant Cecil are good.
The problem with Sergeant Cecil is that he is inconsistent. Not quite as quixotic as George Washington IRE (Danehill USA), but close at times. He can win if he chooses to compete and a win would thrill his strong, loyal British following.
On the other hand, consistency is a byword for Maraahel. He just keeps getting better and better.
He beat Scorpion at Royal Ascot in a straightforward race with experienced jockey Richard Hills on board.
Hills, who is normally taciturn, said "he's (Maraahel) in great form physically and really is a horse now. The ground won't be an issue, and tactically, it's not complicated with him, as you just ride him according to how the race pans out--you can be forward on him or hold him up."
"He's a champion; to win a Group 1 with him would be very special, and for that Group 1 to be the King George would be fantastic. Not many keep going as long as he has, and you do get attached to horses like him."
"While some say it's a weak King George, it's still a King George."
For Racing Post Ratings, www.racingpost.co.uk
For Daily Form Ratings, www.dfr.com
For information and tickets, www.ascotracecourse.co.uk
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 7/23/2007 3:29 PM 
Categories: Ascot's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2007
Categories: Ascot's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2007
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